Bosh and Calderon take their game to Spain

There is no more proud Spaniard than Jose Calderon, a man in love with his country, its people, its culture.

Speak to him for any length of time and that passion comes through. Watch him in the red and yellow jersey of his national basketball team and watch him be as happy as he can be. Engage him in conversation about his homeland and watch his eyes light up.

It is not far-fetched, then, to be listening to him on a scratchy telephone line from Spain this morning, talking about his camp for kids and a visit by Chris Bosh and to be able to almost hear him smile.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

“It is really special, very special,” the Raptors point guard told thestar.com. “I want to help the kids learn and to show Chris my home, the people. It was a great time for us all.”

Calderon’s third annual camp – III Campus Calderón - Marca Extremadura – attracted more than 300 players ranging from 8-18 years old from across Spain. It also attracted a three-day visit by Bosh which wrapped up earlier this week and Calderon’s time as tour guide came to an end.

“It was very nice of him to come, he is a very good friend and I can show him my area,” said the 27-year-old who hails from Villanueva de la Serena. “I want everyone to know about Spain and where I come from, the people.”

Calderon holds a special place in the minds of young Spanish basketball players. He’s been a fixture on the national team for more than a decade – although he’s taking this summer off to work on his body for the grind of the coming NBA season – and he is wildly popular for his contributions to the game.

Two years ago, when the Raptors played a pre-season game in Madrid – about 900 kilometres from Calderon’s area – he was swamped with fans everywhere he went. The camp is much the same, a chance for the young players to get an up close and personal look at one of their idols.

“I want them to know that basketball the right way is important, about teamwork and everyone working together,” he said. “I tell them the best thing about it is the teamwork.

“For some of the little kids, this is their first time out of the home, we want to make sure they learn the right things.”

Calderon has a variety of business interest back home that he helps tend to during the summer, including a pig farm that produces some of the great ham that Spain is known for. He and his wife, Ana, try to spend as much time as possible back home each summer and this year, with no international basketball obligations, he’ll have more free time in Spain than he’s had in more than 10 years.

The week-long camp (“It’s hard work, I’m going to need a vacation,” he joked) is his major summer obligation. He’s planning little more than working out to make sure his leg and finger – both injured last season with the Raptors – are 100 per cent for training camp.

He’s had no trouble recovering from finger surgery he had just after the NBA season ended and the sore hamstring that limited him so severely most of the season is 100 per cent.

“Now it is to get ready for the season; I want to have a great year,” he said.

Tomorrow in the Star:

Read more about Jose Calderon and his summer spent getting ready for the 2009-10 NBA season.

Comments

[Migs]

In an unrelated note, apparently Carmelo Anthony is also enjoying his time in Spain:
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/07/carmelo-anthony-in-spain-day-1/

Oh how I wish there was a bit more action on the home front...

[Jason]

This is what you have been teasing? This?

Blogger's note: Made you look, didn't it?

[Matt from Oakville]

Nice article Doug. Regardless of Bosh's current status with Toronto... what I see here are two good people promoting the greatest sport on earth.

[James]

Lucky, one of the best places in the world to live. i guess it evens out having to live 8 months a year in cold and snowy, hot and humid TO.

[dougie]

Great read, Doug! Thanks for the vid too... Never knew Jose was in the swine business. Maybe we should get him to bring out the bacon next season?

[Matthieu]

Thank you for this nice piece Doug. Seems like Calderon's good guy and yes, at least CB is working on his basketball skills rather than on his music ;).

[Blake Kennedy]

Is he planning on teaching these kids how to play on the defensive side of the court? For their sake, I hope not!

Blogger's note: Maybe you could become a camp counsellor and do it yourself?

[Kol Nika]

Hey doug, great work, thanks for keeping us informed. Quick question, was reading about the Rudy Fernandez thing, being apset about Portland persuing Turk, any chance they looking to trade him? If so, will the raps persue him, i love that mans game, and he could start at the 2 for us.
Thanks,
Kol, Toronto.

Blogger's note: If he is to be traded, there will be a couple of dozen teams in line and Toronto will be one of them. That's a pretty huge "if" though

[Greg]

I thought Bosh was bulking up.

Ha ha.

[pooks]

This was very nice to see, thank you!

[BB guns]

Doug, are the raps interested in Matt Barnes at all?

