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.

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“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

[dean]

Well

This is in response to how many times I have heard that Artest is a cancer, a burden or "too sketchy" to add to the Raptors squad. He now plays for the Champions, but at least ten times this year, most beat grunts not just you Doug, :) and others have said " no way in hell" does the Raptors camp look at Artest.

So, he's good enough for Kobe , but not good enough for Chris Bosh? He would " destroy" our locker room , yet he can join the Champs??? What is the Toronto media smoking? So he ran into the stands a few years back, who cares, he's not Jayson "the Murderer" Williams, he's just a player with an attitude problem. At the end of the day he is a baller, and thats all anyone should care about.

[ramon]

Praises are mutual: here's an article on Bosh's stay in Spain in a major sports local paper (in Spanish, sorry): http://www.marca.com/2009/07/03/baloncesto/nba/1246597518.html
In a nutshell, the article compares the humbleness and friendly attitude of José and Chris with those of big soccer players trapped in their own stardom.
Extremadura is an unknown and thus unspoiled area for those willing to get the *real thing*. Mentioned should be made to the neighboring Alentejo, on the Portuguese side of the border: different culture and country but similar human values. It adds to the many reasons to enjoy a visit to this side of the world. A word of advise: if paying us a visit, avoid the months of July and August, unless you're daring enough to withstand 40+ degrees...

[dallas]

Good Morning Doug,

Did BC and the gang cut you grunts off this year or something? They already used you as pawns leading up to the draft. Why is a puff piece, that seems like great candidate for an article, especially in the dog days, filling your daily blog in the middle of free agency? Just seems odd to me. And also you are siting "League Sources" isn't your benefit your access to the horses mouth so that you can debunk any of those "league sources". It's like you're calling New York to get the new out of Toronto. What gives? Why are things so eerily quiet at the ACC this year?

And BTW that bait and switch you did yesterday is good for one time traffic, but for a guy like you who has so many loyal readers, those things can't help. It's bad enough how it comes off that you have contempt for your readers and hate your job. I mean it seems like you post everything anyway, so it's not like the rest of us get a break from reading through the garbage either.

Here's hoping for a busy day.

Blogger's note: Eric? Is that you?

[dallas]

Ouch, that hurt.

[donostiarra]

sometimes the right choice is the one that make u suffer more.trading bosh for lee means bargs at 5,he will surely play a 21+7,and money 4 another strong forward(hedo?).it means 60 points per game.than what bc has to do is to sign a solid sg who try,at leat,to defend.bench is not that bad.

[maw]

Calderon is a very good point guard, he shouldn't be wasting away in Toronto.