"Why not?" indeed...by Apollo

It's amazing how important timing is in life. At the proper times, decisions and choices and events can take on virtual mythic proportions. Other times, these same moments can be reduced to mere afterthoughts. So it was today when the Toronto Star newspaper reported that Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Chris Bosh had agreed to "be open to" signing a six-year contract extension this summer, thereby keeping him in Toronto for the next seven seasons. What is surprising about the announcement is not so much Bosh's decision - which can be classified as both brilliant and ridiculous depending on your point of view - but that this announcement went virtually unnoticed compared to the fanfare and party-like atmosphere that accompanied a similar announcement by Vince Carter several years ago.

Bosh's comment, which it must be noted techinically means very little until he actually does physically sign an actual contract extension, was easily drowned out by the moaning and groaning of Leafs fans over the firing of head coach Pat Quinn today. The press-conference to announce the firing was carried live on several sports networks. The Bosh comment was a brief blurb on a newspaper website, placed under a lead story regarding the Pat Quinn firing. If it wasn't for the fact that the Toronto Blue Jays were off today before playing the Boston Red Sox this weekend, the Bosh story would have been buried further still.

Bosh apparently came to a decision after meeting with President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo this morning. Colangelo, who alone has more basketball experience than all of the employees of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment put together, was able to convince Bosh that the Raptors were moving in the right direction. Bosh is quoted as saying "My whole thing is 'why not?' I have a chance to have my own team, be a leader on the team and challenge myself to bring it back up."

Bosh, who just recently turned 22, would have been one of the prime targets in the free-agent class of 2007. This class could potentially include his fellow 2003 draftees, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony. Bosh is an even more attractive target considering he had a breakout season this year playing for a terrible team, is one of only three All-Stars from that draft class (after Wade and LeBron and before Carmelo) and is easily the best big man available.

Which makes his decision to stay in Toronto puzzling to say the least. Bosh could very easily determine which teams will have the most salary cap room in 2007 and pick the best contender of the bunch to sign with. By that time, his homestate Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs would surely have the resources to pay his salary and also offer him a far better chance of winning than the 2007 version of the Raptors.

On the other hand, expectations for the Raptors have fallen so far that if Bosh leads them back to the playoffs he will have done his job, and playing in a city with less media attention, pressure and criticism than Los Angeles or New York likely appeals to his nature. Bosh is not outspoken, loud or flashy. He is decidely low key, particularly in comparison to the other stars of his draft class. However, if his true motivation is to win an NBA title within his lifetime, Toronto is one of the hardest places to do it. For now, Toronto fans should be happy that their franchise player appears to have chosen to stay, and that his decision will lead to far more newsworthy results in the near future.