NBA Dumps Canada?

The National Basketball League took on Canada in 1995 to establish an international market. Expansion teams were introduced in Toronto and Vancouver, six years later half of the NBA’s Canadian content had relocated to Memphis and only the Toronto Raptors were left.

Franchise Viability?

Recently reports out of major US markets have questioned the long-term viability of the Toronto Raptors franchise citing their inability to retain superstar players. This is after an offseason which included their superstar Chris Bosh spurning them for the comfort in South Beach and their prize offseason acquisition from a summer ago dumping on the Raptors franchise to anyone that would listen.

The Break-Ups

Other notable players that dumped Toronto? The list is long:

Chris Bosh- left to be Batgirl to LeBron James (Batman) and Dwayne Wade (Robin)

Hedo Turkoglu- trust me Hedo, the break-up was mutual

Vince Carter- his eyes were already wandering by the time the three-month saga ended

Tracy McGrady- upset over TV privileges (couldn’t get ESPN in Canada), got news for you bud, this is a hallmark issue in any relationship

Damon Stoudamire- our first love, the first one always hurts the most

The problem with the proclamation that star players don’t want to stay in Toronto is that of that list, the two legitimate superstars, Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, both signed long term contracts with the club and stayed in Hogtown for 6 ½ and 7 seasons respectively.

Some Fun Facts

For fun though, because that’s what it’s all about, lets forget about the star player argument and just look at the facts.

2010: 14

2009: 10

2008: 9

2007: 13

2006: 17

2005: 16

2004: 8

2003: 10

2002: 4

2001: 6

Those were the rankings for the Toronto Raptors attendance over the last decade. Only twice do they rank in the bottom half (average rank is 9.7) and when you consider the team made the playoffs only 3 times in that 10 year period it’s easy to see that contrary to reports down south this is not just a hockey town.

More facts rather than speculative sensationalist journalism? Sure…

$400-million

That is valuation of the Raptors franchise which ranks 11th in the NBA according to Forbes magazine. So while I thank those whom are concerned on behalf of the Raptors, I’ll say it politely in classic Canadian style with a coy smile and through clenched teeth.

So what do we do? How do we educate or will winning shut the naysayers up?

- J.Moore