Guys who have played for the Raps, vs. guys who were Raps.

The "Who do you miss?" thread got me thinking. Lots of guys have played for the Raptors, but not all of them "were" Raptors. By that I mean, some guys were the heart and soul of the team. Other guys have the Raptors on their resume'. I'd like to get a sense of who you guys felt WERE Raptors (or are) and by that, I mean guys who would say "I was a Raptor" with similar pride to a guy who played for the Bulls or Nicks. Someone or some guys who didnt just play for us, but were us. Does such a thing exist? I'll throw out JYD's name to get things started.

In no order, these are the players that come to mind when I think "Raptors"...

Real Raptors
- Mighty Mouse (the first draft pick and the face of the brand new franchise)
- Mo-Pete (Mr. Raptor, at least thus far, IMO)
- Vinsanity (put Toronto on the NBA map and lead the franchise to its first playoff and series win)
- JYD (blue-collar, high on heart, low on talent type player Toronto sports fans love to overrate)

Honourable Mentions
- Doug Christie (good player on bad bad teams)
- Alvin Williams (another glue guy, injury forced early retirement, otherewise he'd be on the big boys list)
- Jose Calderon (face of the 'Euraptors' era and current post-Bosh team)
- Chris Bosh (it's funny, but I honestly completely forgot about him until I was typing Calderon... I'm not the type to boo players but, for the record, he's more dead to the Raptor fan in me than Vince)

Guys that were proud to be a Raptor: Mo-Pete, Anthony Parker, Jose Calderon, Alvin Williams, Red Rocket, JYD.

Mighty Mouse probably doesn't even remember playing here. Let alone speak of it with Pride.

I'd say Mo Pete, Alvin Williams, Matt Bonner, JYD and Vince.

Soon to be Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless (dude won't shut up about how much he wants to stay! haha)

Kenny Anderson and Alonzo Mourning....oh wait a minute...

When Vince went down with injury that time....Jalen Rose really stepped up for the home team. I remember him standing on top of a table and really getting the crowd going in one game. He always seems to speak with positivity when talking about the Raptors.

Quote:

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joey_hesketh wrote:

Mighty Mouse probably doesn't even remember playing here. Let alone speak of it with Pride.

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Actually, he started to regret leaving within a couple of years and certainly admitted he made a mistake 3-4 years after leaving. I recall reading an interview with him in which he mentioned how much he liked it, until the breakup.

If the thread was asking who "WERE and CONTINUE TO BE Raptors", through and through, then only 2 come to mind: Mo-Pete & Alvin Williams.

My original response was replying to the "WERE Raptors" question, which is why I related back to players during their actual 'best of times' while with the franchise.

close to lifers - Mo-Pete and A-Will
Wished they were lifers - JYD, Jose
Fans wished they were lifers - Bosh, Camby, Vince, T-mac
My wish were lifers - AP, Garbo, Jose, Bargnani, JJ, Demar, Ed, Bayless, Vince, Bosh

Oliver Miller, Alvin Robertson, Keon Clark....our jailbird hof members...I bet they must have at least once, during their incarceration, must have had the albeit fleeting pang..."Oh those were the days. I wish I were still a Raptor".

Matt Bonner. Jerome Williams. More to come, gotta go for now. :)

JYD played every game like he loved playing here. Mo Pete and Jose were/are the quiet, dedicated guys who are happy playing outside the spotlight.

And of course, nothing says "Raptors" like Hakeem Olajuwon. In dog years, he spent quite a long time in Toronto.

JYD, Mo-Pete (I still remember his first game back, he kissed the Raptor logo at center court), Alvin, Oak, Carlos Rogers, Jose, Amir, Sonny, Muggsy, and Zan Tabak.

Yes, Love me some Zan Tabak!

Ftw

There's only one guy and he was the commentator. Dude, had i think part ownership of a sub shop. From that classic phrase.

T-Mac, Vince and Oakley always speak fondly of their time in Toronto.

Sonny? no just no

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Nilanka wrote:

Kenny Anderson and Alonzo Mourning....oh wait a minute...

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You forgot John Salmons. Raptor for life!!

Chuck Swirsky, Alvin Williams, Mo Pete, JYD and Oak.

haha swirsky, good call!
PG: Alvin Williams, Calderon
SG: Mo Pete
SF: Anthony Parker, Garbo (short but sweet)
PF: JYD
C: Rasho and Bonner

RASHO!!

O. M. G.

How did I not think of him.

One of my all time favourite Raptors.

Pretty sure he still keeps a Condo in Yorkville.
I believe his children are Canadian citizens as well.

It begins and ends with the mighty Uros Slokar!

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