Changes
Throughout life everyone experiences changes. Some good, some bad; it is an inevitable part of life that we must come face to face with sooner or later. Obviously I have gone through one of the biggest changes ever in my life over the past couple weeks. With the business that I went into, change definitely comes with the territory. Luckily, I had a pretty good idea what was coming, so I wasn’t caught totally off guard, but it definitely isn’t as easy a transition as I thought it would be. Being traded from Portland to New Orleans is like going from two total opposites of the world. Even though Portland was something I was comfortable with, Ican't express how happy I am with the change. If you have read some of my previous blogs, you’’ll remember me actually talking about New Orleans and the struggle the residents have been through since the storm. It's very ironic that I was traded here after that -- lol.... I've also been lucky that I know people here that have been able to show me around the city , making it easier for me to get aquainted. With us playing Portland on Saturday for the first time since the trade, it definitely will be a little different. Some of the relationships that I gained with my former teammates are definitely ones that will be life-long type friendships. In the end though, Saturday is just another game that we need to win to continue our 7-0 start. Hopefully, we will be able to do it.
JB
28 comments:
As a Portland resident, I was terribly disappointed to see you traded. However, I think a fresh start in New Orleans may be just what you need. You have a TON of talent, and I am hoping that playing with CP3 every day will help you find your niche in this league. I admire your hard work and persistence; keep it going.
Blazers will figure out they made a huge mistake, but I will be a fan of yours for your entire career. Hoping you blow up in N.O. and if the Blazers cannot win it all...I hope you meet New Jersey (yeah, I know, tyhey are a few decades off) in the Finals so I can watch you and Outlaw tear it up.
Best wishes for a long, healthy, productive career.
Jerryd I love your positive attitude. I have to say I have followed your career through college and then you came to my city where i followed your first few years in the NBA and I continue to follow you in New Orleans and have bought tickets to see you play in Portland. I met you once thanks to my cousin Nick who is a trainer in portland :) I wish you much luck this season as you develop you game.
Jacque
I was bummed about this trade because I love watching you play. I was happy for you though because I felt like you didn't really get the shot you deserved in Portland. I wish things would have worked out better in Portland, but I'm happy you'll get a better chance to shine.
Best of luck, dude. I'll be rooting for you.
im still mad u got traded miss u jerryd :)
Welcome to T.O
Sorry to hear you have to be on the move again :/ Must be hard to have to transition again. Just remember that God is in control and He knows what He's doing :)
Welcome to Toronto Jarryd!
I think you'll find new life up in Toronto. You, Calderon, DeRozan, Kleiza, Bargnani, Peja... gotta good mix of different talent. I run an NBA blog and just did a little piece on you upon the trade. check it out here. http://kisstherim.com . Good LUCK!
Change is definitely hard, especially when you enter a place knowing no one.
Welcome to Toronto ! I hope you fall in love with the city and find your zen. :)
Hi Jerryd,
I am from toronto, and as a Raps fan I'd like you to know that everyone i speak to is really excited about you coming to town. A lot of people think you can be a big part of this team's future. Cheers to making Toronto your new home for a long time. Its a great city if you get to know it...especially when it warms up.
Tip from a fan: as long as the fans see you are putting in maximum effort on the court and show a little love for the city itself raps fans will love you.
Best of luck on this new journey
HEY Jerryd
I hope you fall in love with Toronto, because you are about to be a young star on a up and coming team. I hope you take advantage of the potential blessings this trade will have on your life.
Take care, have fun and I hope you have a prosperous year.
Mike..
Hey Jerryd!
Welcome to T.O.! Hope it feels like home to you soon enough :) I'm excited to see you play soon. The city is vibrant and the fans LOVE basketball so have some fun this season - it gets better!
Welcome to Toronto! I'll echo Andrew's comment above -- TO fans care most about effort on the floor. We'll just lap that up.
Looking forward to seeing you play!
Welcome to TO,
can't wait to wee you in uniform.
much love,
coachdave
Welcome to Toronto!!
Now that the Toronto Star has outed you as a blogger (LOL) it would be good to 'get at it'. One thing you will find about Toronto fans, and it should not be a secret, that EVERYONE Canadian has the hockey mentality built into their desire for a sports player to leave it ALL on the floor. Some of our heroes did things like play hockey on a broken leg and going to the hospital AFTER the game. Or like Steve Nash after the cut. Guys who will dive at the ball, play very hard, and take no prisoners. Favourites of every Raptors fan are guys like the Junk Yard Dog, Oakley, Matt Bonner, to name a few. Making an impact here is that simple. Use what you have as far as finesse is concerned then fight the rest of the way. I wish you good luck, and remember, it's the attitude, sweat, and fight that we all want to see, then the polite, calm, educated statesman who shows the other side after the last whistle. Bonne chance, you get to be loved in both official languages.
Welcome to TORONTO. You're going to love this city, I guarantee it.
