Vince Understands the Boos
As my esteemed colleague Russ Bengtson memorably put it a few days ago, Vince Carter’s game has fallen off a cliff.
The artist formerly known as Half-Man Half-Amazing is averaging the fewest amount of points per game since his rookie season, and the fans in The Swamp are letting him hear it.
Instead of sulking, Vince is taking the high road and says the fans have a right to be upset. Carter’s not exactly thrilled with his play himself.
“I was booing myself,” Carter said. “You miss a straightaway layup, barely touch the paint on a three-point shot. Things like that are just frustrating for me.”
Being one of the most apathetic yet gifted athletes to ever grace a basketball court, watching Vince Carter since he burst into the League has been a series of incredible highs only topped by the bewildering frustration VC evokes in fans and observers.
It’s strangely satisfying to know that Vince, at last, is feeling some of that frustration himself.
53 Responses to “Vince Understands the Boos”
Dec.14 at 10:12 am
Jared says:
so stop jacking up shots and start runnin
Dec.14 at 10:12 am
Keith says:
Well said Jared. I think it might be the first thing Vince has understood this season.
Dec.14 at 10:13 am
Benoit Benjamin says:
I remember a few years ago, when they were both playing in Toronto, how people would say that Carter was a future HOFamer and T-mac was just a good player. Funny how a few highlights dunks can influence your judgment.
Dec.14 at 10:18 am
maio says:
Who cares as long as the team is winn…nevermind.
Dec.14 at 10:18 am
Mayor Adam West says:
it was about what? 2001? when everyone started hating on vince
Dec.14 at 10:23 am
Chris O says:
I think what it comes down to for Vince is that basketball is just a job for him. He’s getting a little older and he can’t just flick the switch on and off anymore. That and he doesn’t love the game enough to put the time in to actually fix these problems.
Dec.14 at 10:30 am
thesubwayconnection says:
Agreed, Chris. I’ve always thought that when players would talk about how there were guys in the league who just collected their checks and put in minimal effort and then there were guys who were early to practice and stayed late; Vince always fell into the former category.
Dec.14 at 10:35 am
Hi! says:
i wanna see him in the dunk contest again. they’ll raise the hoop for Dwight and lower it for Vince.
Dec.14 at 10:37 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Vince needs to get a mid-range jumper.
Dec.14 at 10:41 am
Benoit Benjamin says:
Or he just needs to drive to the hoop. hell the guy is good, no excuse for settling on jumpers when he could be finishing at the rim. Even Tj Ford drives more than him when he should be the one affarid of it.
Dec.14 at 10:46 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Regardless, I’d rather see him shooting 13-foot jumpers than 23-foot ones at this point. And I still think they should trade him to the Knicks, if only to consolidate the booing. Imagine if he, Eddy, Steph and Jared Jeffries all checked into a game at the same time? Earth would be knocked out of orbit.
Dec.14 at 10:46 am
Mayor Adam West says:
a lil rip hamilton midrange type game would help vince
Dec.14 at 10:51 am
Chris O says:
I wouldn’t have been surprised if VC had just let his last contract expire then fade to black. Go back to UNC, get another degree, play sax in the jazz band or something and never touch a ball again. Though 60 million is a tough contract to turn down. Is that what he got inked to? I’d play baseball for that kind of money.
Dec.14 at 10:55 am
Garrett says:
Vince was the man in his rookie year. I remember him playing the passing lanes, getting steals, blocking shots, and having some pretty nice assists. He really looked like he had the full package. Not to mention those crazy ass dunks. I’d say send him to the Spurs (because that’s where all vets go to retire and win a championship) but he doesn’t deserve that.
Dec.14 at 10:55 am
Jared says:
The only way Vince would quit ball to go back to school is if a big game was on the line. Vince no-heart-er
Dec.14 at 10:59 am
Chris O says:
haha…true enough Jared. Think he’d quit ball to play videogames with his mom instead?
Dec.14 at 11:06 am
Jared says:
Regardless of his dragging ways, he’s accountable for 20 a night, which means there will always be a contract in the max range for him…he might as well sulk through the next 5-7 years of his life and keep bankin while he can. Go on a two-month hot streak, get a SLAM cover, then play like crap for his 4-6th seed playoff team.
Dec.14 at 11:10 am
Benoit Benjamin says:
Still it’s a waste of talent. Like you said Garrett he ad the full package and he could have been the man.
Dec.14 at 11:15 am
Chris O says:
For sure. Those first two, three years in the League were the most exciting I’ve seen from one player.
Dec.14 at 11:17 am
Solito says:
Vince is the type of player Charles and Kenny refered to, when they said, that players want to be superstarts, but don’t thrive on becomming the best players they can possibly be.
Dec.14 at 11:42 am
Nguni says:
agreee with you solito…that is exactly what i was thinking. if he wanted to be a hall of famer and not just get a cheque, he would be unstoppable, just like most of the superstars in the league. they not trying to be hof’s.
Dec.14 at 11:44 am
TADOne says:
The Slam cover jinx??
Dec.14 at 11:45 am
TADOne says:
Vince needs to develop a mid range heart Russ, not a mid range jumper.
Dec.14 at 12:36 pm
riggs says:
Well said Benoit, well said.
Dec.14 at 12:52 pm
Sesa says:
Okay, let’s just put Vince in a low post then.
Dec.14 at 1:01 pm
Rich says:
Everybody just relax… hey Jared, when you graduated, were you able to change the date of the ceremony to attend more “serious affairs”…just wondering…VC154LIFE
Dec.14 at 1:03 pm
Captain America says:
Take heart, admission is the first step to recovery.
