New Beginning
You know the feeling when you're at home just sitting back wondering about different things. It doesn’t matter what's going on around you; you are focused in the moment and really just thinking about about different things that are going on in your life. Well, to say the least, I have had a few of those recently. Being traded from Portland to New Orleans was a bag of mixed emotions. Obviously the city was great, and like I said in the my last blog, I have relationships within that organization that I really believe will last a lifetime, but it was time for a change. It’s funny how some things work, because over the summer one of my good friends is actually from Toronto and told me he could just feel I was going to end up there. I obviously kind of brushed him off and never really entertained it with him. In the back of my mind, though, I knew deep down what a great situation it would be due to the fact it was a young up and coming team that was definitely on the rise. At the time I was still with Portland and trying to make it work there. One thing with me, when I go into something I’m not going to go half way or even three quarters. I believe you have to be 100% committed to truly achieve what you want. Anyway, the morning I got traded from New Orleans to Toronto was different. The reason I say it was different is because I didn’t have mixed feelings this time. Don’t get me wrong, New Orleans is a GREAT organization in a great city, and the fans are amazing ,but I knew finally there was a serious opportunity for me to go out there and play basketball again. The truth is, I haven’t been able to do that consistently for the last two years. Yeah, I could blame the coach team for not being able to play, but to me that is petty. Everything in this world happens for a reason. The man upstairs has a plan for all of us and ,obviously, his plan was to land me in Toronto. A new country, a new climate, a new beginning. I can’t lie and say that I knew to much about Toronto prior to being here, but for the short time that I have been here I hope this is something that doesn’t come to an end. It’s not only a city that embraces us as the players we are, but as the people we are as well. You don’t get that everywhere in the world. So, I guess to really sum everything up, I really hope Toronto continues to embrace me and this team as we continue to do the same......
JB
46 comments:
Welcome to the Tdot bro. Represent us proudly!
glad to hear you found somewhere where you belong! even happier that it was with Toronto! great game tonight, you were all over the floor tonight. glad to have you on the raptors for a long time!
Keep working man, I know you've got it in you to be great. Us Raptor fans love this team with a passion and if you guys come with the effort every night we'll be there to support and cheer win or loss.
And keep up the blog too, it's interesting and refreshing to read. Not many NBA players take their time and do things like this, you don't know how much us fans really appreciate it.
Im glad your happy. Good luck in Toronto.
Nice blog Jerryd, I truly misses you in Portland, have a great season with the Raptors
I'm glad you're enjoying the city Jerryd and we're happy to have you here too. It's funny because it was this offseason my brother and I were saying the same thing that BC should go after but I guess you're right a God really does know what he's doing. Been a fan of yours since you were drafted yo. Keep doing young thing and I hope that your stay here is a permanent one.
welcome to Toronto!
it is so refreshing to hear the personal reflections of players like you, vs someone else's opinion about who you are. when i first heard about the trade, i wasn't really sure about it until i heard you speak at the first practice. I was sold by your attitude, your enthusiasm for opportunity and genuine humbleness. You will thrive here and Toronto fans will appreciate your hard work.
did you still want suggestions for places to eat?
Jerryd... I've watched you in Portland and I couldn't be happier to see you in a Raptors uniform... I'm pulling for you to be the PG of the future on this squad. I've watched you play at the collegiate level and I truly believe you can be something special in this league. Keep working hard with the young guys and you will see success... Best of luck man. You know Toronto has your back as long as you have ours.
Keep it going. Keep hungry. You're doing very well.
It really is refreshing to hear a bright dude talking up Toronto and aspiring to be the best baller he can be here. Really good situation for both parties. :P
Jarryd! Welcome to Toronto!
We're passionate fans. We applaud honest effort and we have our players back. I trust you'll enjoy Toronto. Make it your home. It's the most underrated city in North America. A time will come when our Raptors will be in the playoffs again, and then you'll truly witness the passionate nature of Toronto's sports fans.
Represent T.Dot!
Peace,
Salam-Alaikum.
good game today! Work hard on your game, and lead us to the championship one day!
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1071820
we are all talking abt you.
greetings from the Yukon! the raptors are Canada's only team, so you have fans from all over canada! happy to have you on the raps! good luck
Bienvenue à Toronto, your more then welcome here. And we appreciate a good read, keep it up big guy your doing great so far.
Jerryd Bayless I love you and I promise I will always spell your name correctly. JERRYD. :D
I have been a fan of your for quit a while. Always hoped you would end up in Toronto, I was overjoyed to say the least. Welcome to T.Dot You are exactly the type of player, person this team needs. Keep it 100.
Great blog, man. Don't forget to explore all the other things Ontario has to offer outside of Toronto as well. There's a lot to see and do, and don't forget about the rest of Canada as well. Make sure you schedule trips to Ottawa, Quebec City, Vancouver, Victoria - and take a train trip around the north shore of Lake Superior to see the rugged, northern beauty.
We love your hard work JB. Toronto loves players like you who are all heart and put their heart on the court every night.
I was a fan of yours out of college and always hoped you'd end up on our team. Looks like the man upstairs not only answered your prayers, but mine aswell :)
after the whole Bosh and Turkoglu nonsense, good to see someone who WANTS to play where he is there in Toronto. And I bet right about now all of us here in Portland are missing you far more than you are missing us.
