On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:01:50 GMT, Granville Waiters' Ghost <x RemoveThis @x.x>
wrote:
>In article <2x9ae.2212$K24.776@read1.cgocable.net>,
> "Smacdo" <nottoday RemoveThis @spamsucks.com> wrote:
>
>> Even if he did dog it, why did he have to say it? Who benefits from that?
>> He deserves what he gets for being stupid enough to do it, and admit to it.
>
>
>I didn't think he did say it. I watched the infamous John
>Thompson interview. I had one impression--that all of the
>losing and the serious turnover the last few years in
>Toronto made it hard to get motivated sometimes--and the
>next day, the papers were leading with "VINCE ADMITS HE
>DIDN'T TRY."
Away from all the noise and all the anger, what is left is a most
debilitating lesson for the Toronto Raptors. A setback they can never
let happen again.
The Vince Carter example won't go away -- we can't let it go away --
no matter how many signs are printed and how much screaming is heard.
Not if the Raptors are to gain anything from this pathetic experience
other than a couple of measly draft picks who turn out no better than
Rafael Araujo.
This was a mess made by ownership, directed by the board of Maple Leaf
Sports and Entertainment Ltd., enabled by the general manager of his
time, Glen Grunwald, and created by a cozy atmosphere that chairman
Larry Tanenbaum truly believed in. Thinking he was doing the right
thing. Hitching his franchise to a flawed star, misunderstanding that
the real world and sport have so little in common.
The trouble is, the people who run MLSEL still have difficulty
distinguishing between their successful day jobs, their business world
and a culture they seem unable to understand.
The fingerprints of blame pointed solely at Carter last night --
booing him all the way to a 39-point night and another Raptors defeat
-- but at least for one night, the Toronto fan had something to care
about.
The fact this Raptors franchise is in shambles again, the fact it
takes the most despised athlete in Toronto history to get this crowd
to care, is somewhat sobering on its own.
The hope is that MLSEL will learn from this: That is the only hope.
But there is nothing tangible that leads one to believe the culture of
pampering athletes and expecting little from them is about to change.
All you have to do is go back to Aug. 3, 2001 to try and understand.
That wasn't just a $93-million US day for Vince Carter, it was the day
Tanenbaum truly became an NBA owner. Not a sporting winner, just an
owner of some repute.
He had spent so much of that summer trying to convince Carter this was
the place to be, this was his team, his future, his home. Of all the
deals Tanenbaum had been part of in his life, this one was different.
This one felt like no other. That he was making a difference.
He had no idea it would turn out like this. He had no idea that when
he rewarded Carter with a lifetime of riches, he all but made him a
part of ownership. From that August day on, Carter wasn't just a
player. He was part GM, part board member. He flew in private jets. He
went to dinner with the owners. He was their friend, someone they
could show off.
The very toy that wound up blowing up in their faces.
They gave Carter the franchise keys to their car and he drove the team
over a cliff. All by himself. He got his money and stopped running. He
played only when he felt like playing. He needed to be consulted on
everything from team meals to draft picks to trade talks.
It became all Vince all the time until he got tired and bored and
disinterested. Which happened to coincide with a change in direction.
Suddenly, the Raptors had changed the rules on him. Suddenly, they had
hired a general manager who wasn't his choice.
It was really no different than trying to discipline a child. After
letting the infant get away with everything, they started saying no.
The infant cried and typically rebelled.
The rest is unfortunate history. A history the Raptors can't afford to
repeat -- not with this Carter mess getting worse by the moment.
Carter scored a million points last night, the Raptors lost, the fans
ran out of boos, Eric Williams and Aaron Williams didn't play and
Alonzo Mourning was scoring points for Miami.
There are three games to play. This season can't end soon enough.
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Simmons/2005/04/16/1000041-sun.html >> Stay informed about: Raptor fans send death threats to Vince's family 
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