The rapper reminisces about the first game he ever saw (an exhibition game against the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1999), the brutal lineups fans had to suffer through for years and the tragedy of getting excited about a slice of Pizza Pizza if the Raps could scrounge more than 100 points and win.
Despite the air of disbelief that remains, Cadence Weapon goes on to say that he's ready to "cherish the moment" tonight, all while remembering the years of being a Raptors fans that were a lot less exciting.
Read his full tweet thread below.
The Raptors play the Golden State Warriors in what could be a series-winning Game 5 tonight in Toronto. The game starts at 9 p.m. EDT.
I remember the first Raptors game I watched in person: October 18, 1999. I saw them play the Vancouver Grizzlies in an exhibition game at the Skyreach Centre in Edmonton. Pretty sure Master P was on the squad at the time. Raptors won 110–84
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) June 10, 2019
From that point on, I watched nearly every Raptors regular season and playoff game. It's hard to overstate the struggle this team has gone through over the years. Draft picks would openly grimace after being selected by Toronto. Players often refused to report to the team
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) June 10, 2019
We had to get excited about Hedo Türkoğlu, washed Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning. Greivis Vásquez, Tyler Hansbrough and John Salmons were rotation players on the Raptors just a few years ago. "I wish they'd play Landry Fields more!" was a sentence I once actually said
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) June 10, 2019
All we had to look forward to was a free slice of Pizza Pizza if we scored more than 100 points in a win. A night like tonight has often felt impossible. I imagined it maybe happening when I was 89 years old like those Cubs fans from a few years ago. Not now!
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) June 10, 2019
It took 24 years but I still haven't been able to process this postseason properly as it happens. It feels sudden and foreign, like it's all happening to another team and fanbase. Tonight I will cherish the moment while still thinking about all we went through to get here
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) June 10, 2019