Hey Blazer brass, how is that trade working out for you right about now? Trading a real competitor for...I am sorry, I forgot what pure awesomeness we got for someone who played hard, worked hard, did whatever was asked...
Glad to have you on the team Jerryd and really happy to hear you're embracing the city as much as we are you.
Thanks for being true.
Your qualities as a person and as a player are what makes you great. You will be embraced by not only a city, but an entire country. Welcome to Canada, we are glad you are here!
Welcome to Toronto JB.
We appreciate hard working as well as articulate people. You seem to fit the bill for both.
Jerryd, I hope you find that Toronto is the perfect place for you to grow and I hope your contributions are truly appreciated there. I personally wish you were still in a Trail Blazers uniform, but I wish you the best of luck with the Raptors.
-Kira
Careful, JB...with an attitude like that, you're likely to become a legend in this team's history.
Some of us fans appreciated you as a person in Portland too! I was sad when you were traded, you brought a lot of heart to the Blazers. Now it seems like the team has no energy or heart. But it's the Blazers' fault, they lost a great player and kept horrible ones. I know some of them might be your friends, but let's be honest, the team sucks right now. I hope you do well in Toronto, seems like their fans really appreciate you already! Keep up the writing! It's great to hear from NBA players on a personal side. :)
Jerryd
Its finally your TIME
MAKE THE MOST OF IT!
Your family and friends have your back
Rick Bayless
Welcome to T.O. Jarryd! Great to have an intelligent, hardworking, youthful guy like you as another key piece to the future of this team.
Keep working hard, and keep improving!
glad to have ya JB. toronto fans respect hard work. we might not be the best but we expect our boys to play harder than everyone. you've been awesome since coming. keep it up dude.
cam
(winnipeg, mb)
Rep T-Dot till they bury you.
Welcome to Toronto Jarryd, rip it up Friday!
jerryd! welcome to tdot man, you'll love the city for sure as it has alot of things to offer. your already making a big impact off the bench for us, so keep up the hard work! :D
You and JC make a solid PG spot. Keep up the hard work man. We won't settle for anything less.
By the way, I was talking about Jose, not Jesus. But hey, Jose has your back like Jesus, or something. I'll stop now.
I'm so glad you are here! Welcome to T.O. and you were awesome on Wednesday! My hubby is coming to see you play OK...knock 'em dead. I'll be seeing you on the 19th vs the Lakers.
Good read. I'm out in Vancouver B.C but born and bred in T.O. and I am die hard Raptors fan. I have been following you from your Portland days. You represent yourself well and I hope you continue to do the same for Toronto. Do you JB and you will see how a whole county will back you!
I was at your debut against philly and it was nice to see a player with a good head on his shoulders and a legit game come to toronto and want to be here. hopefully you and calderon at the point can lead us into the playoffs while you're here. good luck
Glad to hear you are enjoying your time! As has been mentioned if you get a chance go to Montreal, take a trip up North, go to the East Coast. I know it is not what NBA players normally do but you may find it worth it!
Also, as an aside, thank you for writing intelligently. It is nice to see an athlete put the time in and make a good impression through their skill in writing.
Big ups jerryd, welcome to the city. Going to the game tonight to see ya put a thrashing on the thunder.
Rep Tdot till they bury you
Welcome to Toronto, Jerryd! We appreciate your hustle and heart on the court!
Welcome to Canada, Jerryd, from Niagara-on-the-Lake. You've made a lot of friends here already. This season and the potential of this team are starting to look exciting! Looking forward to your website and ongoing blog posts. Go Raps!
Toronto is the only city on earth that truly accepts individuality and all that comes with it. Toronto will be a great home for you now and in the future...
I'm glad that you are now playing for us the Raptors. The chemistry that you and the team have shown recently has been tremendous! I hope you stay and develop with our young guys, I see great potential for this team and for you to one day be our starting pg.
Good Luck!
T.Dot Loves You!
-Xtc
You were amazing in today's game. Keep up the awesome work and we're glad to have you in Toronto!
JB: i recognize the same fire in you that makes Nash, Kobe and Stockton great.
They all make/made their teammates better imo 'cause they also exhibit a conscientiousness and humanity -- let alone competitive drive -- that truly distinguishes the excellence of their character in their play.
And i hope working with Jose and Triano (who worked with Nash) elevates your game to the unimagined heights you've entrusted to the Lord above.
We've been waiting for the real-deal championship calibre players to play for Canada's team for so long (I'm originally from Vancouver so we lost our team, and we lost the Sonics): you are definitely of this cut of cloth. Keep working at it man, and lead by example and true humility (which you both seem to do) to raise the level of the TEAM.
"no bird soars too high that soars with it's own wings"
"the mark of a free mind is the ability to make distinctions"
Keep raising that limitless bar man, we want to see an NBA championship in Canada purely for the love this game, invented by a Canadian, allows! Do your worst (on the mediocrity and complacency) and we will get even better then what the team thinks is their best
Peace-Zen
Nice Game tonight Jerryd. Very Proud of you. We miss you here. Still watching you from Portland. Mike - Macaroni Grill.
This song made me think of you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiNv-Nyx4Fo I wish you the best in basketball and in life.
Jerryd i have to say u r one of those ppl i look up to evryday wen i play bball i practice evryday nd go to clinics nd camps u motivate me to mke me a bettr player i wld love to see u bcome a star cuz thts wat u deserve good luck nxt year intoronto hopefully well get sme more talent to bck u up in the draft
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