Dec.14 at 1:05 pm
TonyG says:
I love VC, but he’s obviously the star that cares least in the NBA..shame, because if he had Kobe’s work ethic in early 2000’s and continued like that, he would be better than Kobe, or McGrady, or Wade..
Dec.14 at 1:14 pm
Rasheedionics says:
He is what we thought he was…
Dec.14 at 1:38 pm
its just alex says:
He’s also just ridiculously injury prone, though I’m sure his lackadaisical work ethic never helped him rehab all that quickly.
Dec.14 at 1:48 pm
Illy_Philly6 says:
Leave Vince Carter Alone! It’s not his fault…clearly it’s RJ’s fault. Get rid of him and all will be right with the world.
Dec.14 at 1:59 pm
Mike says:
Some people are just not meant to be leaders, and VC just doesn’t have it in him to be the Man night in and night out. But he would be the perfect second-banana to someone like Kobe. So why not trade VC for LO straight up? People in LA have problem with Odom cause he doesn’t shoot enough.. Teams would be less inclined to double Kobe every time he touches the ball, if a gunner like Vince was out there with him.
Dec.14 at 2:21 pm
Harlem_World says:
Vince is vaginal.
Dec.14 at 4:15 pm
crazylee12 says:
“Vince understands the boos”? Muhfu#@er should be fluent in booish by now!
While I don’t think the fans in Jersey deserve to be subjected to the gutless play of 1/2 man, 1/2 hearted, it is kind of relieving to know that us Toronto fans aren’t the only ones who had to suffer through it.
Dec.14 at 4:27 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
If Vince is vaginal, the Nets should invest in vagasil
Dec.14 at 4:31 pm
Jess says:
Its RJ’s fault…come one its Wince that hasnt been playing well and you cant blame that on anyone except himself. People are finally seeing that other people, besides Raps fans, hate on Vince and it is well deserved…..I dont blame JKidd for wanting out…Vince Carter - half man half a season
Dec.14 at 5:04 pm
Jukai says:
I don’t know guys, at the end of last year, he was driving more, he was hitting his outside shots, he was owning the east.. and I honestly thought Vince would have a comeback this year. I mean, shouldn’t the Nets be the most exciting team in the L cause of Carter? I can’t watch five minutes of their games, it’s incredibly boring. They’re exciting on the fast break but they ALMOST NEVER GET to the fast break. It’s sad.
Dec.14 at 6:21 pm
deestarbuckz says:
You can’t make someone “love” to play. Some folks are just blessed with talent. Vince had crazy talent and potential. But no heart and no love, and no desire to get any better. Pretty damn sad…
Dec.14 at 6:55 pm
vmcb says:
It’s rediculous how similar Vince Carter and RJ play; they’re both athletic slashers who are able to hit the outside shot. VC just has superior talent to counter his inferior work ethic.
Dec.14 at 7:15 pm
Chris O says:
Any average NBA player with Vince’s work ethic would have been out on their ass a long time ago. It’s just too bad that that’s VC’s legacy.
Dec.14 at 7:39 pm
GGG says:
Vince ‘pulled his heart muscle’ back in 2001 - I doubt he’ll ever make a full recovery. Damn shame that.
Dec.14 at 9:27 pm
Mike C says:
The only way that Vince can get back on the public’s good side is to enter the dunk contest next year and kill it. That’s the ONLY way.
Dec.15 at 12:21 am
Garrett says:
That would be so awesome if Vince came here and these incendiary (yet true) comments. A solitary tear would probably roll down his cheek, then he’d pull a hammy.
Dec.15 at 2:42 am
TC says:
^^^no he won’t, he would just think people are all hating on him for no good reasons. He doesn’t really feel bad about the way he’s been playing, he only says that so the media and JKidd won’t get on him too much. If hard work is a talent, then VC is the least talented player in the L.
Dec.15 at 3:21 am
Mike says:
This guy was called the Next Jordan in 1999-2002 yeah his injuries messed him up yeah he left my city and i still call him my favorite player he was so gifted but was a lazy a** now its all about Kobe. Carter wont make the all start team this year. J kidd to cleveland Carter to Orlando.
Dec.15 at 12:56 pm
t.dot dude says:
FU** vince
Dec.15 at 12:57 pm
t.dot dude says:
half man half trader
Dec.15 at 12:59 pm
t.dot dude says:
if vince ever shows his face in toronto, i will personally take a knife and stab him
Dec.15 at 6:56 pm
QQ says:
Yeah, we all know Vince freaking sucks (Hey VC,just leave jersey. Stop tainting Kidd’s club.) But why does he STILL appear in slam covers?…………. OH, to sell units. /sarcasm
Dec.15 at 7:10 pm
dirk says:
Good point Mike. Trade Odem for VC. Lakers need someone who wants to shoot with no hesitation. Odem passes 1st, shoots 2nd. Kobe needs someone who can score with him to succeed. At this point, i can settle trading Odem to any decent scorer. Kobe cannot carry the whole team.
Dec.15 at 7:57 pm
Jason Mary says:
I wanna see you try and stab VC t. dot dude, I’ll kick your ass
Dec.16 at 12:15 am
Harlem_World says:
Half Man/Half Lazy
Dec.17 at 1:36 pm
Jared says:
Na rich, i didn’t change my graduation date, good point, but i didn’t leave college early, make millions, and not show up (figuratively) for the most important work day of my life (that he will ever have). Clearly college wasn’t that important if he left early, just cause you don’t attend ure graduation CEREMONY, doesn’t mean you don’t graduate. I’m sure he could’ve found away to attend a different ceremony and be honored just as heavily. And please, don’t try to tell me his graduation was more serious than his career, he left early for a reason. Go carv your initials under his in a tree somewhere.