The Raptors opened the Toronto portion of this year?s training camp at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday.

All Raptors — new, old and hopeful — were honing their skills as Coach Sam Mitchell and GM Rob Babcock surveyed the situation. Among those hopefuls looking for a roster spot is Robert Pack.

Pack, a 13-year NBA veteran, had a good shot of making the team just over a week ago, but that was before Toronto?s volatile point guard, Rafer Alston, was traded to Houston for the steady-handed Mike James.

With Alston at the helm, the Raptors were in desperate need of veteran leadership at the guard position. Even though James? inclusion would appear to fill the role Pack was looking to man, Pack has remained positive.

?I haven?t let the trade affect how I?ve gone out and worked,? he said. ?I?m here to fight for this job and that hasn?t changed.?

Fighting for survival is something he is indeed used to. In one of the greatest moments in NBA history, Pack?s eight-seeded Denver Nuggets upset Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton?s first-placed Seattle Sonics in the 1994 NBA playoffs. Making the cut this time around might prove to be as difficult an undertaking.

With age comes a reduction in one?s ability to play professional sports, but it also brings valuable insight. Pack?s seen it all in the NBA, and he likes what he sees in Raptors? star forward Chris Bosh.

?Chris has the potential to be one of the better forwards to ever play the game,? he said, without a moment?s hesitation.

These are strong words from a man who has played alongside many great, big men in his time, including Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett and Dikeme Mutombo (his front-court ally in the toppling of the Sonics in those memorable ?94 playoffs). To include Bosh with the all-time bests of the NBA speaks volumes about how much Bosh?s game has developed in his two short years.

Pack also spoke highly of Toronto?s rookie tandem, Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham.

?They?re good players,? he said. ?They are adjusting to the level of intensity (that comes with NBA competition), but the ability is definitely there, and it?s showing. It showed all last week in practice and (it showed) in the scrimmage.?

With cuts on the way, Pack?s fate with the Raptors remains to be seen. But with hurricane Katrina having ravaged his hometown of New Orleans, he?s willing to go wherever it takes in order to help his loved-ones get back on their feet.

?(Whether in the NBA) or overseas, I still want to play the game,? he says, ?and I?ll fight for it.?

Other notes:
- Despite dropping 20 pounds, Rafael Araujo has looked very unimpressive thus far. Infact, Toree Morris has looked as good, if not better, than Araujo.
- Corey Williams is walking a thin line between confidence and cockiness. He thinks he can be a starting point guard on this team. Also quoted as saying, “I’m as talented as anyone on this team”
- Pape Sow pulled a groin muscle the other day, but is fighting through it
- Joey Graham and Charlie Villanueva are looking good. Chris Bosh is looking great
- Jose Calderon is adjusting well and threw a really nice alley-oop in the scrimmage
- Mike James is shooting the ball well
- Toree Morris had a nasty spill comming down from a rebound, but has battled through and continues to work hard

Photo Credit: Joe Murphy, NBA






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