Terrance Roberson’s voice echoed through The Tower yesterday as the Halifax Rainmen hit the court for the first time this season.
“I remember them days,” the 33-year-old hollered at teammate Eric Crookshank, who had just soared to the rafters for a two-handed alley-oop dunk.
“Them was the days, right there.”
“Out of bounds,” he shouted to another teammate, whose foot grazed the line during a three-man weave. “Ref’s sendin’ you back the other way.”
Throughout the Rainmen’s annual media day, the veteran pro, who once suited up in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, wore a contagious smile that he says won’t be going anywhere for as long as he’s in town.
His vocal approach and ability to entertain bring back memories of the late John Strickland, a former Rainmen fan favourite who died last month.
“Mister Strickland, rest in peace, if you’ve ever seen him play, you know he do a lot of talkin’ on the floor … and that’s me. That’s me,” Roberson said. “Players from Michigan, we do a lot of talkin’, a lot of smilin’, and that’s gonna be my game.”
The six-foot-seven Roberson hails from Saginaw, Mich., and starred at Fresno State from 1996 to 2000. After his three-game NBA stint in 2000, he went to Europe to play in Italy, Turkey, Israel, Ukraine, Finland and Romania.
“The list goes on,” he said with a smile. “It just feels good to be back. I don’t have to use calling cards to call my family anymore.”
Roberson said he can still play, and his numbers last season back that up. He averaged 14.7 points per game on 24-of-62 three-point shooting with CSU Sibiu in Romania.
“I might not be the high flier I was, but two points is two points and I got me a jumpshot now, which I didn’t have back in high school,” he said. “Fans can expect me to give it my all each night and bring excitement.”