Blogger's note: Don't know

[Bas]

Madrid it's just 320 Km away from Calderon's area not 900

http://maps.google.es/maps?saddr=Villanueva+de+la+Serena&geocode=CVIjgsBNwk4_FSSyUgIdkn6n_w&dirflg=&daddr=madrid&f=d&sll=38.983432,-5.800095&sspn=0.295697,0.441513&ie=UTF8&z=8

[Madridgirl]

Just a little note: Madrid is not 900 kilometres from Calderon's area, it's about 330 kilometres, more or less.

Nice vid btw.

Blogger's note: My geographical error but it's a lovely country from top to bottom and I wish I could spend more time there.

[Jesse]

Good to see the pick and roll getting tighter but can we focus on what is going on else where? Like- Rotten Ronnie to the LAKERS!! Yeah baby!!!

[Tom L]

Ahh Blake. Here's a guy that played hurt most of the year, the only player this year to shoot >90% from the line, >50% from the field and >40% from 3 pt line (only Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, and Mark Price have ever accomplished this in the history of the NBA), 4th in the league in assists, took care of the rock, is poised under pressure, is a leader and the ultimate team player.

And here's an article on what he's given back and we still find commentators throwing him under the bus. His defense improved when he was healthy near the end of the season. Netting out offensive and defensive production, he was a huge positive.

I can almost guarantee that if Jose played on another team instead of the Raptors these last few years, we have most of the same commentators scream "why can't that imbecile Colangelo get a real player like Jose Calderon?"

Let's be first class fans to first class players.

[sonnyb]

Bosh and the Raptors are PATHETIC!!! I'm so tired of them. I've already moved on...

Blogger's note: Seeing as you're still here, I don't think you're telling us the truth. If you're going to go, go

[Steve]

Bosh doesn't look any bigger. Nice of them to team up for this camp.

Raptors summer league; anyone see Brent Petway on youtube? He's on Raps summer league team and he is the ultimate dunker! Unreal! Wonder what his chances of making it are?

[Joe]

Doug,
espn.com is reporting that Ron Artest has signed with the Lakers. Big news and that likely means Ariza is not resigning with LA. Could he be Toronto bound?

Blogger's note: Or Houston bound since he met with the Rockets coaching staff today

[Nelson]

doug, the entire league is getting better, how the heck are the raps supposed to get better, love the blog, read it everyday,
marion is the answer??

[tiny tim]

glad 2 see Ariza to portland i can see why so many fans would have liked him in Toronto, but i'd still rather have Marion or Hedo. AP should sign in Boston and try to win a championship if its important 2 him. the raps fans fascination with iverson amazes me considering every team he has played for got better when he left. i think if BC sign d lee then he has to have some sorta trade in mind 5 guys who i think are best suited to play the 4 hump, evans, lee. bargs, bosh and some would say marion is best at the 4 also. i dont even want to think about watching bosh, bargs, or lee try and stop lebron, anthony & kobes of the league.

[joe]

any Hedo news after ariza ageed to terms with portland has Maurizio reached out to him? maybe Bosh cant try to woooooo him into coming here at a mini discount like 9mill? perhap he is better at woooooing then king James was with Artest.

[Steve]

Jose Calderon resembles Pete Sampras (retired tennis pro).

[Matthieu]

I've just read this on a French sports newspaper website (L'Equipe):

Peu de concret à New York hormis donc le départ de "Q-Rich" et la Draft de l'ailier-fort Jordan Hill. Avec ce dernier, Milicic, Al Harrington et un possible retour d'Eddy Curry, reste-t-il de la place pour David Lee (16 points, 11,7 rebonds) ? Toronto est intéressé mais les Knicks sont prioritaires pour garder Lee. A moins d'un échange contre Chris Bosh (22,7 points, 10 rebonds), qui ne veut pas prolonger avec Toronto et serait bien utile pour draguer LeBron James en 2010. Jason Kidd (9 points, 8,7 passes) vient aussi de rencontrer le président des Knicks, sauf que Mark Cuban n'est pas disposé à le lâcher.

>>> It's kinda odd as it says that Toronto would be ready to trade Bosh to get Lee (!??) and that the former wants to leave Toronto anyway. Oh well, I guess it's normal to hear all sorts of rumours at this time of the year.

[BB]

Ariza has verbally agreed to Houston now. Unless he pulls a "John Salmons" flip on them he's not coming here.

[hao]

I like the calderon's decision of staying home this summer and rest his injuries. After all, it has been 10 years for him not taking a long break. To me, he deserves the most. As for bosh, this shows tremendous friendship with Jose as being able to travel to Spain and visit Calderon's home. Something that we, the raps fans and media never wonder about and getting into. Overall, thanks alot for this article. Probably one of the unique raptors news this summer.