Couple articles from the Toronto Sun on Antonio Davis. One with comment from Lorrelle Young. Nat ------------------------------------------------ 2001 Sun Media Corporation The Toronto Sun May 26, 2001 Saturday, Final Edition SECTION: News; Pg. 6 LENGTH: 332 words HEADLINE: YOU'RE A KILOMETRE OFF BASE, ANTONIO; RAPTOR DOESN'T WANT KIDS TO LEARN METRIC BYLINE: JASON TCHIR, TORONTO SUN BODY: Uh, how many kilometres back to Oakland? Raptors centre Antonio Davis hinted he might head back south when his contract expires July 1 -- so his kids don't have to learn metric. "You don't leave because of the metric system," said Toronto Argonaut Adrion Smith, an American ex-pat who's raising his 16-month-old son here. "Teach your kids the conversion tables." Davis, an Oakland native, doesn't like his twins learning metric and singing O Canada in school, he said in a radio interview Thursday. "The entire future of science and technology is based on the metric system. And I think your anthem is just lovely," said Lorelle Young, head of the California-based U.S. Metric Association. "It might be good to get rid of him, he doesn't sound very smart. Don't quote me on that," Young said. The Canadian School Board Association's Elizabeth Hodges pointed to Canada's scores in the Third International Math and Science Study, released this winter. "Only six countries were ahead of us in math. Five did better in science," Hodges said, adding the U.S. was well behind. But, University of Toronto education professor David Wilson said a Canadian education isn't necessarily of higher quality than an American one. "It depends on where you are in California and where you are in Toronto. Quality varies," Wilson said. "But he's worried about the anthem? I'd buy the jerk a plane ticket back home." Davis made the comments in a radio interview with Fox's Jim Rome Thursday. Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said the 6-foot-9 (oops, 203 cm) Davis is just a concerned family man. "You have to consider the statements in the context of the interview," Grunwald said. "I think he's very happy in Toronto." Still, couldn't Education Minister Janet Ecker make an exception and let Davis' kids skip out of singing the anthem? "No. It restores respect and responsibility in the classroom," said Ecker's spokesman Rob Savage. "But we do teach American history." GRAPHIC: photo by Mark O'Neill; ANTONIO DAVIS should hide his head. He's pulling his child out of school to stop him from learning metric. ------------------------------------------------------ 2001 Sun Media Corporation The Toronto Sun May 27, 2001 Sunday, Final Edition SECTION: Sports; Pg. SP5 LENGTH: 604 words HEADLINE: STAY OR GO?; REGARDLESS WHAT HE DECIDES, DAVIS HAS EARNED THE CHOICE BYLINE: MIKE ULMER, TORONTO SUN BODY: Antonio Davis is wary and I don't blame him. In discussing the cultural differences between Canada and the United States on The Jim Rome Show, the Raptors centre said he wondered what effect learning metric and singing O Canada would have on his soon-to-be-school-aged children. This is no small matter, since Davis has a contract clause that will permit him to opt out of his deal on July 1. I can't speak to the corrosive psychological effects of O Canada except to say that I find it impossible to write cogently on nights when it is played. As for metric, well it shouldn't come as news that Americans find it difficult to fathom. Even though the U.S. has long since used metric for the key measurement of gun barrels and canon shells, they are otherwise confused by metric and they are not alone. What Antonio and Kendra Davis need to know is that we Canadians don't get it, either. This is a country where not one person understands if their car is good on gas or whether it consumes the stuff like Stockwell Day checking out Buy-one-get-one-free Day at Bruno's Kevlar Emporium. Across this great nation, we stay up late, diligently watching the weather report, just so we can wake our partner and ask: "Honey, is 15 centimetres a lot of snow?" We have no idea how much we weigh when we step on the scales at the doctor's office. In the crazy flush of childbirth, we can't discern whether the appropriate aperture is now the size of an eraser or the eastbound lane of the 401. And will someone please tell me why, if you drive 100 kilometres at exactly an hour for exactly 60 minutes, you are only 80 kilometres closer to home? I can't say whether the Davis children will suffer irreparable harm from learning litres instead of ounces. But if Antonio Davis is convinced their little lives will be inalterably affected, well, who can blame him for bolting south? Unlike Tracy McGrady, who found free agency four years into his NBA career, Davis is a nine-year veteran and fully deserving of the hard-earned chance to choose where he plays. McGrady masked his long-standing intention to bolt. Davis has at least tried to approach the situation with an open mind. Davis, more than many, is a self-made player. He was the 45th player chosen in the 1990 draft. He was cut for three consecutive years by the Indiana Pacers and he laboured to learn the pro game for two years in Greece and one in Italy. He has worked tenaciously to improve himself all through his career and he did not choose Toronto; rather was traded for Jonathon Bender. Davis spends many nights battling under the basket as a small, even miscast centre, and still managed to finish ninth in rebounding this season. He was terrific in the playoffs and played through a difficult arm injury. He has been nothing but a model citizen since he arrived. He is active in charity, accessible to the media and has proved himself immensely willing to promote the Raptors. Naturally enough, both the Raptors and their fans would love to have Davis stay and there are compelling reasons why he might return. Davis will be spectacularly compensated here. Remaining in Toronto would reconnect him to the coaching staff and teammates who contributed to this season's breakout campaign. There are infinitely worse cities to play and despite the rigours of metric, Toronto remains a wonderful place to raise your kids. But if Antonio and Kendra want to go back to the U.S., so be it. Davis has fulfilled his part of the athlete's covenant honourably and honestly. Whatever jersey he wears next year, he deserves nothing but our best wishes.
