Eric Smith covers the Raptors as the NBA analyst for the FAN 590 radio in Toronto. He hosts the FAN's pre, half, and post-game shows during Raptor broadcasts, "Hoops" - the FAN's weekly NBA show, simulcast on Raptors NBA TV and the point-couterpoint show, Double Dribble with Paul Jones weekly on Raptors NBA TV.

by Eric Smith
raptors.commentator
February 7, 2005

(TORONTO) -- There’s no doubt that the sting of losing to the Dallas Mavericks will be felt all day Monday – probably until Toronto gets a chance to redeem themselves in Cleveland on Tuesday. But at least one Raptor had his pain eased a little bit last night when the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Matt Bonner, Toronto’s sharp-shooting rookie forward, grew up in New Hampshire – a state known for its’ loyalty to Massachusetts-based teams specifically, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. And while Bonner lived through the dog days of the early 90’s, when the Pats suffered through five-straight losing seasons – watching the Buffalo Bills run rough-shot through the NFL’s AFC East – Bonner has had plenty to brag about lately.

It takes some solid play to get a Yankee fan to hug a Red Sox fan! Rafer Alston and Matt Bonner celebrate at a recent home game. (Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images)

“I remember the first time they (New England) won it, it was crazy,” said Bonner. “I was down in Florida (at University) and I was going nuts. I had the whole place cheering for the Patriots.”

Chances are that wasn’t the case last night.

Although many of the Raptors’ players huddled together in the team lounge to watch the game, most of them spoke openly about not wanting to give Bonner any ammunition for potential trash-talking. Apparently the Red Rocket had been talking-up his team quite a bit, much to the chagrin of guys like Philly-native, Alvin Williams.

“I don’t want to be around the players watching the game,” Williams said prior to last night’s Super Bowl. “They’re going to harass me the whole time. I’m not for it. I’ll just go home by myself and watch it.”

But Bonner playfully jabbed at his soft-spoken teammate saying Williams has been a little too quiet lately, perhaps displaying a lack of confidence in his hometown Eagles.

“I think it’s more quiet nervousness, that’s my opinion,” said Bonner.

Williams admitted he has “been quiet – they’re (the Eagles) playing against the Patriots, the defending champions!”

Rafer Alston supported his backcourt mate, saying he didn’t plan on watching the game with Bonner either.

“I’m a Yankee fan and he’s a Red Sox fan,” said Alston.

Of course, we all know how that one turned out! So Bonner must be flying pretty high right now: a World Series Championship for Boston, another Super Bowl title for the Patriots, and a sip from the Stanley Cup for the Bruins... Well, two out of three ain’t bad!

“I feel like New England has had their turn,” said Jalen Rose. “They’ve won a couple of championships. My man Tom Brady is a Michigan guy (and) I got a chance to see him celebrate twice. But Donovan McNabb, that’s my guy. Number five. And I’d love to see the third African-American quarterback – and the second to be victorious – in the Super Bowl.”

Alston, Williams, Rose, Donyell Marshall, and Morris Peterson were all cheering for the Eagles. The only support Bonner could find was at the other end of the ACC, inside the Mavericks’ locker room.

“New England (and) Philly were the best (teams) all year long,” said Mavs point guard Jason Terry. “The two teams (that) deserved to be playing in the Super Bowl (played).”

Alvin's probably still deciding which hurts more this morning -- microfracture surgery, or watching his Eagles lose the Super Bowl. (NBAE/Getty Images)

Terry later added that he expected the Patriots to win by 20 points – showing his dedication to New England running back Corey Dillon, whom he attended high school with back in Seattle.

But Terry was the only one predicting a blowout. Though the betting line was set at seven points, most people felt it was going to be a close game.

“It should be a great showdown,” said Dallas forward Jerry Stackhouse.

And it was. The Patriots fell down 7-0 after L.J. Smith found the end zone for Philly in the second quarter. But New England stormed back to take a 14-7 lead off two TD tosses from Tom Brady. After the Eagles tied it at 14, Brady and company pushed ahead yet again – leading 24-14 until the final two minutes of the game. A late TD by Philly’s Greg Lewis meant little as the Patriots hung on to win by three – improving coach Bill Belichick’s lifetime post-season record to 10-1, one game better than legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

“The Patriots are the perfect depiction of a ‘team’,” said Bonner. “They all know their roles. None of them think they’re anything special. There aren’t too many big egos out there. They all know they have to work with each other to be successful, and that’s what they do. That’s what they epitomize every time they step onto the field. That’s why they’re successful.”

Sounds like the long-term formula Rob Babcock and Sam Mitchell have been preaching since day one this season. Maybe the Patriots are a perfect model to mould your club after.

(With files from the FAN 590’s Rob Pizzo and Jason Magder)