Dan Loiselle, the long-time announcer at Woodbine Racetrack, has seen his share of long shots come in.
Was he talking to one?
Chris Bosh, the Toronto Raptors' star, was being interviewed by Loiselle as part of Bosh's role as draw master for Sunday's running of the Woodbine Oaks, the prestigious event for three-year-old fillies.
In front of a room full of gamblers, Loiselle asked Bosh the obvious question: "What are the odds of you being a Raptor after this contract?"
Talk about putting the guest of honour on the spot. Bosh played the percentages.
"Good odds," Bosh said. "I want to have a good season, that's first and foremost. Like I always tell people, I want people to want me to play for them. I don't want to stink it up and people are like, 'We won't be needing your services.' [But]I would say it's good odds."
It's probably the most accurate answer he can give right now. Bosh back in Toronto? It's not a long shot by any means. But don't take it to the bank either, particularly when Bosh underlined his determination to be a free agent next summer, essentially ruling out any chance of his signing an extension this summer that would keep him under contract for three more years.
"I signed a three-year deal back in [2006]and I had a goal in mind to put myself in the best position next summer," Bosh said in a scrum after the draw. "I didn't know it was going [to create]added tension, but that's the name of the game. I'm thinking I want to stick to my goal, stick to what I was doing, and this is part of the plan."
The early line for Sunday has Bob Baffert-trained Wynning Ride, who will start from Gate 7, as the early favourite at 5 to 2, having made the trip to Woodbine from California. Tasty Temptation of Woodford Racing is 7 to 2 as they race for a $300,000 first prize.
In horse racing terms, those are good odds.
But if you're Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo and you're trying to build a winning team, chances are you'd like things a little more certain than that. And in a long scrum following his official duties, Bosh did little to make it sound much better than 50-50 that he would be staying in Toronto long-term.
Bosh signed an extension with the club in the summer of 2006 for three years and a player option for a fourth. The plan was to opt out after his third year and become a free agent in the summer of 2010, making him eligible for maximum contract under the rules of the existing collective agreement. If he signs an extension this summer, it might provide more short-term security, but would also mean he would become a free agent after the NBA has negotiated what is expected to be a less player-friendly labour agreement.
Bosh's determination to pass on an extension was hardly noteworthy to the Raptors. They would have been shocked only if Bosh had said he was open to an extension.
By coming out and saying it in clear terms, all Bosh did is save Colangelo the aggravation of making an offer to his franchise player that Colangelo knew was almost certain to be rejected.
More significant yesterday was Bosh's view that he won't consider a contract for less than the maximum amount allowed under the NBA's salary cap.
"Without a doubt," Bosh said when asked if he expected to receive a maximum offer. "I really don't even see negotiating about that part."
That means Bosh is expecting a six-year deal worth $130-million (all currency U.S.) if he re-signs with the Raptors next summer. As a free agent, the most Bosh could get - short of a sign-and-trade - would be five years and about $100-million.
That might make it more likely that Bosh is traded either in connection with the NBA draft on June 25 or at some point next season. Colangelo alluded to both possibilities when he said he would consider trade options for Bosh at his season-ending news conference in April.
Now that Bosh has made his position clear, Colangelo must ask himself: Does signing Bosh to the deal he expects give the Raptors the financial flexibility to add the complementary players required to build a deep, competitive roster around him?
And if the Raptors can't build around him, is he likely to depart as a free agent anyway, leaving them nothing in return for their most valuable asset?
Bosh has stated his position, and now it's up to Colangelo to weigh the odds.