Missing the Point

Its amazing sometimes how people want to defend something that isn't under attack.

I found this out last summer when I suggested that MLSE, as part of its proud tradition, had created a loser of a soccer team that people nonetheless want to support with all their hearts and souls and money.

Boy, did the cards and letters come in on that one.

Yesterday, I apparently had the temerity to question whether Bryan Colangelo really was the model executive the Maple Leafs should be looking for in their new hockey boss.

This, somehow, was interpreted as an all-out attack on Colangelo, his family and his family dog by some.

Now, it's great, I suppose, that Colangelo has so many uncritical admirers, particularly when his team appears to be falling apart.

But I really wasn't attacking him at all, and I certainly wasn't suggesting that he should be fired, or that he'd done a terrible job with the Raptors or that Rob Babcock should be brought back immediately. For the most part, Colangelo has been the best GM the Raps have ever had.

I was simply pointing out three facts; he's never won an NBA championship, the Raptors lost a first-round matchup last spring they probably could have won and the team appears worse this season.

Those three facts are indisputable.

For the Leafs, then, it was simply a suggestion that the Leafs might like to hire someone with a track record of championships and/or outstanding recent success. I suggested Gregg Popovich - yes, knowing full-well he's the coach, not the GM, of the Spurs - as an NBA figure with far more success on his resume than Colangelo.

That doesn't make Colangelo a stiff, and sure, he might end up a modern-day Red Auerbach, with multiple championships to his credit.

But he hasn't done it yet. Period. So all of you who simply want to parrot each other with the "stick to hockey" insults, try reading the blog and arguing the point.

I'd hate to throw you in with the soccer nuts.

Comments

[baac]

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself:

When is the last time any of the big three Toronto teams has won anything?

Ok, maybe just name the decade it happened in...

Cox drives me nuts too, folks. But he's right on this one.

[Sean]

I can't for the life of me imagine why everyone would read a Damien Cox column and assume it was intended to be overly negative towards a Toronto team.

[Gary McNulty]

Damien has overlooked the fact that before one can build a champion, one has to first build a winner. Brian C. has proven he can build a winner and was on the way to making the Suns a champion when he jumped ship to the Raptors. Even though the Raps are struggling now, one could not have forseen T.J. getting seriously hurt, Garbo not playing this year and CB4 having recurring foot/knee problems. Also, let's not forget that some of moves Brian C. made will take a couple of years to reap dividends. He has done remarkably well given the fact that he hasn't had much cap space with which to operate.

The Raps are moving in the right direction and have a good solid base on which to keep building. That's far more than the Leafs can say for themselves. The Leafs do need a Brian C. type to steer the ship.

[Marc Losier]

Hey Damien,

This is too funny. I forwarded yesterday's Colangelo blog to my Raptor loving cousin Serge and he lost his freaking mind. Said you should stick to hockey, blah blah. So let's just say your blog today is extremely poigant!!! Love it. You're absolutely right about the BC situation with MLSE and I never once thought you were criticizing the Raps GM. Very funny indeed.

Marc

[Andrew Barrie]

Hey Damien. Some people are far too easily offended.

I don't count myself among them, but do I have to disagree with you.

First of all, your 3 "indisputable facts" are not all indisputable, that the Raptors should have beat Jersey in last year's playoff, is open to dispute.

Secondly, I think you being too impatient in labeling the Colangelo era. If after 4 seasons, the Raptors are hovering between 10th and 5th (or even worse), have not had a significant playoff run (2 rounds won in the same playoffs) and cannot solve the TJ ford / Calderon issue (which is now clearly an issue) and turned Bargnani into, if not a superstar, at least a consistent offensive threat, then I'll agree, MLSE is barking up the wrong tree when looking for a Colangelo type to run the beleaguered Leafs.

Who's a Greg Popovich of Hockey anyway? Ken Holland? Lou Lameirello?

