Raptors Notebook

Raptors Notebook
It was a duel that Bryan Colangelo was thrilled to see: Chris Bosh, his NBA all-star, trading three-point shots with Andrea Bargnani, a player the Raptors GM projects to be a future all-star. “They were trading threes down the stretch,” Colangelo said. The shootout came during a scrimmage. Bosh’s team won in the end, by three points: 94-91.

Raptor’s early arrival spurred by his father

Raptor’s early arrival spurred by his father
“I kiss the left cheek first, and then the right,” Darrick Martin says. “The Italians are impressed that I am doing that, so I’m pretty sure I’m doing the right thing.”

Martin has had more than a month to perfect the double-cheek greeting. The Raptors backup guard came to Italy a little early for training camp at the invitation of Toronto assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini. Martin’s plan was to work out with a couple of European club teams — Benetton Treviso and CSKA Moscow — so he would be in top shape when the rest of his teammates arrived in Europe.

Raptors smiling all the way to the bank

globesports.com: Raptors smiling all the way to the bank
The NBA reduces the financial risk by underwriting most of the cost of the trip. The league pays the commercial travel expenses for a party of 40, and pays participating teams an appearance fee for each game (typically between $75,000 and $150,000 when they play on the road in exhibition season; the average is about $85,000).

The Raptors brought more than 50 people on a private jet rented from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, which added to the cost.

“But the whole thing is a wash,” Colangelo said. “We may not make money on the trip, but it’s not a money-losing venture, and there’s the big picture to think about also.”

Raps’ working holiday continues

TheStar.com | Sports | Raps’ working holiday continues
The Raptors will practise once today before heading to Venice for a sightseeing tour and dinner this afternoon; they’ve got one practice tomorrow before an open scrimmage at night and will practise once here Thursday before departing for Rome. In Rome, they’ll work once a day until they open the pre-season with games against the Boston Celtics on Saturday and Lottomatica Rome on Sunday.

“Been good practices, lots of work,” Jose Calderon said. “We’re getting a lot done.”

Tourist gets call to referee scrimmage

TheStar.com | Sports | Tourist gets call to referee scrimmage
Amy Bonner, a resident of Sarasota who referees in the WNBA and NCAA, found herself working Toronto’s scrimmage here last night, a planned vacation from her vacation.

“Any time you’re afforded to work at a high level, it’s a great learning experience,” she said yesterday. “Because I’m in Venice visiting, it’s just a short train ride up to Treviso.

“They afforded me the chance to referee and any time I can get on the court with me is great.”

Bonner, who is on a vacation to celebrate her 36th birthday this week, worked a women’s tournament in Bratislava earlier this summer when she made contact with Euroleague and FIBA officials.

Forget Venice, Ford says, I’m just here to work hard

TheStar.com | Sports | Forget Venice, Ford says, I’m just here to work hard
But Mitchell has repeatedly insisted that Ford will be the No.1: “Don’t even go down that road,” he said the other day.

So why no debate? Ford is simply the superior player. But surely the coach understands that the status quo also avoids a firestorm. Calderon plays the happy backup even if he craves more. But Ford would not take well to a demotion.

“I’ve been a starter my whole life. Even if someone told me I wasn’t a starter, I guarantee you, I’ll be the starter,” Ford said yesterday. “It’s no disrespect to Jose or anybody. It’s just the competitive nature I have.”

He’s certainly aware of Calderon’s considerable fan club.

“Everybody doesn’t like T.J. Ford’s game. I’ve been hearing it all my life. He’s too small. He plays too fast. He’s out of control. I’ve heard it all …”

Raps embrace Italy’s charm

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Raps embrace Italy’s charm
So when Mitchell whined to the European media in a conference call last week that holding training camp overseas was an inconvenience, a distraction, and everything else, Gherardini felt somewhat disappointed — and naturally so.

Mitchell, however, is now singing a totally different tune — to the extent that if the Treviso Chamber of Commerce needed an English-speaking spokesperson, he’d be the perfect guy.

“I would recommend to any NBA team that if you have the opportunity to go abroad for training camp for a couple of weeks, you should do it,” he said yesterday.

Talk about an about-face.

Validation a motivation for shooting star Kapono

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Validation a motivation for shooting star Kapono
“On this team I just want to prove that I can do more than just be a spot-up three-point shooter, that I’m not a guy who has to play off of Shaq on the wing, that I can fit in on any other team,” Kapono, who averaged a career-high 10.9 points, said.

The four-year veteran admitted that he was anxious to get out of a situation where two players (Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade) dominate, and get to a place where everyone in the court is expected to do more than just offer a supporting role to a couple of superstars.

Mitchell’s Special moment

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Mitchell’s Special moment
The Raptors hosted a group of Special Olympic athletes from the Treviso area as part of the NBA Cares program following the team’s afternoon practice.

On hand were Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford, Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker, as well as coaches Sam Mitchell and Jay Triano.

For Mitchell, interacting with Special Olympians is close to his heart as he majored in special education at Mercer University.

“The thing is, these kids never complain,” he said. “And that makes you appreciate all the little things.”