Now That's Entertainment . . . Issue # 8

[[ WARNING: The following piece contains material and/or language that may offend some readers.  Do I care?  No, not really.... but either way, Reader discretion is advised. ]]

"A Grizzly future?"

For this issue, a look into the world of professional sports, but not the side we see when we dish out our hard earned cash.  Not the cutting to the basket or 20-foot jumper.  Not a Shaq attack, or the Answer.  For this issue, I probe into the financial part of the sport of professional basketball, and more specifically, my hometown Vancouver Grizzlies.

Over the summer, we have seen the Grizzlies' history unfold, with many new entries these past few months.  The most obvious of these was the Steve Francis ordeal, but that is not what I'm going to talk about today.  Today, we look at the new owner of the Vancouver Grizzlies, the man we call Bill Laurie.  A man that I wouldn't pay the least bit of respect towards, should I ever, and I doubt I'll ever, meet this man.  No "sirs", or pleases or thank yous.  Ever since he purchased the Grizzlies from McCaw, he has made no motions, no hints at the intention of keeping the Grizzlies here in Vancouver.  Quite the opposite.  Whether he likes it or not, though it doesn't matter if he intended to or not, he has made his intentions clear and has drawn his line in the sand.  He wants to move the Grizzlies to an up and coming market in the United States, a market that is very receptable to sport teams, his hometown, Saint Louis.  The only major sport that city is lacking, is basketball, and in my view, Laurie wants to walk into that town as its knight in shining armour and complete the grand slam.  They have the Cards;  They have the Blues;  They have the sleeper-hit of the season Rams;  and now they want our Grizzlies.

I read Gary Mason's article in the Vancouver Sun today (October 30/99), where he talked about this whole ordeal.  Normally, for those of you who know me, you know that I am never too anxious to jump on the bandwagon.  You know that I'm damn stubborn, and it takes a helluva lot of convincing to evoke an opinion on me, but well, Mason's done it.  Bill Laurie, this bastard from Saint Louis, just waltzes into the meeting between NBA owners, the finance committee, and makes his intentions VERY clear.  He wants to move the Grizzlies, and he wants to move them soon.  He doesn't even want to look beyond this season.  He doesn't even want to imagine, for the slightest amount of time, that the Grizzlies will still be the Vancouver Grizzlies, same time next year.  I think Mason said it best.  Even though he wasn't there, he's heard from 'sources' that Laurie came off as "an arrogant, spoiled little rich kid."  Damn right.

Now, I may seem a little too passionate about a subject that I shouldn't be sticking my nose into.  I may seem like I'm taking professional basketball, MY hometown Grizzlies, a little too seriously.  But, why shouldn't I?  The good people of Vancouver, have stuck by this team through thick and thin.  Well let's just face it, the Grizzlies haven't exactly seen all that much success, which is exactly why they shouldn't move.  The people here in Vancouver have watched this team from day one, hoping we'd have a contender someday.  The people here in Vancouver watched the team fail miserably last year, ending in single digit wins.  Again, the worst team in the league.  But the future looks good, the future looks bright for this young team, especially with its new look.  Othella Harrington.  Michael Dickerson.  3D.  This team shows potential.  This team shows promise.  And Laurie is going to decide to just pick up a team and move it right out of a town that has supported its local losers just before they become winners.  Laurie wants to reap in all the benefits of all the hardships the organization has gone through.  

Nuh-uh.  Don't think so, Billy boy.  He hasn't said a word to me.  He hasn't made any jabs at me personally.  Nothing of the sort.  But I hate his guts.  And I'm sure so does every other Grizzlies fan out there.  And rightfully so.  He hasn't scorned any of us personally.  He hasn't insulted our intelligence, well my intelligence, or anything like that.  But he has pissed off the city as a whole by badmouthing the city, as a whole.  By telling us he has ZERO intentions of keeping the team here, he's pulling the proverbial carpet right out from under us.  Well, I keeping my stance.  I'm nailing the carpet to the ground.  If these wealthy businessmen of Vancouver get their way, and if Stern, NBA Commissioner, keeps his footing, and keeps his word, the Grizzlies will be here same time next year.  The Grizzlies will be here same time two years from now.  And Bill Laurie will be nothing more than a name in the history of the Vancouver Grizzlies.  Gary Mason's right.  Laurie should just pack it up, and move on out.  Get himself out of the fire, before he gets burned too badly.  Back out now.  Go find yourself another team to buy.

Let's keep our fingers crossed......and maybe someday, Shareef will get his championship ring.

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© 1999 Michael Kwan.  Reproduction, exhibition or distribution of the preceeding piece without the expressed written consent of the author(s) can result in severe criminal and civil penalties under international agreements.  
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