Bosh has a superb summer

NOTEBOOK Hooked up with buddies in Dallas Araujo returns better prepared

Chris Bosh had a great time in the summer, hanging out with friends in Dallas from junior high school.

“ We all knew each other when we were still trying to dunk,” he said with a laugh at yesterday’s meet- the- players media day. Bosh also took a trip to Maui. He couldn’t remember what part of the island he was on, although there was a very nice beach. Surfing was an option but Bosh didn’t try.

“ Anything that would’ve voided it ( his contract), I didn’t do.” ARAUJO IN BETTER SHAPE: Raptors centre Rafael Araujo spent the first part of his summer at home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, then worked out with the Brazilian national team. He had plenty of time to sample his favourite Brazilian dishes but said he lost 10 pounds in an effort to get faster on the court.

“ I worked hard this summer to prepare myself to run around, to run better and be better conditioned, to move quicker. One thing I saw last year is the play was quicker ( than in college).” IN THE BACKGROUND:

While crowds gathered around the Raptors’ bigger-name players yesterday, training camp invitees Tierre Brown, Bryant Matthews and Toree Morris were pretty much alone on one side of the practice gym. Brown, a 6foot-2 guard, was sitting in a chair, thumbing through a Canadian basketball magazine while Matthews and Morris stood chatting behind him.

“ Every year it’s like this,” said Brown, who has played for Houston, Cleveland and the Lakers, where he averaged 4.4 points per game last year. “ But I’m used to it. Those guys,” he said, gesturing to the veteran Raptors, “they’ve been here. They deserve it.” NO VINSANITY:

It was a solid crowd at the ACC yesterday, but officials conceded they didn’t attract nearly as much media as they did in the days of Vince Carter. T.O. JUST PERFECT:

Rookie point guard Jose Calderon, who has had a good degree of success in Spain and who could play a big role on the Raptors this year, said he was attracted to the city of Toronto. “ I like it because it’s like a European city. For me and for my wife, it’s perfect.” VERSATILE ROOKIE:

No offence to rookie Charlie Villaneuva, a 6-foot-11 forward, but Chris Bosh said he didn’t expect the Raptors to take a power forward with their first pick in the June draft.

“I was surprised. I mean, I didn’t know. I was guessing. They picked the best player available, and that’s what the draft is about.”

Villaneuva said, with a mostly straight face, that he can play all five positions on the court, including point guard.

“ He can try,” Bosh said with a smile. “ But those little guys are something else.”