I lost interest in the Raptors ever since Carter left. Still followed the NBA, but didn't find a reason to cheer for the Raptors. Things were bad, and I had a feeling it would keep getting worse.
But when I heard you got traded here...it rekindled my interest in the team. I'm not saying you'll be able to electrify the Raptors/NBA like Carter did, nor do I want you to. I want you to be you...have your own identity. What excites me about you is that you posess a deadly combination of skill and confidence, without coming off as being arrogant.
So play hard and play proud. We will stand behind you and the team as long as you don't give up. But be warned...if you bail out on us...we will not forget!
=)
btw...i'll be at Sundays game vs. the Hawks...sitting 2 rows behind their bench.
Hey Jerryd,
From one blogger to another, I just wanted to welcome you to Toronto. I grew up in Portland but I've lived in the Toronto area for about 20 years or so.
If you liked Portland, I think you'll love it here. It's a very similar mindset up here. And as for the weather, I'd gladly trade the cold for the non-stop rain that we got back home.
The only thing you might find weird is the hockey thing. People treat hockey like a religion up here. It's actually pretty fun to watch, even for hoops guys like ourselves. You might want to check out a Leafs game if you get a chance.
Another thing you'll probably like to know: Torontonians love hard workers like yourself, the guys who bear down on defense and do all the scrappy things that help win games. A few fan fave's from the past up here include Matt Bonner, Charles Oakley and Jerome (JYD) Williams. You dont' worry about putting up big numbers for the fans, they'll love you if you just show up every game and put it all out on the floor.
So welcome to Hogtown and best of luck in your new digs!
Welcome to T.O., play hard.
You'll love playing in TO. Jerryd. Great city and most importantly great fans. Play hard and you'll be a God there, win or lose.
Welcome to Tdot homie! Caught your interview from practice last night and you mentioned this blog. My first impressions of you are that you're a good kid, humble dude. That type of attitude will go a long way in this town.
Can't wait to see you strap on the Uniform. Good luck. PS. And don't be discouraged when the fans are losing their sh*t at the end of the game because we have 99 points and they want the 100 point free pizza slice!
It drives me crazy...but a lot of the fans are kids and families...so it's ok I guess.
Welcome to the city, Jerryd! Echoing what most have already said, we're very excited to have you here to be apart of the ever-improving young onez core that comprises our beloved Raptors. Tough timing to come breezing into Toronto just as the temperature starts dipping south, but here are a couple tips to help with the transition - not only from the LA climate to the Great White North, but also from 11-0 to 5-9:
1. Canada Goose jackets are a great addition to any Canadian winter wardrobe: http://www.canadagoosesaleonline.com/
2. While, yes, we are ravenous hockey nation, Toronto knows and loves basketball its local hoopsters. And, more specifically, we love our hard-nosed, blue collar soldiers. Oak, JYD, Reggie - these guys are our archetypes. We enjoy high-fliers, big scorers and acrobatic athletes, to be sure. But if you leave it all on the floor and fight until the final buzzer, you'll be held up as another local hero.
3. Ethnic neighbourhoods and restaurants. Toronto has some of the best. We have Little Italy, two China towns, two little Koreas, Greektown (the Danforth), Little India, fantastic Jamaican spots along Eglinton - and the list goes on. If you enjoy diversity, Toronto is a dream destination!
4. Buy a Blue Jays hat.
5. Embrace your new fans and your new city. Take advantage of the opportunity you've been presented. Leave it on the floor - every night. Do these things and you, in turn, will be embraced by one of the most beautiful cities in North America, and by the the most loyal, passionate fans you'll find anywhere in the NBA.
Two hours to game time! Let's get 'em, JB!
Welcome .... I came here almost 6 years ago and I felt in love with the city .. I know that all the changes might seem confusing ... and I felt that way too ... but I always remember:Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets...... So LOVE the people that treat you right....... forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a REASON!!!!!!. If you get a chance....TAKE IT. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it..... :).... So welcome ... and do what you like to do ... Play !!!! go and win !!!! Go Raptors Go !!!!!
I just wanted to say how much I adore you as a person and as a basketball player. You seem to be an amazing person with a big heart, a lot of passion and talent. You're a great addition to this city and this country. You're also an amazing addition to the Toronto Raptors team. I hope you continue to develop along with the rest of the team members. You're all very exciting to watch. Congratulations on the exceptional debut performance. I look forward to seeing you as one of the faces of the franchise! I hope you enjoy your stay in Toronto. I hope you find happiness and contentment here, if you haven't already. Good luck with the rest of the season! I'll be seeing you in one of the games!!!!
Now, since I've given you a lot of compliments. Would you be so kind and give me good ideas as to where I would most likely run into you? Hahaha. Just kidding. Or maybe not ;)
Take care! Enjoy the game as much as we enjoy watching it!
Abundunce of potential to be an allstar in the east....Thats why Colangelo didnt draft a point guard this off season...Your very close....Toronto Loves you Bayless!
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