I’m not entirely sure why my dad wanted me to get into basketball so badly as a child. I mean, I know why he wanted me to play it: I was quite tall for my age, and developing physical skills at a young age is important. But why did he guide me into watching NBA basketball?

For starters, he was always a big sports fan himself. He would watch just about any big sporting event on TV. The Grey Cup, Wimbledon, The World Juniors, it didn’t matter. If there was something big going on, he’d be very much into it.

Secondly, it was an exciting time to be an NBA fan in Canada. The league had just expanded into our country by creating two new teams: the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors.

Michael Jordan had also just returned from retirement, ready to dominate the league for a second time. I quickly took a liking to him, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. However, they were all behind one guy on my “favorite players” list. A short dude that my dad had told was the best player on the Raptors: Damon Stoudamire.

Damon accompanied by his ugly (awesome) jersey and mighty mouse tattoo.

That’s right. Before he was playing for the “Jail Blazers” and getting busted with weed at the airport, Stoudamire was the first ever draft pick for the Raps. He was my absolute favorite, and I didn’t even know why. I didn’t know anyone else on the team. My dad just told me he was good, and that’s all that mattered. When Halloween 1997 rolled around, I didn’t want to be a clown or batman anymore. I wanted to be Damon Stoudamire. I didn’t have an official jersey, so my dad created a makeshift one by using a raptors button-up and printing out his name and number to stick on the back. No one knew who I was dressed up as. It was amazing.

Yup.

The Naismith Cup was an annual pre-season game between the two Canadian teams, the Grizzlies and Raptors. They’d play in a different Canadian city every year. Only a couple weeks before I put on that Stoudamire “jersey” for Halloween, they actually played a game in Halifax.

There were some promotions around the city before the game. At my local grocery store, they were giving away these Naismith Cup chains to anyone who could make a basket on a hoop they‘d set up. I remember the basket seeming too far away, but I heaved the ball with all my might and somehow banked it in. My dad proceeded to laugh his ass off with delight.

My dad and I of course attended the game itself, which the Raptors won. I’m not sure why we took a liking to the Raptors over the Grizzlies, but it appears we made the right choice, since the Grizzlies moved to Memphis in 2001.

I credit that game in Halifax for propelling my interest in basketball to the next level, but honestly, I think Space Jam played just as big of a role.

The Stoudamire-led Raptors never ended up being much of a success in the long run. Then came Vince Carter. It took him, the undisputed greatest dunker of all time, to bring the excitement and success that the team needed. We’re certainly seeing his impact on the NBA today, with the influx of Canadians coming into the league who grew up watching him.

It wasn’t until the Chris Bosh era that my dad and I started a new tradition: actually going up to Toronto to watch games. We’d often meet up with my uncle and cousin who were from Ottawa, which resulted in some fun-filled family weekends. We aimed to see the best players and teams: The Steve Nash Suns (who we were always big fans of), Dirk’s Mavericks, LeBron’s Cavs, the Shaq and Wade Heat, etc.

Loss, loss, loss, loss.

Even though the Raptors were losing the majority of the games we saw, it never spoiled the experience. We were seeing some great teams, and more importantly, we were creating memories together that I know will stay with me the rest of my life.

It was nice when I could finally have a beer at the game :)

Fast forward to 2016. A lot in my life has changed at this point. I’ve finished school and have a full-time job. A lot has changed with the Raptors too. It’s the DeMar and Kyle era. They’re a playoff team year after year. They’re one of the most fun teams in the league to watch, and are enjoying the most success the franchise has ever had.

During their 2016 playoff run, my dad passed away after his battle with ALS.

I suppose it’s only fitting that my last conversation with my dad was a lengthy discussion about the Raptors. I was back home grabbing a couple things (I had just moved out a few days prior) and on my way out the door, my dad returned home with his personal care worker. Rather than say goodbye and rush off, I decided to stay for a while and chat. We reflected on the Raptors season and the current state of their playoff run (I believe they were about to head into a game 7 against Indiana).

While sometimes I find myself wishing that our last conversation was more “real-life” oriented, the more I reflect on it, there are very few things in the world that strengthened our relationship more than the Toronto Raptors. Having a bond and memories with somebody is about a real-life as it gets.

When the Raptors finally lost to Cleveland after an amazing playoff run in 2016, it was hard not to tear up. Not because a sports team lost a game, but because of everything in my life the team represents to me.

:)

The tradition of flying up to Toronto for some games lives on. Last year, I was able to organize a trip with two good friends to see two wins(!) against the Celtics and Magic.

Just recently I was able to share the experience with my girlfriend Elena as well. We saw the Raptors lose to the Suns, which I’ve gotten used to by now.

Being able to take a tradition with my dad that I loved so much growing up, and share those same memories with my best friends and love of my life, makes me happier than words can describe.