The NBA season tips off Tuesday night and the Toronto Raptors host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. In the ten seasons prior I don't recall a Raptor season approaching so quietly and so far under the radar.
With the NHL back in full force, no Vince Carter in camp and a team that is being predicted to finish either 14th or 15th in the Conference, it's no wonder there's little buzz about the Raptors. It's going to be a long, painful season.
Lets take this opportunity to flash back to opening night in Toronto ten years ago. Before 33,306 fans at SkyDome, Alvin Robertson led the way with 39 points as we beat the New Jersey Nets 94-79. I clipped the write up in the next morning's Toronto Star and you'll find it on the right side of this page from my old scrapbook. It's there along with #45 Michael Jordan's first return, the death of Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon, a big Leafs playoff victory over the San Jose Sharks and Cal Ripkens 2,131st game.
That 1995/96 Raptor team finished the season 21-61. I fear this year's squad will do even worse.
