Vince Carter Will Give a Damn
Vince Carter (photo. Mannion)Why will this be the best season ever?
VINCE CARTER WILL GIVE A DAMN
Is it possible that so many people have been so wrong about Vince Carter all this time?
You should know the book on #15 by now. His increasing (often sheep-like) group of detractors accuse him on faking injuries, playing soft, shying from contact and not caring about winning. His dwindling group of supporters (myself included) know better about the man who’s played on torn quads, sore knees and shredded ankles, who is as clutch as any scorer in the League, and who will still put your ass on a YouTube clip in a second.
With Vince entering the second year of a four-year, $62 million deal and any realistic chance the New Jersey Nets had of winning a championship flying the coop when Jason Kidd was traded last February, the detractors assume Vince will mail it in this season. His supporters know better.
It’s not about Vince saying all the right things in the offseason: that he’s OK with the Nets’ rebuilding phase, that he’s excited to establish something with Devin Harris, that he’s going to approach this season, as usual, trying to win games. It’s that there’s nothing beyond some easily-misread body language that should make anyone believe Vince Carter won’t take the reigns and lead this N.J. squad as high and as far as his 31-year-old legs will carry them.
You want to bring up the “I didn’t play my hardest in Toronto” interview? Fine. But remember to include the fact that even John Thompson — the interviewer behind the TNT microphone and someone who knows more about basketball than 99 percent of the population — has said Vince’s words were misinterpreted. You want to say he’s declining? Fine. But here’s your list of NBA players who cracked 20 points, five boards and five assists per game last season: LeBron, Kobe, T-Mac, Vince.
Since the world caught on that Vince Carter wasn’t trying to dunk on everyone and every thing every trip down the court, he’s been the most hated-on pro athlete this side of Terrell Owens and Alex Rodriguez. But you can’t argue with the results, and you can’t say he doesn’t bust his ass, just like your other favorite players.
This year, when the detractors expect him to fold, VC could prove them wrong. He should prove them wrong. But odds are, they won’t be trying to hear it.
The New “Best Season Ever”
1. Chris Paul will win MVP…
2. …but Paul Pierce will prove he’s the best player in the world
3. The Clippers are alive
4. Ron Artest will get some MVP votes
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October 31st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Vince Carter says:
I’m tanking it.
Peace beiiiiiitch!!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
it aint easy being green says:
Vince is a dbag, TO is a dbag, and Gay-Rod is the biggest dbag of them all
October 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
CitizenB says:
Never clutch. Go hide behind your mommy.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
justice says:
vince carter has the best numbers from a dude that doesn’t care ever…maybe only glenn rob and dc come close
October 31st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
dapro says:
Vince will play hard but it won’t make a difference in the standings
Jersey isn’t making any noise even if they make the playoffs
Not enough D or an interior threat
October 31st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
TCL says:
I don’t know dude, that 30-footer against Utah and the devastating 28-footer against my beloved Raptors at the buzzer a few years ago were pretty damn clutch.
I’ve always liked his game, just not him as a person.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
QuEsT??? says:
im liking this new best season ever thing, excellent posts
October 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
jeremy says:
“he’s been the most hated-on pro athlete this side of Terrell Owens and Alex Rodriguez.”
-doesn’t he get voted to the all star game every year by the fans
October 31st, 2008 at 4:47 pm
bigJack says:
20 5 5 – yes. but is he a game changer? he puts up the quietest 20 of any of those players listed . Will he defend?
October 31st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
dagwaller says:
Any time a pro athlete says that they didn’t try their hardest, it’s a black eye on that sport, not just on the athlete in question. I would love for VC to prove everyone wrong, but…oh, wait, no, i don’t.
Austin, I think that this support is ironic coming from you, of all people. You won’t root for the Thunder, whose players had nothing to do with the team moving, yet you root for Vince Carter, who admitted straight up that he didn’t play as hard as he could?
So if the owners of the Toronto franchise had admitted that they didn’t “try their best” to win, you’d hate them, but when the man upon whose shoulders the team’s success most rode tanked on them, you make excuses.
Doesn’t make sense to me.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
ERIC says:
people forget that VC has gotten out of the first round 3 or 4 times..how many did TMAC/YAO, Melo, or any other “stars” that come through.
he gets hated on for not dunking much anymore, but he’s 31 yrs old; not to mention he does have a killer J and still acrobatic drives to the hoop..remember how high-fliers like MJ, Nique and Clyde the Glide had to change their games after they hit the 30 mark. its just a development in his game, next chapter in his career.
GO VC
October 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm
D.H. says:
I was watching the Nets season opener. VC was coaching on the floor after the whistle, hustling on both ends of the court, and stroking an awfully wet J. I think you’re right Austin, Vince does give a damn.
And he better cause I drafted him in my fantasy pool.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Zibala says:
Austin i’m sure you like this idea
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-35-118/Everybody-Wants-to-Find-a-Team-to-Move-to-Seattle.html
October 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Ian says:
austin
im with you on this
vince is the real good and the people that bash him should do the same to rasheed wallace but he gets a pass cuz hes on a good team. ive seem clutch plays from vince so whoever says hes not is full of shit. why dont we send carter to the spurs of a team with real talent and see what happens. didnt carter take the raptors outta the first round? how is his cousin doing? or melo? (most overrated player in the league right now) or even fucking kobe before he had the stacked team.
jeremy
exactly haters come here and say EVERYONE hates carter or arod and guess what both of them are magically starting allstar games that are decided by fans.
carter is real good and apparently people like him and arod is the best player in the AL by farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (jeter is the most overrated player ever) and second best overall (pujols 1).
