On Friday, April 15, there will be an extremely loud noise coming from downtown Toronto. A noise so loud, it may very well resonate right to the outskirts of this fair city:

"BOOOOO!"

The attack of the boobirds will inhabit the confines of the Air Canada Center this Friday, as the New Jersey Nets will face the Toronto Raptors. But this game will not be any ordinary matchup between the two clubs; it'll be a showdown between spurned Raptor fans and their former beloved son, Vince Carter.

From the moment Carter was traded to the Nets for Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, Alonzo Mourning and two draft picks, Raptor fans have marked the aforementioned date on their calendar as the day they could let out their frustrations on the superstar that broke their hearts. One of the first things acknowledged by nearly everybody was when Carter finally returned to the ACC he was going to be booed mercilessly.

The booing does not mean Torontonians forgot what Carter once meant to their city. In his first three seasons the man dubbed "half-man, half-amazing" took the basketball world by storm. His astonishing athletic feats on the court not only put the Raptors on the NBA map, but he also created an atmosphere in Canada no longer centered on hockey alone. Then the going got tough, and Carter wanted out. This is why Carter will face the wrath of Raptor fans on Friday.

And well he should. Carter's final two seasons as a Raptor were spent being a fraud. His effort was suspect, his passion was at many times nonexistent and he often appeared unwilling to use the full athleticism that was on display in the early years of his career. Once the Raptors began to go downhill, Carter preferred to get out of dodge rather than stay and help repair the damage he helped cause. True, he was still very popular around the league and would still be the NBA's leading vote getter for the All-Star game. But the reality was Carter was a superstar in name only - a man who held that title while putting up above average stats.

As a result, Carter's departure has left a trail of bitterness and resentment. But it has also brought up a revolving door of questions that all begin with "What if?" What if Vince gave the same effort on the Raptors the last two seasons that he is giving right now as a Net? What if Tracy McGrady remained with the Raptors to be part of the best superstar tandem in the league with Carter? What if Charles Oakley and former coach Butch Carter (the two people that motivated Carter the most) never left the Raptors? The questions are endless.

With Vinsanity no longer in Toronto, many Raptor fans have dealt with it in the same manner as a jilted lover. They feel betrayed, angry and want to hurl dozens of obscenities at their ex.

But at some point the jilted lover needs to let the anger go and start looking on the bright side. Granted, that can be difficult when watching Carter drop 30 or 40 points in a Nets uniform when he barely gave half that effort as a Raptor at the start of the season. However, there are positive aspects to consider now that he is no longer a Raptor.

Firstly, it would be hard to believe that Carter would be putting up these unbelievable numbers the last couple of months had he remained in the purple and red. His interview with John Thompson (where he admitted he did not always give 100 percent with the Raptors) would attest to that.

Secondly, it is important to classify exactly what Carter is as a player. Sure, he is dynamic, exciting and a highlight reel waiting to happen (well, at least after the trade).

But after a seven-year career as a franchise player who has only won one playoff series, the question remains if Carter is truly a winner on the court. Given that his heart and passion have already come under fire, can any team led by this superstar ever be a legit contender for a championship? His play in clutch situations has often suggested otherwise.

Raptor fans should be happy they don't have to ask such questions anymore.

Also on the bright side, Carter's departure from Toronto has opened the door wide open for a new franchise player. Raptor's sophomore forward Chris Bosh has made the strides this season to prove he can be the face of this team for years to come. Unlike the former Air Canada, Bosh's heart and passion has never been questioned - and despite Raptors recent struggles he has shown a willingness to stick it out and help turn this hard-luck franchise around in the coming seasons. Considering that Bosh has come into his own since the trade, fans of the Raps should be grateful (even thankful) that the key to the castle were given to Bosh since Carter clearly did not want them.

So anyone attending Friday's game with intent to boo Vince Carter, boo with all your heart's content. But try to boo out of happiness and not bitterness. Boo because you are displeased with the manner in which he left, but be happy that the Nets did the Raptors a favour. This game should not only signify what many Raptor fans feel about their former superstar, it should also bring some closure to what has been a disappointing and miserable season.

Whether the Raps win or lose on Friday, the game's final buzzer should wipe the slate clean of the past. Carter is the past, and Bosh is the future, and the Raptors will be better off because of it.

On April 15, Raptor fans have every reason to let Vince Carter have it. But on April 16, let the healing begin.