…It’s kinda hard to be a Raptors fan like me.
If the Raptors are my girlfriend, the object of my affection and the one that makes my heart flutter like a pair of folded hole cards, the MLSE is her asshole father (Not mine, John’s a great guy, but you get it.) Even if you really like her and things are going great, you can’t stand spending 5 minutes with him. His attitude, his outlook on life, his priorities, his morals, are all the complete opposite of yours. That’s me and the MLSE. I don’t know if we’ll ever see eye-to-eye, and I’ve been married to his daughter for 12 years.
Like AltRaps, I too have decided to give up my season’s tickets for this year. When I went to pay my portion of the bill (I buy into a friend’s seasons) the tickets were almost 50% more expensive than last year. FIFTY PERCENT! Crazy, right? The number’s probably closer to 47%, but you get the point. It was a tough decision, tempered by keeping 6 games I really wanted to see, but in the end I just couldn’t allow it. The MLSE is flat-out milking us like a Russian at a rub n’ tug*. Without emotion, without remorse, so efficient and dirty you can’t believe it’s not illegal.
*Holistic my ass.
Bottom line, our girlfriend’s daddy is rolling in cash:
MLSE, a private company, [owns the Maple Leafs of the NHL], the Raptors of the NBA, a Major League Soccer team, two television networks, the Air Canada Centre (second-busiest concert venue in North America), and interests in the two condominium projects adjacent to the arena. The company does not disclose its financials or break out revenues from its various holdings. According to a banking source, MLSE generated an estimated net profit of $80-million (U.S.) in the last fiscal year and is now worth $1.6-billion (U.S.).
Profit. From a company making products that don’t perform in their marketplace. Three teams, two that couldn’t spell “playoffs” and one that squeaks in just long enough for an ass-kicking every year. The product is poor but the registers keep ca’chinging. It’s astounding. I want these guys running my business.
Of them all, the Raptors are clearly the closest to being a true contender. Truthfully, I don’t believe the team’s that far away. A piece here, a half season under their belts, maybe a new coach, and I think we’re in a good position to make a run at the East. We’ve seen how our frontcourt has played. Bargnani, in my opinion, has vastly improved his decision making, intensity, and defence. Jose is still a top-tier PG, even if he’s struggling at the moment. It’s that gap on the wings that we need fixed. Someone to tighten up our perimeter D and get to the line 6-10 times per game. Of the wings we have, Kapono, Parker, even Moon would be adequate backups off the bench. We just need one “stud” starter to throw lock this rotation down.
And we all turn to Colangelo to do this. After all, it is his job. But how can he? He has no pieces. He’d have to fleece a GM something proper for us to get a REAL difference maker for our available players. It could happen, but think back for a second to being a kid. Would you trade your Sean Kemp rookie card for three Craig Elho’s and a Rony Seikaly? Not in a million years, even if there was a John Starks error card thrown into the mix.
We can’t make an omelette without eggs. And as the team’s currently constructed, Colangelo’s oeufless. We can’t expect him to work magic. He’s not Gandalf. Nope, if we want to conquer Middle Earth and be Lords of the Rings, there’s only one hope of being competitive – The Luxury Tax.
Say those words around here and you’d think I was shouting racial slurs through a megaphone at Dundas Square. What’s the fear? It’s not like we can’t afford it. The franchise should re-invest some of its profits to making the team better. It’s only fair.
Last year’s taxpayers were Knicks, Dallas, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Boston, the Lakers, and Phoenix. Let’s set aside the Knicks because they’re just a shitshow, head to toe. Of the remaining 7 teams, 6 were in the playoffs. Of those 6, 3 were Conference finalists, including the two NBA finalists. The tax doesn’t seem to be serving these teams too bad.
What can we deduct from this? Willingness to pay the Luxury Tax doesn’t guarantee a championship, but it does seem to position you to do so.
Reading this interesting thread on RealGm, there are those that making a compelling “business sense” case against the LT. I get it. But then, guys like myself and “Center Court” see the more major long-term ramifications of not dipping into the tax this season. Basically, the team can’t market themselves as contenders and then not be anywhere near contention– the fans won’t stand for it. No, they positioned the team a certain way to the public, now they have to make good on their promise if they want to keep the fans.
Now, assuming BC gets the go-ahead to swing for the fences, the question to you is:
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
P.S. Since we’re living in hypotheticals as Peddie would never dip into his “Third Indoor Pool” fund, what about this deal?
Get a reliable veteran backup PG and a rugged wing player like Kleiza who can also bury the 3 – and what do we give up REALLY? Three unproved players, two long and athletic that would fit in Denver’s plans and a raw rookie PG with upside. Thoughts?