October 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Austin Burton says:
@dagwaller — Different situations. For starters, I don’t have a problem with the OKC Thunder players; I still want Kevin Durant to become a superstar, I still love Jeff Green, I still wish Chris Wilcox would get it together. I just don’t want Clay Bennett to have any success. And not because he stopped trying to put together a winning team, but simply because he took the team out of Seattle. So if KD, Green and Wilcox can be good but the Thunder never makes the playoffs … fine by me.
And trust, EVERY player (except maybe a handful) has times when they don’t play as hard as they could. Vince was just foolish enough to admit it and didn’t think of the backlash. Remember Kobe in those ’06 and ’07 Phoenix series? Was he playing as hard as he could have the entire time? Was he playing his hardest the entire time in Game Six of last year’s Finals?
October 31st, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Ian says:
dh
he was my second pick (amare 1) i think he would be among the league leaders in scoring this season
October 31st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
SayItAintSo says:
I’m a huge VC fan…I equate him to McNabb in that he is hated on for literally no reason…it’s just a bunch of people creating ideas about his disposition when chances are, they never have or will ever meet the man.
Judge his game: one of the best players in the League…a consistent starter.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
dagwaller says:
Austin, granted they’re different situations. But how can you separate Clay Bennett’s success from the success of the players? How can you separate VC’s good play from the fact that he more or less screwed over a city and made it public knowledge the NBA players can and do slack off from time to time? It’s just damaging to the league and it’s image.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Big Sia says:
FUCK THE HATERS
VC ALL DAY
27-7-7
Brooklyn Will get RINGS
GET OFF THE TIP
October 31st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
K Dizzle says:
Exactly.
Get off the tip. Players not named Jordan don’t suddenly have the light go on after they hit 30.
What dag said and then some. No other player in the league do u write a story about and have to throw out what the “haters” will say and try to say it’s all “misunderstandings”
John Thompson said this, Vince meant this, the bad body language is misunderstood. Please stop.
Here it is:
-Vince starts off the new season lookin like he cares
-Vince’s 3 supporters not includin his mom come out sayin “this year, Vince is gonna give a damn”
-Nets lose games cuz they not that good
-Vince misses games for shit Vince, Lebron, D-Wade, even T-Mac now, play through
-Vince still gets voted to the all-star team despite there bein more deservin players
-AllStar game : Vince has a flashback and throws down some T-Dot remixed jam
Post-allstar game – Vince becomes irrelevant again
Here’s a better list – List of players who averaged 20, 5, 5 AND made the playoffs : Kobe, Bron, T-Mac
Vince’s fans can make all the excuses they want for him but the fact remains. Dude made his bed and he gotta lie on it
That is all – LA ’09
November 1st, 2008 at 12:07 am
Dagomar says:
OH COME ON.
Sheep-like? More like cynical. I’ve waited for Vince to change his act for years. We shall see.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:52 am
rootsradical says:
is Vince supposed to be rewarded for caring?
i’ll quote Chris Rock here; “You’re supposed to you dumb muthafucka. What you want, a cookie?”
November 1st, 2008 at 2:26 am
mrcanadian says:
i don’t usually agree with austin because i think he is a poor writer, talks down to the reader, and generally has no basis or facts to support any of his positions…but wait, that’s exactly what this article is. nevermind.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:32 am
iLL Mago says:
Austin, we live in the 21st century. Please replace Vince’s broken record cause I keep hearing the same thing over,and over, and over, and over, and over, and over…i mean, we have CD’s!
If you can’t play well with Kidd or Kidd doesn’t want to play with YOU, then there is definately something wrong. What did Lebron say after the Olympics again? OH YEAH! “I won’t play in another Olympics without Jason Kidd.” I’m guessing as a player or coach.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
karizmatic says:
I don’t like Vince Carter but I actually expect NJ to be better than people think. We’ll see though, the team is squarely on his shoulders let’s see what he does. Fact is, Vince has always been a prime time talent without a prime time mentality, and that hasn’t served him well. He’s a good guy, just not a winner.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
QQ says:
This is like spitting poison to your own credibility,Vince. “I care; this season will change; I’ll carry this team”. All these bullshit. But at the end of the day, we all know he’s still be the same bitch ass who doesn’t give his all. We all fucking know that.
Stop the excuses.
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 am
Nasty says:
VC will never win a championship, even if the Nets get bron in 2010
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=BuqD9XiMNv0
this sums up my hate for vince carter
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 pm
The saint says:
thiz will be the best season ever cuz deron williams will be an ALL-STAR
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 am
Sim says:
Vince still got hoops!
http://www.jumplikevince.com
January 29th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Javier says:
You are going to make me cry……despites Vince’s numbers he will never have the class like Cobby, Pierce, Macgready, Nash, Duncan, Lebron etc those are players with class and not a crying babies, he has those numbers because he always wants to be the star and never share the ball look a Cobby Bryan he is a real playerlook a Lebron….Vince, What knee is going to hurt when you want out of Jersey? o maybe your shoulder, what about your ear or you finger nail cry baby cry
January 29th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
javier says:
For those who trying to compare Michel Jordan with Vince Carter…Michael Jordan at his 30 already was the best player in history
and he was carrying the bulls in his shoulder so the when he when out the Bulls the Bulls when down in a hurry Vince Carter at his 30 NOT EVEN CLOSE to that, so please do nor INSULT the best player ever comparing him with an Almost there kind of player like Vince Carter
Sorry Vince ….not even in your dreams you will be like Michael Jordan…. and if you doubt about this ask the best NBA expert analist in the world