My Favourite NBA Cities...

Jack Armstrong November 20, 4:28 p.m. HELLO!! Here's a look at my favourite cities to go to when I'm on the road with the Raptors. Of course Toronto is number one, but I'm talking about the best cities we visit when we're on the road with the Raptors... My rankings are based on the city itself and the local team's fan base. 1. NYC - My hometown. Gotta love it. Educated and passionate/obnoxious fans. The Garden is an older building, but it has great history and I love the energy there. The restaurants and local establishments are second to none and closing time is 4am! 2. Chicago - The United Center fans are into it and they draw really well. My man 'The Swirsk' is there so that helps as well. The statue outside of the building of Michael Jordan is cool. Love Gen & Georghetti's steakhouse and running along Lake Michigan before a game. Harry Carays, PJ Clarke's and The Rosebud are worth a visit. 3. Boston - Even though it's not the Boston Garden, the banners in the arena say it all - Tradition! The parquet floor - love it. Fans are vocal and tough on opposing teams. I'm an Irishman so no shortage of Irish Pubs like the Purple Shamrock and the Black Rose. I'm a huge runner and I love the run along Commonwealth Ave, through Boston Common and along the Charles River. 4. San Francisco (Golden St) - Thank goodness we don't stay in Oakland anymore - tough town. SF is awesome. Great restaurants, beautiful setting and how can you go wrong hopping on a Cable Car and heading over to The Buena Vista to indulge in some Irish Coffee(s!). Spent an off-day afternoon there a few years ago solving the problems of the world. Love running along the waterfront and heading out towards Golden Gate Bridge. Tough city to run in with all the hills - good workout. Golden St fans are quite boisterous in good times and bad. Electric atmosphere there - ask the Dallas Mavs a few years ago what its like from their playoff losses there. 5. Portland - Very underrated city. Beautiful setting. Wonderful basketball town - Rabid fan base with great tradition. It rains a bit too much, but the fans love being indoors to support their Blazers. The Kells Irish Pub has some wonderful food and pints (of course) and I've seen some excellent bands there over the years. 6. Detroit - Downtown Motown - not a happening place. Can't believe they're hosting an NCAA Final Four there next spring. Fans are terrific - support their Pistons and have a nice tradition. This is a blue-collar town, the team reflects that and the fans expect a lunch-pail effort. 7. San Antonio - The Riverwalk. Incredible place to just walk around and people-watch. Love it at night with all the coloured lights in the trees. Music is going strong and folks are having fun. A town that loves it's hoops - the ABA and now the NBA - they're a first-class organization in every way and a captive audience being the only major pro team in town. 8. Philadelphia - The fans are brutally honest, are really into the games and stand behind their teams. The Best College Basketball town in the USA by far in my opinion (The Big Five tradition). I'll never forget the incredible energy and buzz when the Raptors played the Sixers in the '01 Playoffs. Love running along Boathouse Row and up the stairs of the museum - just like Rocky Balboa! 9. Dallas - Mark Cuban has done a wonderful job getting this football town hooked on hoops. They love their Mavs and they are enthusiastic every night. Nice city and if you love steak, lots of good places to hit. 10. New Orleans - These folks deserve to make the list for battling back long and hard from Hurricane Katrina. I'm not sold that this town can support hoops long-term (New Orleans Jazz), but they're lucky they've got Chris Paul right now. On top of all of that - gotta love Bourbon St. - 'nuff said! HONOURABLE MENTION 1. Seattle - What an incredible shame that this town doesn't have the Sonics. Lots of tradition there and really nice people. I'm heartbroken. These folks supported their team - big time. Better find a way to get a team back here soon. I loved going here each year. Really cool place to run along the water, looking out at the mountains. The Kells Irish Pub is a really warm/cozy place to hang out and enjoy good conversation and music. The Metropolitan Grill is one of the best restaurants I've eaten at over the years. 2. Vancouver - How do you move out of the most beautiful city in the NBA for Memphis no less?!?! The team was totally mismanaged here and the ownership just as bad. This is a market with huge potential and hopefully some wealthy Canadian business folks decide to try to get a team back here. BC has a great Basketball fan base and for the life of me I can't understand how anyone can think that a well run team can't make it here. If I had $$ - unfortunately I don't - I'd by a team and move it there! Talk to you all next week! The Coach