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Post title inspired by Powerthirst, which I assume Pops Mensah-Bonsu drinks instead of Gatorade during games.
Imagine you're looking out into your backyard. The grass is still brown and dead from winter. The trees are barren. Most animals are still in hibernation, but then a splash of color catches your eye in one of the trees. That's no robin signalling the arrival of spring — that's a freakin' scarlet macaw!
That's what Pops Mensah-Bonsu has been for Raptors fans during his five-game tenure in Toronto: a rare, exotic bird standing out among dreary, desolate surroundings. The Air Canada Centre crowd gave him a standing ovation in the fourth-quarter of yesterday's 110-87 win over the Pacers simply because they're unaccustomed to seeing somebody hustle and crash the boards with abandon the way Pops has been doing.
How do you become a fan favorite in just five games? Join a team that hasn't rebounded well in years and proceed to grab 43 rebounds (16 offensive) in just 93 minutes of playing time. Largely in part to the energy brought by Pops, the Raptors grabbed a season-high 55 boards yesterday — outrebounding the Pacers by 17.
Pops is unquestionably a great find for the Raptors, but I have to wonder why he was unable to stick with the Spurs earlier this season. All I can conclude is that hustle is a bottom-line pre-requisite for any player on that roster so you need to bring more than that to stick around. But on the Raptors? He's a gem!
Yes, count on me to find a depressing spin to put on this storyline. I bet Pops himself was wondering what the big deal was when he got that ovation. Naturally, Leo Rautins credited "Canada's hockey mentality" for the ovation. I don't think hockey fans have a monopoly on wanting their players to play like they really give a shit if they win or lose. 
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