Turnabout and fair play
Sports stars returning to scene of prime quite often fare well, ex-Argo Boyd on deck
If history means anything, Edmonton tailback Cory Boyd could have a big game Monday night when he plays his former team at the Rogers Centre. It will have been 16 days since Boyd, then the CFL’s leading rusher, was released by the Argonauts and signed with the Eskimos. There have been many memorable homecomings by athletes, in Toronto and elsewhere. Not all of them were welcomed back.
VINCE CARTER
The Raptors’ first, and arguably only, superstar returned to the Air Canada Centre as a New Jersey Net on April 15, 2005, following one of the NBA’s most lopsided trades in December, 2004. GM Rob Babcock dealt Carter for Alonzo Mourning, who never played for Toronto, along with Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two first-round draft picks. Carter was greeted by deafening boos from the sold-out crowd, even during the anthem. The venom continued each time he touched the ball. Security guards were posted at the Nets bench. Vinsanity fell from grace when he demanded a trade and admitted he didn’t play hard in some games. He blocked out the boos and scored 39 points, shooting 15-for-26, with nine rebounds and four assists.
ROGER CLEMENS
Clemens anchored the Boston Red Sox’s pitching staff for 13 years. He was deemed expendable by GM Dan Duquette following the 1996 season and signed with the Blue Jays, where he won two Cy Young awards. On July 12, 1997, the Rocket returned to Fenway Park. The atmosphere was more like a World Series game. Clemens was down1-0 early, allowing the first three Bosox batters to reach base, but wound up allowing just four hits while striking out 16 in eight innings of a 3-1 win. On July 31,1999, Clemens pitched at Fenway as a member of the New York Yankees. He was booed throughout, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings and the Yankees lost 6-5.
LEBRON JAMES
It was one of the most highly anticipated regular season games in NBA history. The crowd was hostile on Dec. 2, 2010, when James returned to Cleveland for the first time since signing as a free agent with the Miami Heat. James played seven seasons in his hometown, winning back-to-back MVP awards. But he wanted a championship and didn’t think he could do that in Cleveland. Fans hurled obscenities and booed every touch. Signs included: “Quitness” and “Play Like It’s Game Five” referring to a playoff game against the Celtics when he appeared to quit. Five fans also wore T-shirts with letters spelling “LeBum.” James scored a season-high 38 points, 24 in the third quarter before resting in the fourth, surrounded by security guards on the bench. The Heat won easy, 118-90.
MATS SUNDIN
After signing with the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent midway through the 2008-09 season, the longtime Leaf captain and leading scorer in franchise history (987 points) returned to the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 1, 2009. He received a standing ovation and a tribute was shown on the big screen. In a storybook ending, Sundin scored the 3-2 winner in a shootout.
ROY HALLADAY
Halladay received a standing ovation when he took the mound on July 2, 2011, at the Rogers Centre, the former Blue Jay ace’s first Toronto appearance since his trade to the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 15, 2009, for prospects Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor. One sign in the crowd: “Welcome Home Doc Please be Gentle.” He struck out eight and gave up three runs, including a Jose Bautis-
ta homer, in a 5-3 win.
BRETT FAVRE
After 16 seasons with the Packers, Favre, then 40, returned to Lambeau Field as quarterback of the rival Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 1, 2009. Favre was greeted by boos and some Pack fans burned old No. 4jerseys, but he threw for 244 yards and four TDs in a 38-26 victory. Popular T-shirt slogans: “Traitor 4Ever” and “Once a Hero, Now a Zero.” Favre played for the Jets before joining the Vikings, but they never faced the Packers while he was at the controls.
WAYNE GRETZKY
The Great One said he was a bit nervous playing his first game back in Edmonton on Oct. 19, 1988, fol- lowing his shocking summer trade to the L.A. Kings with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round picks and $15 million (U.S.). “I’d really rather not have to go in there,” Gretzky told Sports Illustrated. “We were the closest team, I think, that’s ever been assembled in pro sports.” After a four-minute standing ovation, Gretzky had a pair of assists and was minus-2 in an 8-6 loss to the defending champions.
DWAYNE DE ROSARIO
The former Toronto FC captain, who left on bad terms after seeking to be the team’s designated player, was traded to the New York Red Bulls in 2011 but never faced his old team, then was dealt again to DC United. In his first game back at BMO Field on May 5, 2012, he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win.
CURTIS JOSEPH
Cujo, one of the most popular goalies in Leaf history, never played in Toronto as a member of the Red Wings after signing with Detroit as a free agent in 2002. But later, with the Phoenix Coyotes on Jan. 14, 2006, he turned aside 28 shots in a 4-3 win at the Air Canada Centre. The much-travelled Joseph also played in Edmonton, his second NHL home, as a member of the Leafs on Oct.13,1998. He was booed throughout but wound up as the game’s first star, shutting out the Oilers 2-0.