The Raptors In Six, Eh!
There are odd things done in the midnight sun
By the men who dribble the court.
The hardwood trails have their secret tales;
Legends of a global sport.
The Northern Lights have seen strange sights,
But the strangest they ever did see
Were games that were played and plays that were made
By a team from the North Country.
They came from the land, "We The North," where the winters are cold and strong;
A band of brothers, backing each other, from places they didn't belong.
Undrafted, untested, unknown, unrested, they only wanted to play;
Working together, better and better, looking to judgement day.
Their opening game was given away, a poor first impression.
They won the next four, Orlando no more, dispatched in quick succession.
But Philly was stronger, the series went longer, the end couldn't be sweeter;
From the heavens a ball, the clock said it all, it was a buzzer beater.
The best all season, the Greek the reason, the Raptors quickly down two;
A defensive wall, caused the Bucks to stall, the basket a distant view.
The Raptors played on and eventually won; the Warrior hoard awaited.
They had raised the bar, getting this far, entering the finals unsated.
The most dangerous foe is a wounded one, and that's who the Raptors faced;
Number five, the Threepeat alive, the Warriors would set the pace.
As the series went longer, the Raptors grew stronger, the Warriors looked down at defeat;
When the whistle blew, the Raptors knew, there would be no Threepeat.
There are odd things done in the midnight sun
By the men who dribble the court.
The hardwood trails have their secret tales;
Legends of a global sport.
The Northern Lights have seen strange sights,
But the strangest they ever did see
Were games that were played and plays that were made
By a team from the North Country.
Joel S. Harris
Copyright © 2019 Joel S. Harris, all rights reserved.
References and Credits:
Cover: Special thanks to the "Dream Team" at the Digital Innovation Hub, North York Reference Library for their assistance in preparing the cover art;
Art: "Northern Lights" (1916) by Tom Thomson (death, July, 8, 1917), oil on wood panel (21.6 x 26.7 cm).
Cover Font: "Chinese Rocks" (http://typodermicfonts.com/chinese-rocks-minor-update/) used for "We The North" trademark.
Poem:
Based on the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee," by Robert W. Service,
"We The North" is a trademark registered to Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
"Threepeat" is a class code 025 trademark for use on clothing and is registered to Riles & Company, Inc. The term is a registered trademark owned by Pat Riley (https://www.threepeat.com), the Lakers' head coach from 1981–1990, although it was coined by L.A. player Byron Scott immediately after their successful championship defence against the Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals.
