O'Neal is a six time all-star who will greatly improve our frontcourt as he plays alongside Chris Bosh. Of course, he has to stay healthy, which is something he hasn't been able to do the past two seasons. We all know Ford had to go anyway, and although Nesterovic had a decent year last season, we need to get better at center and O'Neal should still have some gas in the tank.

The deal will be final as soon as O'Neal passes his physical. Although there are risks, it's a good move for the Raps.

Love him or hate him, you noticed him. Swirsky was full of enthusiasm, cut from that Dick Vitale mold with the catch phrases and signature calls. He showed up in 1999, but I can't really remember who called the games before he arrived. Was it Rod Black? Was it Paul Romanuk?

I don't know who will call television games for the Raps next season, but they'll likely give Paul Jones a long look. Personally, I don't think Jones is ready for prime time. I say give the gig to Bob Cole.

Here's a little salami and cheese, Swirsky style.

I tuned in later, just to see how it was going. We had battled back. The final minutes of this game were thrilling as we clung to a one point lead with just over a minute to go. There were three missed opportunities, all involving Chris Bosh.

1. Chris Bosh's pass to the wrong team late in the 4th. This play broke my heart, because we had the offensive rebound and Bosh inexplicably threw it right into the hands of the opposition. At the time, we were up by a point.
2. The non-call on Dwight Howard. Down by one with just under 30 seconds to play, Bosh went up to draw a foul. He was clearly fouled by Howard, but the refs didn't call it. You don't want to hear what I yelled at the tv after this play.
3. With seconds left, Bosh put up the shot that would win it. It was an easier shot than the one Vince Carter took to win game 7 against the 76ers. If Bosh hits this, we come home with a split on the road and the momentum is ours.

Those three CB4 moments are still ringing in my head the next morning. The game was there for the taking, but we couldn't make it happen. I just don't think this team is ready yet.

Why a team named after a dinosaur would choose purple as their official colour is beyond me. Comparisons to the famously annoying purple dinosaur Barney were encouraged. The whole purple thing, so key during the first decade of this franchise, simply had to go. I love you, you love me... I think I'm going to be sick.

At the game last week, I couldn't find any purple. A guy in an older ACC uniform selling snacks had a little purple in his shirt and fans in old school uniforms with Camby and Stoudamire on the back had purple, but otherwise it's all Canadian red and white now. Phew!

It's playoff time. Are you red-y?

When Raptor tickets fall in my lap, I'm not one to deny the privilege. I went, had a great time and enjoyed an easy Raptor victory that would clinch us 6th place in the East. That means we avoid the Pistons in the first round and get the far better match up against Orlando.

I didn't think we've have a prayer against the Pistons, so this give us some sweet hope that we could actually win our second series in franchise history. Things should get underway Sunday. As I prepare my red and white wardrobe without a hint of purple, here's the Raps into song that seems to work so well with lights down low and CB4 and the gang hitting the court.

It was about a year ago I wrote this open letter to Vince Carter. No other professional athelete upsets me the way Carter does. Hit up that entry if you want to read what I said to the former Raptor star.

Hey Vince, ain't karma a bitch?

Prior to this late season swoon, we were pretty secure in 5th place in the NBA Eastern Conference. That would mean a first round match-up with LeBron James and the 4th place Cleveland Cavaliers. I don't see us winning that series.

Today, we're only .5 games up on Washington. The goal is to finish sixth so we face the Orlando Magic. I think that's our best chance at winning our second playoff series in franchise history.

It's a slippery slope, so we have to be careful not to fall into seventh. That's a match-up with the Pistons. We want 6th! We want 6th!

I would love to see Mighty Mouse back in town. He was our first draft pick, our first award winner and our first basketball star, and we loved him. Before he was traded to Portland, he was the man around these parts. Who wasn't a Damon Stoudamire fan?

I've love to see him back up Jose Calderon and finish up where he started off. Unlike Vince Whatshisname, Mighty Mouse didn't burn the bridge. I'd welcome him back with open arms.

I say 20.3 PPG and 9.20 RPG is reason enough.

1. Damon Stoudamire
2. Carlos Rogers
3. Acie Earl
4. Tracy Murray
5. Popeye Jones

The tickets were $15 each, $60 for the four of us. You're tucked away in the Sprite Zone, but I don't mind that one bit. In fact, it's better. The kids are entertained during breaks in the action, Michelle actually won a tee-shirt that James wore throughout the game, and the crowd is young, enthusiastic and sincerely happy to be in the building. If you're taking kids to see the Raptors, I highly recommend the Sprite Zone. It's the best bang for your Toronto sports scene buck.

The atmosphere itself is completely different than that of a Leafs game. The music is hip-hop and R&B, with Kanye instead of Nickelback. The crowd is much younger, less comatose and much less white. My wife, who I've never caught watching the Raptors on television, loves going to Raptor games at the ACC. My daughter keeps her eyes focused on the dinosaur mascot and James was blown away by the whole experience. Raptor games are fun, even when you lose by 13.

And of course, I was there to see Captain Canada, the greatest basketball player this nation has ever produced. Steve Nash didn't disappoint, dishing off a season-high 18 assists while chipping in 10 points. Leandro Barbosa scored the baskets but Nash was everywhere. He was worth every cent of my $15.

Here are pics I took. A good time was had by all.

Tonight, I'll be watching the Suns and Raps again. I bought the tickets to see the greatest Canadian basketball player in the history of the sport, but I'm still cheering for a Raptor victory. With Bosh out of the lineup, I wonder who will step it up to set a new franchise mark for points?

Carlos Delfino, this is your night.

I don't mean to make light of another man's pain, but this image is deja vu all over again. I'm trying to heal, but there's always something there to remind me of the pain.

How do you spell karma? F-U-V-C.

• The NBA GM survey doesn't mention the Raptors at all. Their picks to win the Atlantic Division are Boston, New Jersey and New York.
• The SI Power Rankings don't even have us in the top ten.
• This Fox Sports blog doesn't even care enough to mention us. It likes the Bulls.
• Somehow Associated Content has the Nets, Celtics and 76ers ahead of us in the division. Yikes!
• Hollinger at ESPN has us finishing 8th in the conference.
• The Sports Watchers don't even have us making the playoffs.
• ESPN, at least, have us tied with New Jersey as the 2nd most likely to win our division. They're picking Boston.

You get the idea. Nobody thinks we're going to win the division again and few give us a hope and a prayer of coming out of the conference. Listen to me now and hear me later, we're a better team than we were last year and we were pretty damn good last year. It's possible the Nets win the division, but this year we actually win a playoff round, maybe two.

Bargnani will be greatly improved, Bosh is still awesome and Kapono can shoot the lights out. The fun starts tonight. Go Raptors Go!