Dubious Raptor Moment #42

November 1995: Raptors Debut at SkyDome
Please note as many differences as you can in the following two sentences:

1. The first official game in NBA history featured Toronto versus the New York Knicks at Maple Leaf Gardens.

2. The first official game in Toronto Raptor history featured Toronto versus the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome.

The NBA has done quite well since its debut at the legendary MLG while the Raptors now have a couple of idiot fans gracelessly detailing the 50 Most Dubious moments in franchise history.  It doesn't bode well for a franchise when its big introduction is played in the NBA's worst venue. 

The SkyDome had the least charm, least comfort, worst sightlines and was only endearing for those who could send a paper airplane off the 5th deck.  If you were up there you needed binoculars just to see Oliver Miller.

Let's not forget the exciting opponent selected for this important evening -- The New Jersey Nets, fresh off a lacklustre 30-52 season.  This exhilirating adversary featured such name brand stars as Armon Gilliam, Vern Fleming and <gulp> Chris Childs.  While some may hold the memory of Alvin Robertson's 3-pointer as the first basket in Raptor history close to their heart, this hack remembers that all Ed Pinckney had to do to get him the ball was out-jump Yinka Dare.

All in all, this grand opening of the franchise screamed out one thing to potential Raptor fans... "Hope you like crap!"

It ended up taking two and half years for the Raptors to move out of the SkyDome and into a brand new arena -- Maple Leaf Gardens!

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[B-Huge]

The Bitove/Slaight ownership bid was chosen by the NBA to receive the Toronto basketball franchise based on the fact that they promised to have the Raptors out of the SkyDome and into a brand new arena by the 3rd season. By the Raptors third season they were on their 3rd set of owners (MLSE) and awaiting the construction of the ACC while playing at MLG.