Originally Posted by
Deerkeeper
I think if the NBA had it's druthers, they would never have expanded into Canada in the first place. It's been a disaster from the start. The Grizzlies died and the Raptors would have followed if not for being saved by MLSE. Actually, MLSE was more interested in buying the then being built ACC and turning it into a hockey arena and the Raptors were just part of the deal (just like the cable channels you don't want, but they are part of the package). They are important for MLSE, but just as date fillers for the ACC.
I remember when the two Canadian franchises were awarded. CTV suddenly thought that Canadians would be all hot and horny for the NBA, so they did a national broadcast the NBA all-star game one Sunday night. I was working in aircraft servicing at 412 Squadron in Ottawa that night. Wasn't very busy and someone put the game in the TV. No one was interested. The TV ended up being tuned to Road to Avonlea and that drew greater interest then the game. I knew then that there was no way the NBA was going to work in this country.