And just like
that, we have the NBA back! The lockout is officially over and the
pre-season games are under way, various fan bases are across the League
are flaming up with exaggerated hype or doom. How much I've missed that.
The bottom line is, however, that we made it through the lockout and, if the attendance at the lone pre-season game, we're still going strong. Having said that, here is my biggest Holiday / New Year's wish to my fellow Raptor fans. Let the 'tank talk' become the thing of the past.
The bottom line is, however, that we made it through the lockout and, if the attendance at the lone pre-season game, we're still going strong. Having said that, here is my biggest Holiday / New Year's wish to my fellow Raptor fans. Let the 'tank talk' become the thing of the past.
 |
| Photo: MegiMK |
Winning
creates a positive environment and momentum. Losing creates more
damage than one or two high draft picks could ever fix. You must have
heard the "You don't learn from losing" cliché many times already. It's
only a cliché only because it's true.
Losing doesn't help achieve anything other than making the, so much talked about in Toronto ,'losing culture' grow stronger. It projects out a bad and unfavourable image and contributes to the city's being constantly perceived as less than a desirable destination in the League.
I realize many people simply use the "ping pong ball" excuse to make themselves feel better about the losses and I can understand that to certain extent as it shows they actually still care. Oh the other hand, there are those actively rooting for the Raptors to lose certain games (mainly against the other projected lottery teams) just to 'win' the 'battle of the tanks' and finish as low as possible. It's one thing to root for your team in every game and then try to put the loss in perspective, actively rooting for loses is a totally different, and quite unsportsmanlike, matter.
Either way, expecting one unproven rookie (or two in the Raptors' case) to suddenly solve all of the team's problems is the best and fastest way of setting yourself up for a major disappointment. Shedding the losing reputation and attracting major free agents to the organization will take much more than that. The Raptors having an absolutely awful season is definitely not going to help with that, no matter how high a draft pick it might help them land. It's not like there's a shortage of superstars other majors players will want to play it. Can you imagine any of the big cats (and no, I do not mean Jamaal Magloire) saying "Hey, I want to go and play with Jonas Valenciunas!" in foreseeable future? Neither can I.
Another reason why always dreaming about those lottery ping pong balls is not a good idea? There will always be another draft class, and another, and another... It's a vicious cycle and the sooner we snap out of it, the better.
Let's just lose the 'tank nation' reputation, talk and jokes. Not a good look on anyone.
Losing doesn't help achieve anything other than making the, so much talked about in Toronto ,'losing culture' grow stronger. It projects out a bad and unfavourable image and contributes to the city's being constantly perceived as less than a desirable destination in the League.
I realize many people simply use the "ping pong ball" excuse to make themselves feel better about the losses and I can understand that to certain extent as it shows they actually still care. Oh the other hand, there are those actively rooting for the Raptors to lose certain games (mainly against the other projected lottery teams) just to 'win' the 'battle of the tanks' and finish as low as possible. It's one thing to root for your team in every game and then try to put the loss in perspective, actively rooting for loses is a totally different, and quite unsportsmanlike, matter.
Either way, expecting one unproven rookie (or two in the Raptors' case) to suddenly solve all of the team's problems is the best and fastest way of setting yourself up for a major disappointment. Shedding the losing reputation and attracting major free agents to the organization will take much more than that. The Raptors having an absolutely awful season is definitely not going to help with that, no matter how high a draft pick it might help them land. It's not like there's a shortage of superstars other majors players will want to play it. Can you imagine any of the big cats (and no, I do not mean Jamaal Magloire) saying "Hey, I want to go and play with Jonas Valenciunas!" in foreseeable future? Neither can I.
Another reason why always dreaming about those lottery ping pong balls is not a good idea? There will always be another draft class, and another, and another... It's a vicious cycle and the sooner we snap out of it, the better.
Let's just lose the 'tank nation' reputation, talk and jokes. Not a good look on anyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment