Damian Goddard has been part of the Toronto sports landscape for almost a decade. The Humber graduate has worked with 680 News, Rogers Sportsnet and is now a member of the Raptors NBA TV team. You can catch more of Damian hosting Raptors Game Day and Raptors Post Up each game day on Raptors NBA TV.

by Damian Goddard
raptors.commentator
December 23, 2004

(TORONTO) -- We’re closing in on a week since “the deal”. It’s been a few days since Toronto Star columnist Dave Feschuk’s rant on what he perceives to be a “con job”. And I’ve gone through a myriad of emotions. But I had to get this off my chest once and for all.

Firstly, let me commend Mr. Feschuk for his diligent work over the years. In my brief dealings with him, I see a soft-spoken man who carries a hatchet for a pen. And it’s one of the reasons why I have such high regard for men of such ilk. For the record, I completely admire his skills and never miss out on his edge-of-your-seat columns.

Erci Williams made his first start as a Raptor Wednesday. (NBAE/Getty Images)

That aside, I could not have been more opposed to Dave’s spin following the Vince Carter trade to New Jersey. Bear with me while I climb atop my soapbox.

In his column “Trade haste leaves Raptors lying in waste”, Feschuk attempts to purport the Raptors situation to the old adage of “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Feschuk surmises ‘greenhorn’ Rob Babcock, a 17-year veteran of NBA management skills, either didn’t know the extent of his actions or was completely fleeced into thinking he had to hit the panic button.

While it is the Raptors GM’s policy to decline comment on trade scenarios – and one has to respect him for that - any straight-thinking fan has to know that Babcock had executed due diligence in a situation which was initially compromised when Carter requested a trade. The smoke has cleared and there are a couple of hardened facts that can’t be argued.

One – through the transaction with New Jersey, the Raptors expectations are of low-risk value; they know exactly what they’re getting in Eric Williams and Aaron Williams. The same cannot be said of the Nets; are they getting an injured-list resident or the reincarnation of Vinsanity?

Two – the acquisition of both players addresses a couple of dire needs for this Raptors franchise. While the counter-attack to that statement is that the Raptors have sacrificed any semblance of a serious scoring threat that would attract attention, when was the last time Vince Carter spent any long stretch playing the way he was supposed to? As a matter of fact, there have been many cases when opposing teams went into game-plans against the Raptors focusing more on the merits of a Donyell Marshall than what a healthy Carter could bring to the floor. My, how the mighty fall.

Feschuk talks of Babcock batting .000 thus far. Come again? There is no question that Babcock has hit a home-run with new head coach Sam Mitchell, and by extension, a player like Matt Bonner. These two bring to T.O. exactly the type of characteristics this city has yearned for, in a pro sporting sense.

As for his statement, “Waiting longer, clearly, was the only answer to Babcock's Carter conundrum”, Feschuk supposes the deal he got with New Jersey, and something better, would have been there later. But to quote George Bailey from the Sam Capra Christmas Classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, “Wait??! Wait for what?!” When one is sick, one does not wait for the sickness to spread.

Chris Bosh will be looked on to shoulder more of the load now. (NBAE/Getty Images)

Feschuk suggests Babcock wait until the February trade deadline at which time desperate teams will be willing to sell the farm. To wait until the franchise completely alienates its fan base. To wait until hard-working members become completely jaded by the mounting losses and the locker-room dissension that would follow. In other words, wait until the cancer spreads.

Besides, Rob Babcock had the courage to step forward and take action, knowing full well there is an expiry date on swinging the ‘perfect deal’. It’s amazing how quickly one can go from feeling they are in a position of power to an empty feeling of desperation. While Babcock was not desperate, he understood his team was in need of a makeover, and it needed to be done when the time was right. And that time is now.

Clearly, the Raptors have rewarded themselves from so many vantage points. Mitchell wins with a couple of men who will go to work, no questions asked. Chris Bosh wins with the acquisition of some front-court help in Aaron Williams. The locker-room wins with the injection of some much-needed leadership in Eric Williams. Rob Babcock wins in that he has a couple of first-round picks to play with. But most importantly, Raptors fans can now feel special once again knowing their voices are being heard. And make no mistake, they are being heard every time Bonner leaves an impression (are you listening Kevin Garnett??). They are being heard when Air Canada Centre erupts when the blue-collar second unit comes in and changes the face of the game.

They were heard over the last few weeks when Vince touched the ball. They are heard the same way this city cheers on the work ethic of a Tie Domi and Darcy Tucker. This city has established its sporting identity. Despite its ‘big-city’ feel, we are in essence the Green Bay Packers of the NBA. Give us hard work, teamwork, community work. Give us the feeling you want to be here. We promise, we’ll love you right back.

Feschuk says the deal with New Jersey has landed only a couple of plumbers while giving up this city’s basketball superintendent. Well with all due respect Dave, I believe the super was stealing rent money and I’ll take a couple of reliable mini-vans over a shiny, expensive Lamborghini on jacks every day.