I'm not sure, but maybe this one of my old pro-Sam emails, I was
looking for.

The title says it all..It is NOT Sam Mitchell's fault!!! I said "I
should be depressed, with a 1-15 start in 2006-7, but I'm not."

I even dared to write the words "If Sam Mitchell, turns into a great
head coach...", when ESPN had already branded our Toronto head coach
the WORST in the whole NBA.

I'm sure you thought I was dumb saying that, but it seems prophetic
now! Maybe we were right to say he's "not good enough". Maybe he's
still not good enough. But, like Calderon, he's rising on the
chart! Watch how good he gets!!!

--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <lumberkingmike@...> wrote:
>
> I sent no emails this time last year. I was deeply depressed.
>
> I dropped Raptors NBA TV from my cable TV at the end of last
> season too...and did NOT pick it up in time for opening day.
>
> I have not dropped it yet this year. I am having fun following the
> Raptors. It sounds trite, but it is an important point. I expect
> my excitement is just a reflection of "Raptor Nation"!
>
> I think my emails resumed about the same time I resumed following
> the Raptors, and resumed Raptors NBA TV, only AFTER they started to
> rebound from their nasty 1-15 start.
>
> Now that Bryan is on board, that 1-14 finish only seems funny to me
> now. I should be depressed, with a 1-15 but this time I'm not. >
> Thanks Mr Peddie for the bold move of dumping Babcock!
>
> Having defended Sam, I must say again that I doubt he'll last in
> Toronto's mean media environment. I look back on the Lenny Wilkins
> era fondly. Neither Lenny nor "K.O." had the cards to win with.
>
> If Sam Mitchell somehow, turns into a great head coach
> somewhere else after he is axed here, we can blame ourselves
> for our impatience.
>
> Just as Babcock was only learning as a new GM, Mitchell was only
> learning as a new head coach.
>
> I think this whole market (fans, media, etc) is still learning. I
> think the negativism in the press (and fans) undermines the
> confidence of Sam and his players. It's also handicapping our
> general managers' ability to get value in trade for guys who
> are criticized by the media, and booed by their own fans!
>
> On the other hand, one ex-GM landed on his feet in the "big apple",
> and look how he's still never learned...but Isaiah Thomas at least
> always drafted well.
>
> Maybe Isaiah Thomas would make a good assistant GM. Giving him the
> keys to the franchise might have been "going a bridge too far", but
> looking back I see the rational. No doubt Sam would be a great
> assistant coach, but it is too late to put toothpaste back in the
> tube. He's the man now!
>
> Just as it is not Hoffa's fault that Babcock wasted a lottery pick
> on him, it is not Sam Mitchel's fault that Babcock made him a head
> coach before he was ready and seasoned. Let him grow into Lenny
> Wilkens' shoes!
>