Dubious Raptor Moment #3
April 2000: Butch Carter Self-Destructs
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.” (Hamlet Act II, Scene II)
Insanity is a helluva thing. While you may expect that it lurks in the mind of a man, you can never tell until pressure is applied. Like the pressure of coaching an NBA team in its first playoff appearance.
Competing in the 2000 NBA playoffs should have been a crowning achievement for Butch Carter. After all, the young coach took the reigns of a 16-win team and in two short seasons finished with a 45-37 record and a playoff berth. However, the pressure of this larger stage clearly overwhelmed Carter, who subsequently acted out in a sequence of increasingly bizarre ways. When the dust settled, the Raptors found themselves swept out of the playoffs, and Butch found himself out of a job.
But what I fear is lost on the casual fan is not only the tragic scale of this Dubious Moment, but the complexity of Butch Carter himself. To illustrate, The Flagrancy contrasts the actions of Butch Carter against one of the most tragic of figures ever: Hamlet.
And Butch, if by chance you’re reading and take offence—I got yer 5 million duckets right here!
A classic all the way. Awesome mask. You are truly a champion, a hero, a legend. Viva el Blue Baller!
What corner is Butch panhandling on these days?
Posted by: arsenal | October 31, 2006 at 12:56 PM
RaptorBlog.com
Posted by: B-Huge | October 31, 2006 at 02:09 PM
"What corner is Butch panhandling on these days?" - I think that is harsh. I happened to listen to what Butch had to say over at RaptorBlog radio (one of only 3 Raptors sites I regularly visit and hold in any sort of high regard) and thought it was both entertaining and informative. I for one am looking forward to the next installment.
Posted by: Scott F | October 31, 2006 at 04:09 PM
Yeah, it is a little harsh...but it was meant to be a funny (nasty funny) logical continuation of the meltdown described in the dubious moment. I'm actually glad Butch rode Prozac to a gig on a blog site (LOL, sorry, this isn't coming out right)...I better stop. Please don't take it personally, it's all for jokes, or if you're Irish, for crack. Judging from raptorblog.com Butch does have some gems hidden up his sleeve. Slante.
Posted by: arsenal | October 31, 2006 at 04:30 PM
The slang for "a joke" in Ireland is "crack" (no relation to the drug).
Honest!
Posted by: arsenal | October 31, 2006 at 04:48 PM
Funnily enough I am Irish and it's spelled "craic" not "crack"...but I would have to agree regardless, the craic is mighty here at The Flagrancy!!
Slainte.
Posted by: Scott F | October 31, 2006 at 05:01 PM
I couldn't help myself. RaptorBlog gets a HUGE thumb's up from me.
Posted by: B-Huge | November 01, 2006 at 05:26 PM