I swear it was you who said historically, GMs have a very hard time repeating their past successes with a new team, and that past success does not translate into Stanley Cup contenders.

So there really is no obvious answer of who to get to run your team. There is no burning bush to act as a beacon of saviorhood.

The only thing we know is the next GM of the Leafs cannot be a relative neophyte, such as JFJ.

[ambisec]

Oh Damien, surely you can do better than such a tepid and vacuous response. The (your!) readers actually make some valid points, and your response applies equally as well to you those you have aimed at. As you know full well, your previous blog was not simply to point out mere facts. No. You presented the facts, as any reasonably competent writer should, in such a way as to present a particular point of view, namely, that Colangelo just might not be as great as many of his admirers believe him to be. A forthright and courageous act would be to actually say what you mean and defend it with conviction. If all you meant to do was merely state facts without using those facts to say anything interesting, then you are simply a newsticker ... surely you aim higher than that, no? After all, isn't that the whole point of blog? Don't hide behind your facts, Damien; stand up and say something.

Now, if, given the fact that Colangelo has yet to win anything, you were to say that you do not believe him capable to do so, and if you were to argue *why* you believe so (other than "he hasn't done it yet. Period."), then *that* would make for a good post. How about it?

[OddyOh]

I won't be surprised when the 'MLSE Bored' messes up the hiring situation this summer. This is a tremendous opportunity they have to start over and send the Leafs in the right direction for the first time in years.

But, they probably won't. They know about marketing, not sports. And those really are two different things. Pre-order your Owen Nolan jersey now folks...Jason Allison, Eric Lindros, they're all coming back! Trying to recreate 1967, where a team of over the hill stars defied the odds...well, that may have worked when there were only six teams, but there's 30 now. 40 (ten more in Europe) if Bettman has his way, and he usually does.

What was my point...oh yeah, MLSE is bad for hockey! Have a good day.

[Scott]

Damien,
Maybe if you didn't operate on tabloid-style negative editorials every column/blog then we wouldn't be so quick to defend those we cheer for. There's gotta be more positves to write about. I mean, how many times can you write about how the Leafs aren't going to make the playoffs? Or that the franchise is unstable....we get the point! If not the Leafs or Raptors maybe it's the Jays that will bring out the positives for you.

[Devang D]

1)Kevin O'Connor, Danny Ainge, Donnie Nelson,Geoff Petrie and Kevin Pritchard don't have titles either. I'd say they are good GM's.

2) Last years team exceeded expectations. Youth was a factor (in both the coaches and players).

3) The fact that you chose to wrote this after a grueling 5 game trip in the terrific West screams sensationalism. You needed something to write about, fair enough, but your lack of bball reporting during the year speaks wonders on your views.

Check out Doug Smith, now he knows what hes talking about

[Drew]

hey Damien,
as a regular reader, I am always amazed at how so many simply read one or two words (or even a different column??) when they attack you ... makes one wonder if Leafs and/or Raptors fans can read??? ... or that they are so narrow minded and unable to think for themselves that they simply go on a rant against anyone who dare suggest that the Leafs are not on the verge of a Stanley Cup ... not sure why the Raptors rant?? ... Leaf's fans that are upset at anything you say??? ... may explain the very flawed and unrealistic read on their team!?!?

[paul]

You're an imbecile Cox. Try getting out to a game once in while if you are actually going to comment.

[PPP]

"I'd hate to throw you in with the soccer nuts."

HAHAHAHA anything to drum up responses eh?

I know that in theory you have an editor but does he even bother reading what you've written?

"or the Leafs, then, it was simply a suggestion that the Leafs might like to hire someone with a track record of championships and/or outstanding recent success."

Would winning the NBA executive of the year prior to his hiring or building one of the best teams in the Western Conference not count as "Outstanding recent success"?

Basically, after arguing that the Raptors should have hired someone that had a track record of winning titles you are countering your criticism by clarifying that you are just suggesting that the Leafs hire a GM that has won titles or who has a track record just like Bryan Colangelo's. Is it that hard to be internally consistent with your arguments in the space of 24 hours?

