| And Now We’re Going To Party Like It’s 2003 Authored by Peter Dewolf - October 31, 2005 - 11:14 am
| Current Featured Columns | | 2008-09 Season Preview: Pacific Division Shaq will be in Phoenix an entire season, Baron Davis has joined the Clippers, Maggette is with the Warriors and Artest is gone but the Pacific still belongs to Kobe and the Lakers.
Grading The Deal: Williams To Cleveland In Three-WayMo Williams just barely outperformed the first year of his new contract, but he gives Cleveland's offense a few more teeth.
 |
Countdown To Take-Off
Over the last few seasons, the Rockets have opened new seasons with skyscraper expectations, only to disappoint over and over again year in and year out. Can this season have a different ending or will this be another year plagued by injuries and turmoil?
|
 |
The Mavs' Problem Child
Josh Howard is a gifted player that is developing and improving all the time, but there is mounting evidence to show that his brain isn’t maturing at the same rate as his game.
|
 |
Mark Your Calendars
We may not know exactly who will be on the court when the season tips off for the Pacers on Oct. 29 against the Pistons, but we have a good idea of what the most interesting matchups will be.
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
However, you’ve awoken to December 7th 2003.
“Hey Ya!” is enjoying it’s second week at #1 on the charts – and being permanently etched into our brains. Clay Aiken is inexplicably not “Invisible” at #5. And “Stacy’s Mom” has it going on at #11.
It is the day after delegates representing the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada voted 90% to 10% in favour of forming a union with the Canadian Alliance.
Later today, Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Alemán will receive a 20-year prison sentence for money laundering, embezzlement, electoral crime, etc.
In a couple of days, President Bush is going to welcome the Premier of China to the White House. I wonder if they’ll listen to “Hey Ya!”
And last night, one Rafael Araujo laid a man-sized ass-whomping on the #3 ranked Oklahoma St. Cowboys (featuring future Raptor Joey Graham coming off the bench.)
The man called “Hoffa” went 10-15 from the field, and 12-16 from the line, for a game high 32 points. He pulled down a frightening 17 boards – six offensive. And he blocked a shot for good measure.
It was a career high in points for the Brazilian big man, and he hit 6 free throws in the final 1:01 to win the game for BYU.
Legendary Oklahoma St. coach Eddie Sutton said, “We take pride in our defense, but tonight it wasn’t very good inside. We just couldn’t stop Araujo.”
"My teammates were getting me the ball inside and I was making my shots," Araujo said. "Turning left, turning right and making hook shots, I was doing my job."
Good times.
Put your bunny slippers back on and jump ahead to 2005.
“Gold Digger” by Kanye West (featuring Jamie Foxx) is holding it down at #1 on the charts. The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” is at #4. (Now, I’m no lyricologist, but could they be referring to something dirrrty?) Clay Aiken’s homegirl Kelly Clarkson has two songs in the top 22.
“Hey Ya!” is still etched in our brains.
President Bush "reluctantly accepted" Harriet Miers' withdrawal from her nomination to the Supreme Court. Tourists are returning to Guatemala in droves. The White Sox have won their first World Series in 437 years.
And Rafael Araujo has seemingly found his game again.
Hoffa has been through a lot in the last 2 years. He was widely panned as a bust from the very moment he was selected at #7 in the 2004 NBA Entry Draft. He was roasted in newspaper articles and sports talk shows across the continent. And, worst of all, he was unceremoniously booed by his home fans in Toronto.
But, the Brazilian Beast is back, baby.
Now, it’s not time to place a statue in his honour outside the Air Canada Centre just yet. But, the second year Raptor with the Popeye arms and Goofy smile has showed a little of the skill, grit and determination that made him such a menacing college star.
In the Raptors final preseason game against Portland, Hoffa put up a nice 13 points off the bench. Two nights earlier he put 10 points on this same Blazers team in just 17 minutes. He had 10 points against the Nets on Oct. 19.
Perhaps these aren’t quite all-star numbers – although this is the Eastern Conference – but for a player that’s been through so much, they definitely represent progress.
When the Raptors open up the season next Wednesday versus the Wiz, perhaps the fans should keep in mind the improvements Hoffa has made. They should remember how far he’s come from last season. They should remember how he’s worked hard this summer to slim down his muscular frame.
But, most of all they should remember that this kid arrived in North America with $20 in his pocket, and scrubbed toilets at his junior college to get to where he’s at.
And that deserves some respect. |
