November 1997: Isiah Jumps Ship
Now, I know what you're thinking: we should be praising Allah for Isiah's departure from Raptor management. But it's not about the fact that Isiah left, it was all the sordid shenanigans behind the scenes that led up to Isiah's departure. Really, this dubious moment is actually a string of dubious moments that continues to haunt the franchise to this very day.
A quick history of Raptor ownership...
Through the tenacious lobbying of Larry Tanenbaum the NBA decides to award franchise to city of Toronto. Incredibly Tanenbaum does not win bid to franchise. Instead, franchise given to partnership of John Bitove (basketball nut) and Allen Slaight (stupendously unhip white guy). The franchise was given to this group based on plans for new arena at Bay & Dundas within three years. Isiah Thomas is cut in for 9% ownership when hired as GM.
One year later Slaight forces Bitove out bringing in Richard Peddie as team president, gawdammit. The ownership group realizes Bay & Dundas lot is too small, buys Canada Post building.
Isiah declares he is pursuing controlling ownership of franchise. Actual financing is found to be lacking but that doesn't stop local media from anointing him the next owner.
The possible partnership with Leafs falls through but Slaight continues proceeding with Air Canada Centre plans. Thomas cannot afford to finance his piece of the arena but continues to claim he will buy franchise. Actual financing is still lacking. Media claims Slaight keeps raising the price. Media also totally on Isiah's dick.
In August 1997, Isiah and Slaight finally announce that Isiah will not be buying the team. In retrospect probably the greatest moment in franchise history. During press conference Isiah claims, ""I'm firmly committed to staying here, I'm firmly committed to taking this team to a championship."
Within three months Isiah is pursuing a job at NBC. Not only could he not buy the team, he couldn't finance his 9% of the ACC.
Slaight leaks Isiah's NBC negotiations to Doug Smith at the Star to basically force Isiah out. As they part both Isiah and Slaight engage in some name-calling. Isiah claims that no arena should have been built and the money instead should have been funnelled into player salaries. This coming from a guy that gave Vincenzo Esposito half a million bucks and who cut Chris Whitney in order to keep BJ Tyler's salary on the books for 6 years. It took rest of world almost ten more years to realize that Isiah has no idea that an actual salary cap exists.
In the post-mortem of Isiah's departure, Dave Perkins writes loving ode to Isiah in which he claims that the Leafs were never going to play in the ACC and that the Raptors would be hard-pressed to survive in Toronto. Wrong and wrong.
Finally, in February 1998 Maple Leafs Sports Entertainment buys the Raptors. Peddie remains on board, gawdammit.
I think you should turn this into a book...along with some of your other insightful stuff...
Also, I think we should start a game time drum called The Cavemen...if you have ever been to a drum party you know what I'm talking about...everyone brings a drum or noisemaker and all of a sudden you got a beautiful noise happening...in Brazil (?) they call them batucadas, and if you go to pee-wee games you'll see them...it's pretty awesome...
Great posting, I await with child-like anticipation for each posting...Thank you BB, from the bottom of my heart.
Posted by: arsenal | October 20, 2006 at 08:48 AM
After the Hoffa experience, I want nothing to do with Brazil.
Posted by: B-Huge | October 20, 2006 at 09:35 AM
LOL. Poor Hoffa, kind of feel sorry for the kid...I still hold out hope for him, but agree with him being shipped out; the environment here would only have continued to stunt him.
Unfortunately he became the focal point for fan frustration after seeing their franchise player go (VC, thank GOD! HE left) and being left with a shambles of a team (would take way too long to describe all the different reasons why the team was in shambles, but you are pointing out more than a few in your dubious moments).
I still think it would be a great idea (The Cavemen drumming away), I think the idea started in Brazil, but I saw it in Mexico. Ask the two masked ballers (ha!) who write for you once in a while, they will tell you, it really is a blast.
Posted by: arsenal | October 20, 2006 at 10:06 AM
I just read this in the globe...I am now officially over Araujo
"Similarly, the only player the Raptors are known to have had fail a drug test was departed centre Rafael Araujo, who tested positive for the steroid nandrolone -- the same one that tripped up Merriman -- at the 2002 world basketball championship while playing for Brazil."
Posted by: arsenal | October 25, 2006 at 08:41 AM
You can be lucky!!!
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