May 2001: Vince Carter attends graduation ceremony
Vince Carter's decision to attend his North Carolina commencement on the same day the Raptors played Game 7 in Philadelphia remains arguably the most divisive moment in team history. Since both sides felt so strongly about Carter’s polarizing choice, we have decided to present both points of view. Carter himself will first defend his controversial decision, followed by a counter-argument from former teammate, Charles Oakley.
I Am an NBA Role Model
Point by Vince Carter
May 20th, 2001 was one of the proudest days of my life. Not only was I playing in the NBA playoffs, but I fulfilled an important promise that I made to my mother years ago: to graduate from college. My decision to attend the ceremony and wear my Carolina blues one last time allowed me to not only celebrate this achievement, but it also allowed me to do something even more special—be a strong role model. See, it is important for NBA players to ensure that young people understand the value of education, and for the NBA itself to support academic institutions. And if my decision made just one more child dream about going to college, well…that means more to me than any basketball game.
You Are a Fucking Pussy
Counterpoint by Charles Oakley
Are you fuckin’ with me you ankle-grabbin’ scrote-throater? And here I thought the 5 years since that game would have wised up your faggity-ass to your mistake. For one, this is the NBA, not mothafuckin’ Reach For The Top—The League is about makin’ goddamn benjamins, not learnin’ dumb-ass kids. Take that last rule uppin’ the age of players getting drafted—you actually think that’s to help schools? Give that crotch-divin’ head of yours a shake! That’s to keep peckerwood GMs from blowin’ their wads on young bitches who don’t have the grissel to play in a man’s league. Bitches like you. But fo shiggity, Oak will give you props for going back south and getting that degree, but struttin’ yo’ jigglywack ass across the stage? That shit was straight-up Hollywood! And what kind of role model you think you were that day, son? What those goddamn silver spoons needed to have rammed through their earholes was to get off their gravy-catchin’ asses and get a mothafuckin’ job. And you? You actually had a job, and decided to skip work on the most important day for the company. Nice fuckin’ role model.
That’s why when Oak gave the keynote address at Virginia Union last year, I didn’t just go off flippin’ at the jibs, I served my shit straight: “The world is filled with pussies and liars, and right now, you’re probably one of them. But you have a choice: you can go through life easily, swayin’ with your weak-ass backbone and values, or, you can look life in straight in the grill, and let it know that it can come at you anytime…and it may even knock you down…but not before it gets its mothafuckin’ ass fanned out first.”
Awesome...we should never had put our hopes on that Momma's boy. Many of us knew he was a pussy right from his first playoff appearance, but for some reason the media and franchise rallied around him, ignoring his MANY acts of extreme I'll-always-have-my-momma-to-hug-and-do-whatever-she-says ness...VC, I cherish every beat down you get in the playoffs; and it was priceless seeing you almost cry at the foul-line after being man-handled by the Heat. I'm glad the world is on to you and they know you for what you are, a big PUSSY.
Posted by: arsenal | October 20, 2006 at 12:25 PM
that day is still very vivid. i was in detroit visiting relatives, and the afternoon of that fabulous game 7, vince shows up on ESPN getting his diploma. my cuz turns to me and says "man, if y'all lose the game today, he's gonna take all the shit for going to his grad."
five years later...
Posted by: rachello | October 20, 2006 at 02:44 PM
What did he graduate in anyway? Pussyness with a minor on Wimpy Sciences?
Posted by: Don Paco | October 23, 2006 at 07:55 PM
hmm, i thought it was a double-major in Whining and Faking, and a masters in Copping Out. close enough ;)
Posted by: rachello | October 24, 2006 at 12:44 AM
Those all counted towards his Masters in Vaginal Arts.
Posted by: The Blue Baller | October 24, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Hey guess what ho ass bitches on this site complainin about Vince get over it the nigga graduated college, was and will be the best player in the history of the Raptor's, I'm pretty glad he pissed on y'all bitch ass country and left y'all ass out in the cold and ya lucky Bosh re-signed or there wouldn't be a team in Canada matter of fact that probably don't even matter cuz who the fuck is Chris Bosh but anutha good player that only makes himself look good on the stat sheet
Posted by: Vinsane | November 01, 2006 at 05:14 PM
Vinsane:
I'm guessing ya'll didn't graduate from college and earn anutha bitch ass degree. Again, just a ho ass guess.
Posted by: The Blue Baller | November 02, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Mr.Vinsane, if Bosh is only a player that makes himself look good on a scoresheet then, how can you claim to like Vince Carter? Wait a second... is this Antawn Jamison?
Posted by: B-Huge | November 02, 2006 at 10:55 PM
Hey Oak, didn't you miss a wide open layup that could put Toronto up one in that game 7?
Posted by: goVince | June 06, 2007 at 02:23 AM
hilarious
Posted by: Dave | May 29, 2010 at 10:34 AM