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The concept of trash talking is lost on Jose Calderon.

He doesn't do it himself and when it is directed at him, which is happening more frequently, rarely does he realize it.

Calderon's first experience with this predominantly North American practice was in his rookie season.

"The only guy I remember doing it was in my first few games (with the Raptors)," Calderon said.

"It was Gary Payton. He was talking to me for the whole game. After one whistle I said, "Look, the only thing I can say in English is I don't understand what you are saying."

The Raptors did their best to imitate the all-star atmosphere complete with blaring music for the UCLA alumnus. Marc Eversley, the Raptors' director of basketball operations, was mimicking a cameraman just off Kapono's elbow shooting the event. General manager Bryan Colangelo (in sweats, no less) provided additional distraction while acting as head official and waving off that last shot Kapono let fly just after the buzzer went off.

"I think Jay is the most creative guy I every met," Moon said in reference to assistant coach Jay Triano, who along with reserve guard Juan Dixon has been helping Moon out with some new dunks. "He has come up with some crazy ideas.

"I think the ideas we are taking into the dunk contest are going to be the most creative," Moon said.

"I look at the news. I look at Inside the NBA. I look at all these (NBA) programs," said the Raptors coach, "and no one ever mentions our name."

Mitchell wasn't necessarily complaining about the lack of stateside profile of the NBA's lone Canadian team; he's hardly publicity shy, but he seems to revel in his team's self-styled image as unknown underdogs.

Still, the coach also seemed to get a kick out of regaling the scribes with his view of how his team is viewed on the side of the 49th parallel where the other 29 teams in the 30-team league reside.

He jumped, he swore and he spun his arms like propeller blades. By the end of the first half, Kevin O'Neill had also taken the time to bark into a referee's face from fewer than six inches away and, dramatically, stand with his arms out and his palms up, as though he had been martyred by a missed foul call.

And he was happy.

After a coaching career that has prodded him through 10 states, two countries and one colourful stretch with the Toronto Raptors, O'Neill has found a niche deep in the rugged copper horizon of southern Arizona.

In preparation for Tuesday's game against Washington, the Toronto Raptors participated in a drill on Sunday in which they had to run wind sprints every time they missed a free throw.

Even the coaches got involved. Sam Mitchell, Alex English, Jay Triano, Mike Evans and Eric Hughes combined to hit nine of their 15 shots, meaning they had a lot of distance to cover.

How did they handle it?

"You see where Sam is sitting, don't you?," Chris Bosh said, pointing at the coach, slumped on a chair to the side of the practice court. "He hasn't moved."

I think Americans think they're better in some things. I think French people think they're better in some things. I think Canadians think they're better in some things."

Surely you jest, coach. Us Canadians? Your peaceful, beer-producting, curling-obsessed neighbours to the north? Aside from hockey, we cannot think we are better than anybody else in the world in any one thing, can we?

"Canadians? Humble and humility," Mitchell said. "I think y'all really feel that y'all are the best in the world at that.

"Look, the only thing I can say in English is I don't understand what you are saying."

Even the coaches got involved. Sam Mitchell, Alex English, Jay Triano, Mike Evans and Eric Hughes combined to hit nine of their 15 shots, meaning they had a lot of distance to cover.

Platapie wrote:"Look, the only thing I can say in English is I don't understand what you are saying."

Tubcat72 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



This reminded me of a Family Guy episode with Brian talking to a Hispanic worker:

Brian: Hola, me Ilamo es brian ... Nosotros caramos ir condustedes.. uhhhh ...

Bellboy(spanish): Hey, that was pretty good, except when you said "me llamo es Brian," you don't need the "es," just me llamo Brian.

Brian: Oh, oh you speak english

Bellboy (sigh): No, just that first speech and this one explaining it.

Brian: You .... you're kidding me, right?

Bellboy(spanish): Que?

sideshow wrote:I have never heard of that coach before. And he isn't listed on the MLSE management page. Weird.

"Initially the title was conditioning/developmental guy, but we realize that Eric is a basketball coach, and I use him in both capacities," Mitchell said. "He understands basketball. He's a basketball lifer, and you know that in the fact that he's 43 years old and he's never been married, so that tells you a lot."

"Look, the only thing I can say in English is I don't understand what you are saying."

Mad Prophet wrote:[url=http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=478277]Jos