Welcome to Raptors Refuge!

As a Raptor fanatic who has been following the Raptors for the last decade, I have finally decided to blog about my opinions and interests about this team. Since this is my first post on this blog, I will share with everyone my past experiences about the game.

My dad first introduced me to basketball in 1994 (I was only two years old at that time) when he brought me and mother to Tucson, Arizona, where he attended the University of Arizona, the college that Damon Stoudamire played for four years. During that year, the Mighty Mouse rallied the Wildcats to a thrilling run to the Final Four, and my dad proudly claims that he met Damon -I suspect "met" was just a mere exchange of words by the two- during a parade. Even to this day, my dad still rambles on about this, but I guess it's normal for dads to occasionally act cool. Unfortunately, I never saw Damon suit up for the Toronto Raptors since he left Toronto for Portland in 1998, while I ensconced in Toronto one year after in 1999.

During my time in Toronto, my fervor and passion for the game intensified. But this time, however, my dad wasn't the only benefactor, for my classmates and peers also offered much clout. My dad contributed his part by babbling and jabbering away about the players and how sparkling their plays were every time we sat in front of the television. And on the court, I joined throngs of people who played the game even though the courts were so rudimentary that most of them didn't rims And we would often tirelessly aim at the "squares" while lumbering around chasing for the half-deflated ball. It was a tedious, yet pleasant sight, and as the years pass, I would find myself pensively recalling those days when basketball topped everything else. Considering those circumstances that encompassed me, I was bound to be enamoured with the game.

The first Raptor game that I saw was Toronto at Utah in 1999. Believe it or not, the first player I knew on the team was not Vince Carter, but rather Charles Oakley. While I was watching the game, I was amazed at how easily Charles Oakley hits his seventeen foot jumpers. And this amazement engendered my passion for the team, as I have now. Since then, I have always steadfastly stuck with the Toronto Raptors. It disgusts me when my peers dismiss or even defame the Raptors, yet I could never conjure a quick retort as I would always end up saying, "Well! Uhh...guess what? [insert team] sucks more! Ha!".

After a decade of following the Raptors, one thing is evident: it offers escapism and protection, much like a refuge. There are times when I find myself frustrated and embroiled in difficult situations, and my only recourse would be the Toronto Raptors. It seems as if the Raptors provide me with some sort spiritual, incorporeal shelter that I can resort to. Without the Raptors, my physical and spiritual level would not be the same as they are today. Now, you may think this whole refuge thing is absurd, but it's true (though I may be exaggerating) - it does alleviate a lot of my problems, or so I think. And that was the basis for the name, Raptors Refuge.

Though I am only an amateur blogger and though you may not be experiencing any stressful situations, I hope my posts will tickle and amuse, yet at the same time, enlighten those who come here. Let Raptors Refuge be your place for moderation of your everyday distresses and afflictions!