Dylan Taylor, a longtime Toronto Raptors fan, has waited for this moment for years.
His team is in position to hoist the NBA Championship trophy with just one more win over the Golden State Warriors. Taylor got loud and proud alongside Highway 1 in Salmon Arm in an effort to get the community excited for the game.
Waving a sign with 鈥淩aptors fans honk your horns鈥 written on it, jumping around shouting and whooping in his Kyle Lowry jersey, Taylor鈥檚 energy was undiluted by the hot June sun.
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Taylor took up position on the corner of the Trans-Canada Highway and Alexander Avenue around 1:30 p.m. and said he wasn鈥檛 leaving until he lost his voice or it was time to go watch the opening tip-off.
Watching the Raptor鈥檚 deep run into the playoffs and the roller-coaster finals series against the perennially excellent Golden State Warriors has been an exciting experience for Taylor.
鈥淚鈥檝e been a fan for so long it鈥檚 so weird sometimes just to see how far the Raptors have gone,鈥 Taylor said.
鈥2017 they went to the conference finals and now they鈥檙e in the finals and it鈥檚 been such an incredible ride and I am so thankful that I鈥檝e been around to see it.鈥
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鈥淚 don鈥檛 care how hot it is, I don鈥檛 care what the weather is like. I鈥檓 crazy about the Raptors鈥 Insane!鈥 Taylor exclaimed as cars passed on the highway, many of them honking their horns.
Although he said Golden State will provide stiff competition, Taylor predicted the Raptors would take the game by 10 points, securing their legacy as the first Canadian team to be named NBA champions.
@SalmonArm
jim.elliot@saobserver.net
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