Names NOT to Know - Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Usually the names to know feature you read about up and coming stars, this time we are doing the opposite.


Pops Mensah-Bonsu is the newest addition to the Raptors. He has made quite the impression on the fans in his first six games with Toronto. He has been able to be the "energy" off the bench, grab some rebounds and attack the rim. Even when interviewed after the win against Indiana on Sunday he said all the right things. Pops thanked the fans and said he would continue to work hard and wanted to make that push to the playoffs.


Mensah-Bonsu played all four seasons at George Washington, where as a senior he averaged 12.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.65 blocks. In 2007, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks where he spent a little time. After that, Pops bounced around Europe and then to the D-League, until he signed a 10 day contract with the San Antonio Spurs in early Februrary 2009. The Mavs didn't renew the contract. The Raptors didn't want any of the 10-day wait and see, he impressed so much that Bryan Colangelo could not pass up the opportunity to a sign him to a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season.


Now, I am not saying that Pops hasn't impressed in his first six outings. He has been averaging almost 7 rebounds and put up a career high 21 points on Sunday. The problem with Pops and the reason you don't need to remember his name, is that Toronto has been full of players like him. Complimentary players the fans love, but really unable to contribute to a winning atmosphere. The list is endless - Jerome Williams, Alvin Williams, Matt Bonner, Keon Clark, Jorge Garbajosa and those are just the basketball guys, don't get me started on the hockey players. Pops will have a season and a half of popularity, lots of parents will waste money on his jersey for their kids and then he will move on. The fans and media will complain for a couple of days that the Raptors let a piece of the team get away and he will probably get a standing ovation when he returns for the first time, but all this for no real apparent reason.


Toronto has turned into Hamilton. A blue collar sports town. A group of fans that is more concerned with the effort a player puts forward than with winning a championship. Give me a team full of superstar headcases that can win games and take the Raptors to the playoffs - that will put my butt in the seats more often that one "good guy" in the locker room.