Where did VC get all that charisma? The Magazine's Chris Palmer just found out.

Vince Carter never ceases to amaze. Well actually he ceased to amaze for a little while, missing 12 of 20 shots against the Knicks on Thursday night. But his mom is another story.

The Raptors/Knicks game was the first time in league history that a mother called a game her son was playing in. That's right, Half Mom-Half Amazing did color for a Toronto radio station.

When the regular color commentator for The Fan 590 got sick, Michelle Carter-Robinson was asked on a whim by the station manager to fill in. It was no surprise that she, um, jumped at the chance. She's quite savvy when breaking down roundball and very opinionated on the state of the game.

Before tip-off, Mrs. C stood in the tunnel dressed in a red suit and an ankle length-mink that probably cost more than my education. Like a seasoned vet she whizzed through a number of hoop topics. "I think the dunk contest is too long," she said. "Too many people in the finals." Hmmm. "The league needs to get together the Steve Francises, the Tracy McGradys and the Vince Carters and let them come up with the format. And keep it to four dunkers."

Yes, she did say "Vince Carters".

Speaking of McGrady, Michelle wasn't too happy about his fight with Bobby Jackson the other night. "That was totally uncalled for," said Momma Vince. "Tracy knows better than that." After the melee, she called her son. "Did you see your cousin?" she asked. "He just went all WWF out there."

Too bad you can't use a Tele-Strator on the radio, because The Czar would have nothing on her. "What's with illegal defense?" she asked. "One minute you're playing defense and the next they're blowing the whistle. What, you can't double anymore? It's too complicated. Vince doesn't even understand it."

Clearly, Mom watches her share of hoops. She was watching the Jazz/Suns game when Shawn Marion crashed to the floor and suffered a concussion. "My heart just stopped and I started praying immediately," she said like only a concerned mother could. "I let Vince worry about the shoes and contracts and everything else," she said. "Only thing I ask is that he's safe. That's it."

Six minutes into the game, he wasn't. After an awkward shot attempt, Vince landed funny and hyperextended his knee. For several minutes he lay in pain as his mother sat in stunned silence. Turned out Vince was okay. Both Mom and David Stern let out a "Phew!"

After the game I asked Vince if he wanted to hear a tape of the broadcast. "Man, I don't even want to know what she said about me," said Carter, shaking his head. When Vince left the locker room, his mom grabbed him and hugged him close. The radio booth was fun, but being mom is where it's at.

CPalm writes hoop for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.