Victory Is Slam Dunk
for Carter
By TIM KAWAKAMI, MARK HEISLER, Times Staff Writers
OAKLAND--They saved it, and him, for last, and they were wise.
The much-anticipated Vince Carter Slam Dunking Spectacular
took over the all-star weekend festivities on Saturday night, electrifying an event that
was discontinued for years because of a lack of creativity.
Not anymore.
The Toronto Raptor forward won the slam-dunk contest,
racking three perfect 50 scores in five attempts--and getting a 48 and a 49 on his two
others--but that wasn't news to those who packed The Arena in Oakland.
What everybody, from Shaquille O'Neal to David Stern to Tyra
Banks to probably most of his dunking competitors, wanted to see was how Carter, the
highlight king, would do it.
"The guy," said Tracy McGrady, Carter's Raptor
teammate who finished second in the contest, "just can hop."
Carter started the performance with a stunning, 360-twirl
tomahawk that got a perfect score, and continued with an effort that finished with his
clinging on the rim from the crook of his elbow, complete with a gymnast's frozen pose.
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