[Jimbo]

I agree-The jury is still out on BC. He's done a good job so far but how far the Raps continue to grow, and obviously big changes are still in order, will determine his success or failure. Bargs, TJ and Kapono are his three biggest moves and all three have had mixed results at best.

[Steve]

The last time any of the big three Toronto teams won anything was last year when the Raptors won their division. (Next you'll ask when they won something "meaningful"... but since you decide what meaningful is that's a straw man argument).

As for the Leafs needing a GM with a proven track record, if you're only looking at GM's and coaches that have won championships who have had recent success, I'm pretty certain you aren't seriously considering half the teams I'm about to mention. The management teams of Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Dallas, Montreal, the NY Rangers and Pittsburgh have all had a sip from the Cup over the past decade and a half. But I'm guessing you wouldn't be satisfied by having John Tortorella or Peter Laviolette as the Leafs GM. So if winning the cup is your key determinant you might want to ignore half the recent cup winners. This is all goal post moving in the end either way.

As for the Soccer folks you don't want to toss people in with, could you explain to me why you're assuming TFC is mismanaged? Lets remember that Mo Johnston is the same man that drafted Maurice Edu, Marvell Wynne, Jozy Altidore, Julius James, Pat Phelan, and took a risky (but possibly worth it) flyer on Joseph Lapira. All solid choices, and all making me question what you're basing your assertions on. If it has more to do with a poor expansion season, perhaps we should've thrown Paul Beeston and Pat Gillick under the bus for the Blue Jays when they got off to such a horrible start. Who cares if Gillick eventually won 2 World Series? Who cares if he then went on to build winning teams in Seattle and Philadelphia. He's obviously incompetent!

[mark]

We get your point Damien, Colangelo isn't God. But, he's pretty good. And as a Leafs fan, I'd be thrilled to have someone like him running the team. The other point (not made) isn't so much about Colangelo himself, but the fact that he enjoys the type of autonomy a Leafs GM can only dream of.

[Matt Goff]

The whole not winning thing is a difficult one to completely agree on. I mean in football, I support Brentford FC - a league two side, mid table, no money, crap players etc. But I still support them. A typical (supposedly) insulting song sung at football supporters is 'You only sing when your winning'...a reference to the fact that some fans will sing and support their team regardless of their league position. And that is loyalty. Personnel changes happen all the time - but the love for your team remains.

Sure, you can be angry at the board of directors - and with MLSE rightly so as they have money to change all manner of things - but you still love your team. Thats why I get a bit annoyed about the whole 'Leaf Dumb Fans' thing (and I have only been here since 1999). Its a bit unfair. I do stupid things all the time - but my wife and family still love me. In a fickle world, loyalty is a special thing. There is a saying in England "that you don't choose your team - they choose you". And regardless of the pickle they are in, you have to stay loyal with them. Just saying...

[Coop]

no clarification needed, DC. I thought you made those points pretty clear in the original post. if people took three extra seconds to read and breathe before tossing in hasty criticisms, it'd sure be a nicer place around here. (note the silence now.)

[Caballo Johnson]

Cox is right in just one thing: Colangelo has not won a championship yet. Cox is simply hurrying on his judgement of the Raptors. You have to wait until the end of the playoff to objectively evaluate the Raptors season. Last year's playoff loss to New Jersey was based on inexperience and the fact they had Garbajosa injured and Bargniani out for a month right before the playoffs. It is not fair to beat on Raptors for losing that series. Colangelo is certainly not Popovich but it is also certain to me that COX SHOULD STICK TO HOCKEY.

[Alex]

God I am tired of bitter Leafs' media types. Any one in the right mind would realize that Toronto FC's last season was a smashing success. IT WAS AN F'IN EXPANSION TEAM. Drill that into your thick, bald skull Cox! What more can you ask than a sold-out stadium with an atmosphere that destroys all Toronto sports competition.

