How can you not love Matt Bonner?
The recently retired NBA veteran was an instant fan favourite during his time with the Toronto Raptors as he was known for taking public transit around town — thus earning the nickname “Red Rocket” — met his wife in T.O. and was in the process of acquiring Canadian citizenship.
Bonner, who won two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs, is also a self-proclaimed “curling enthusiast” per his Twitter bio.
While the 36-year-old from Concord, N.H., is known for his sense of humour, his interest in the roaring game is no laughing matter as he explained Tuesday on the Andrew Walker Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan (click here to listen to the full interview).
“When I was on the Raptors it seemed like curling was on a lot on TSN or Sportsnet or whatever,” he said. “I remember sitting in my apartment and Duke is playing North Carolina in college basketball, huge rivalry, and I’m all excited for the game. I’m flipping through all the sports channels and it’s not on! Curling is on and I’m thinking, ‘What the heck? How is Duke vs. North Carolina not on TV but curling is?’ …
“So I was like, ‘Hmm, I guess I’m going to watch curling,’ and just night after night of watching it I really got into it and loved the strategy and the pressure and just have stuck with it since. I actually went to Chapters and got a Curling for Dummies book and read the book from start to finish so I could understand everything.”
Bonner, who played college ball with the Florida Gators, also expressed a desire to visit Newfoundland where he has family ties and said attending the Tim Hortons Brier is on his bucket list. With the Brier taking place this year in St. John’s, N.L., it may seem like the perfect timing, but another commitment might put that on hold.
“My mom’s father, so my maternal grandfather, is from Bell Island, Newfoundland. Him and his family worked in the iron mines there and then when the mines shut down he immigrated to Boston where he met my grandmother and had my mom,” he said. “I’ve been dying to visit Newfoundland and kind of see some of my family roots. I don’t know if it’s going to be able to happen during the Brier, it would be ideal, but I got an invite from the Southeastern Conference to go to the SEC men’s basketball tournament to be honoured as a Gator legend. That’s like right during the Brier.”
Given Bonner’s style of humour it was only fitting how he released a self-deprecating YouTube video to announce his decision to hang up his sneakers.