Tafari Toney energised by Newcastle's sporting obsession

May 1 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Tafari Toney is hoping to put the seal on a superb first season at the Newcastle Eagles with play-off success in Birmingham – as well as striking a blow for basketball in a football-obsessed city. Mark Douglas reports

Even when the Eagles invited him to England to discuss signing on for the season, Flournoy told Toney that he was not certain to sign him.

And that tough love has certainly helped.

“He’s got that college/pro mentality. He’ll test you mentally and still work you hard physically – as a pro. I came for a real learning experience. I wasn’t playing that much at the start of the season – I was just learning, on a real learning curve.

“But I had to grow up real quick when Lynard got injured. I had to really get on point and become a man.”

The Eagles enter the play-off weekend with a point to prove after last season’s acrimonious exit at the semi-final stages.

Despite Fab Flournoy leaping off his hospital bed to play against the MK Lions a year ago, the Eagles could not progress into the final and the team broke up – ushering in the current generation of Eagles players.

“Fab has told us about what happened last year. It was a bad time for them,” he said. “We have to get prepared – we’re on top, we won the trophy and the league. Everyone is coming after us: we’re in the field and the snipers are all around us.

“We have to work harder than we usually do. Everyone knows each other now – so now is the time to change up and try and trick somebody.”

Not that the pressure of the final four should deter Toney much.

Having left New York as a teenager to escape the gangs and violence that had accounted for some of his former basketball team-mates, he retains a level head and a responsible attitude to the chances he has been afforded.

“I wanted to get out of New York because it was getting too crazy – fighting and violence and stuff like that. My parents wanted me to leave, my Grandma wanted me to leave as well,” he said.

“I saw people who played basketball with me get drawn into crazy things in New York. I’m not the type of person to follow anyone so I had to leave.

“Moving to Newcastle has been amazing.

“Joining a successful franchise – a Championship team – there is pressure on you to perform. It means you have to work harder to fill the shoes of someone good who you’ve replaced.

“You need to think ‘I’m going to do my best’ – I need to play like a champion. That is what I’m hoping to do this weekend.”