Leaving the Vinsane asylum Part 3... by wongoz

Happy holidays to everyone... hope it's been a good one. Here at 2 Guys Who Know Everything About Everything, we've had a nice rest (clearly), and now it's time to get back to work.

I've been saying, in my debates with Apollo, that Toronto fans value one thing about their sports heroes, more than anything else: total and complete effort. That's why they support people like Doug Gilmour and Doug Flutie, people who may not have been the most talented, but the ones who did the most with their talent, the ones who spilled their blood and guts on the field. That's why they dog guys like Robbie Alomar, when he stopped running hard.

So that's why Vince Carter's admission that he didn't put in 100% effort every game validates everything I've been saying for the last half-year. And not just this season, but before that too. "In years past," is how he put it.

This was all but clear to the fans in Toronto, except possibly Apollo. Maybe he does acknowledge it, but he also didn't count it against him, as one of Carter's most vigorous defenders. And of course, it's easy to overlook it if you're winning, because talent goes pretty darn far, especially with a talent like his.

But it's one thing to not give total effort, and another to dog it for so long and still claim that you're a professional and willing to suck it up and deal with the situation, which is what VC did. In spite of the fact the Raptors handed him the fattest contract in club history, he still found it beneath him to exert himself to the fullest. What gall!

Needless to say, as a fan, I'm not impressed. I can't begin to imagine the betrayal his teammates must feel. Jalen Rose, one of the better persons in the NBA despite his revolving door defence, seemed to defend Vince a bit, but others like Morris Peterson, Rafer Alston, and the player who most personifies grit and determination, Alvin Williams, took swipes at Carter, and rightly so.

What does it feel like when your team's best member doesn't do much except show up for his paycheck? Well, maybe that's being a little harsh... Vince may not have been giving 100%, but he sure wasn't giving 0%. Problem is, athletes, and professional ones in particular, expect more than 100%. And if you're not giving, you're taking, and that just won't cut it.

I'm not sure how this affects Carter's legacy in Toronto, because history stands for itself. Vince did lead the Raptors to their best seasons, but how will Toronto fans react to this admission? Will they cheer him in appreciation of his service here, or will they boo him for throwing in the towel? I suspect it will be the latter. I certainly would.