Carter: No shortcuts to the top

Every basketball fan has seen the New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter do something unbelievable in the air. But, for all his bravado, the man whose talent cannot be encompassed by just one moniker is firmly rooted in traditional values.

Carter made a 24-hour lightning visit in the city yesterday as part of a promotional tour of Asia for Nike, meeting the media and later thrilling hordes of basketball fans with spectacular slam dunks at the FEU gym.

"I’m fortunate that my Mom was there to bring me to all the basketball camps all the time," the NBA All-Star admitted. "It wasn’t just because it was basketball. For her, you had to be the best at what you were doing. That didn’t just apply to sports, but to everything you did."

It certainly applied to education, no two ways about it. Carter’s family picked North Carolina, an excellent educational institution that also produced NBA All-Stars Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins.

"I wanted to go to North Carolina because it’s a great school academically," Carter recalls. "But also because it had a great tradition. I wanted to do my four years, graduate, then go on to the NBA. I wanted to do it the right way."

Carter expressed his concern over the growing number of high school players who made the big leap to the NBA, saying that they’re just swallowing too much of the hype.

"They see LeBron James going straight to the NBA, Kevin Garnett doing well, Kobe Bryant making it. The harsh reality is, you’re not them," the former NBA slam dunk champion declared. "Everybody’s telling you you’re great. You may be great locally. But are you great globally? And young people today think they can shortcut their way to the top. You can’t cheat on it. If you try to cheat, it will always show up eventually."

Fortunately for "Vinsanity" he realized his potential between his second and third year of college, and decided to leave school early to enter the NBA draft. Although he did go back and finish his studies, his memories of making it into the pros are fuzzy.

"Everything happened so fast, and it didn’t sink in until that night," he remembers. "I was called up onstage, put on my Golden State hat, shook Commissioner Stern’s hand, smiled real quick, had my first interview, then posed for some photographs. Then, they told me I was traded, so I turned in my hat, put on the Toronto one, and did all the photographs all over again."

The move to Toronto landed the high flyer in the company of four teammates who were not only generous with their time and advice, but also in sharing their experience of playing with the greats of the game.

"Dee Brown played with Larry Bird; Doug Christie played with Magic. Kevin Willis played with Dominique, and Charles Oakley played with Michael Jordan," he smiled. "What could be better than that?"

On his second day with the Raptors, Oakley took the neophyte aside and offered to be his mentor. That was a turning point in the young swingman’s career, and gave him the emotional boost to overcome his rookie jitters.

Eventually, he became known as "Air Canada" for his unbelievable leaping ability and mind-blowing dunks. He warns that his process in coming up with them may sound a bit unusual.

"Believe it or not, I literally dream about them," Carter chuckles. "I dream about them the day before a game, and I end up being able to do them. It just happens."

In the 2000 Olympics, Carter had one of the most remarkable moves of all time, stealing an outlet pass and jumping over France’s 7’2" center in a strong move for a dunk.

"I wasn’t thinking about him. I didn’t even see him," the New Jersey Nets guard-forward explains. "I stole the ball, and the rest of my guys were on the other side of the floor. So I was thinking that I had to attack the basket strong before the other defenders came over. But when I saw the highlight after, I watched it eleven straight times."

Carter is also spending a lot of time with his foundation named Embassy of Hope, which aims to level the playing field for disadvantaged children, regardless of their ethnicity and background.

"My dream is to open up opportunities for all kids," he explains. "Not just white or black or whatever. Kids today have to know how to dream big, and to fight for their dream. I hope to give them the opportunity to get their dreams."