Plus, Peddie doesn't look at TFC as his little chew toy like he does the Leafs. The team would've been in the playoffs with a healthy team.. I know this complaint sounds Leaf-like.. but if you followed them, which you clearly haven't Damien, you would know they had an exceptional number of injuries. Does this relate to their field turf? Very possibly. Its been a major deterrent to potential players this summer. Its also partly why their best player Ronnie O'Brien just decamped. Factor this in concert with the fact that no major name has any interest in playing their swan song in Canada, and TFC really has their work cut out for them.

But that's only logical, Damien.. something that cannot describe your work.

[Bob Holden]

It is quite interesting, that after living in and around Toronto for my first 50 years, I look at things from an outsiders perpective.

Back in the 1980's, when Pat Gillick was building a franchise and then a team, he was disparagingly denounced as "Stand Pat" before they were able to win the championships, and then referred to as the guy who bought a championship after they were champs.

The bottom line is that he built a strong team before he shored it up with "free agents". Every team has disappointments and injuries. A team needs to be built to last and be deep. There are few quick fixes.

That is likely the approach that the Leafs should try.

[chris]

You are a strange one, Damien. You say nothing about the hockey fans who criticize you for your insights into the game, yet you go completely squirrly when basketball and soccer fans do likewise.

You obviously have some strong opinions that you're not afraid to share. But it would be helpful if you treat the fans of other sports the same way you treat hockey fans, by not letting their critiques get to you.

You're welcome.

[Mario Pallotta]

Damien,

Is there anything positive you can write about the Toronto sports landscape? Colangelo has been voted executive of the year two times. He is the "A-lister" for basketball that the Toronto media said was needed in Toronto and now he is no good?
I wish I your job and all I needed to do was to write negative stories about the Leafs, Raptors, Jays and Argos

[LeoSC]

All teams have losing streaks, and good teams recover from them. A losing streak doesn't necessarily mean that the manager or the coach doesn't know what he's doing. To say that Colangelo is not the man for the job at the Raptors just because they are 2-8 in their last 10 games is equivalent to saying that you're a poor journalist just because you string together many articles in your blog and your column in which you show your ignorance of sports. I am a soccer nut, and suggest that if you don't want to be called (attacked, you call it) on your comments, then you should keep them to yourself and your inner circle, or at least think about what you're posting and realize that many nuts won't agree with you and will let you know.

[Chris B]

Raptor fans are overly sensitive about everything. Leaf fans are just clueless.

I think the reference to Colangelo is that the Leafs need somebody like Colangelo who has full control. It doesn't have to be a guy with his record, but somebody who will demand and receive full control.

Colangelo is not without errors. Look at the brilliant coach of the year who was badly outcoached in the playoffs last season and now can't win a game for his life without Chris Bosh.

The Raptors will never win with Sam Mitchell as coach

[Garret Thomson]

People have a tough time separating negative from critical. A lot of people don't understand the role of the media is to be critical; team support and lovely stories of rainbows and puppies is the domain of fandom and the society pages.

Which is to say, keep doing your job - critical analysis. It bothers some people, but they're the people who think any topic either involves saying awesome a lot of times or crappy a lot of times. Its up to journalists to inhabit the gray areas where so many people feel uncomfortable.

More on topic, I think the enormity of MLSE is always going to scare away some up and coming hockey brainiac of a GM - its clear that until the automony is there, nobody in their right mind who is interested in proving their worth is going to expose their careers to exec board meddling. Guys who have nothing left to prove, sure. But I think you'd have to be out of your mind to stake your career on GMing the leafs until some major cultural changes occur. So that makes the "proven winner" issue to me moot. If an unproven GM is interested in GMing in Toronto, I'll immediately conclude hes too naive to be a good GM. After all, it seems clear that budgets and exposure have little to do with cup winners.