Toronto entrepreneur who founded Raptors proud of team's success

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John Bitove looks down from 23rd floor of his office at the Scotiabank Arena reflecting on the history behind the Toronto Raptors, the basketball team he founded after winning a bid to bring an NBA team in 1993.
“I’m a proud parent of the Raptors and a proud parent of that arena as well.”
After successfully beating out two other groups vying for the licence to bring a professional basketball team to Toronto, with the promise of building an arena specifically for the team, Bitove recalls the challenges he was faced with.
“This was not a slam dunk in the early days. A lot of people didn’t think we would be here today,“ Bitove says.
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Опубликовано:

27 май 2019

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Комментарии : 99

@dengdavid6390 5 лет назад

Touching story. Thanks for bringing Raptors basketball to Toronto and the new generation

@NRV0 5 лет назад

Not from Canada but you gotta give respect to the people who paved the way.

@nickfreda1742 4 года назад

yes, he is.

@user-ro1ko7nw5e 5 лет назад

A whole city scale celebration with 0 arrest. That's classy

@c.cosman3674 5 лет назад

I am Canadian, I am a Lakers fan in my heart, but the very first memory of basketball in this country was Vince Carter commercials. This guy got my generation for sure. Born 93, proud Canadian.

@NewEra22 5 лет назад

Born and raised in Toronto. Seen the new, the bad, and the ugly. Thank you Mr Bitove. From the bottom of my heart.

@Mikey-fo9mm 5 лет назад

There is a saying - Coming together is the beginning. Working together is in progress. Staying together is a success.

@moeanthony9308 5 лет назад

Thank you Mr. BITOVE

@donnievincent5971 5 лет назад

salute to the raptors team, you got my support from Trinidad

@beektormaing 5 лет назад

donnie vincent big up Trinidad fam

@donnievincent5971 5 лет назад

@@beektormaing thank u

@ianhamilton396 5 лет назад

This would never have been possible w/o John Bitove and his vision, drive and determination. Congratulations to you and I hope MLSE will also recognise your invaluable service as a community leader by bringing basketball to Toronto and Canada to share in this Championship. Congratulations again. (From an old acquaintance)

@xxjmxx13 5 лет назад

Amazing story. He must feel great, and rightfully so for being a huge part of the reason basketball is big not just in Toronto, but in this entire COUNTRY now. The growing success, talent, and popularity of our national team is owed all the way back to the moment the Raptors came to Toronto. Amazing.

@StatementPlus 5 лет назад

Thank you Mr. Bitove, you made history. Much respect.

@UrbanOutlawsSk8Co 5 лет назад

As a Portland native, I'm happy for Toronto. Small markets can have big players

@coscrupi 5 лет назад

👍Toronto is not a small market. 4th largest in North America. 😉

@addiaaj7389 5 лет назад

Toronto is not a small market, do your research bruh!!

@Illmatic662 5 лет назад

Thanks fam, I always tell people all the time that Portland has some of the best fans in the NBA. They are incredible.

@progressivelibertarianview8832 5 лет назад

This man brought Michael Jordan to Toronto '96,'97,'98(to face the Raptors) and gave us the chance to watch him.

@blunts40spodcast9 5 лет назад

Thank you for bringing the Raptors to us. I'm very grateful to be a fan

@mauriciorano134 5 лет назад

Raps are a Canadian success story :)

@Vancovermycity 5 лет назад

Great points its great to see the young folks happy

@SHEEMBA 5 лет назад

All of Canada is supporting you!

@reinerkravis2186 5 лет назад

A great history lesson!

@ashtencorey3005 5 лет назад

Legendary

@Moonroofmusik 5 лет назад

Good for them

@tonylam328 5 лет назад

If the Raptors had Stu Jackson running the team, they'd probably lose their team too. RIP Grizzlies.

@nikoinvicta 5 лет назад

Salute from Macedonia

@batistayonis1789 5 лет назад

GOOD MAN FOR THE BUSINESS.

@Teacher2Polis2XtraRice 5 лет назад

Congrats Raps.

@tonyrhodes5860 5 лет назад

Charles Barkley who most people in Toronto never watched play is one of the greatest of all time and most popular player just opened up Hockey Night In Canada. He said if anyone says any sport is better than NHL playoffs you know nothing about sports. He said NBA was once great but its no where near it once was. NCAA Basketball is bigger in the USA which i agree. NBA finals was tradition. now it just doesnt have the same power cause of our youth in america and how they grow into being a professional. The sport is struggling for talent.

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

Tony Rhodes what? If anything, basketball is the one sport that never really changes. The three game is the only trying that has majorly changed in the sport today. Football on the other hand, o barely recognize it anymore....

@tonyrhodes5860 5 лет назад

@Ben Mangat If Hockey is irrelevant. What is basketball?non existent? Sad raptors are so big and growing but gets lower advertising dollars and worst sports tv ratings in canada below NHL (of course) blue jays, ncaa football and CFL football. Raptors are growing? how bad was it before lol

@Nsingh11 5 лет назад

Give him , Nav superfan, drake, the commentators, jv, demare, a ring when we win

@cashiusclay_ 5 лет назад

GO RAPS GO!!!!!

@GiTxSHuM 5 лет назад

Just gonna ask what happened to LeBronto lol Kawhi saved this team. Mad respect.

@bluecheese5599 5 лет назад

nah lebron left before kawhi came

@arcticwanderer2109 5 лет назад

Now this is what you call a FATHER FIGURE

@nerquaye47 5 лет назад

Now get this man to help lower ticket sale

@ed5378 5 лет назад

The NBA should give the Memphis Grizzlys back to Vancouver, they havent done anything since theyve been there

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

And what did they ever do in Vancouver? The grizzlies are going to Vegas junior

@thejuice3819 5 лет назад

If Kawhi stays I'm buying out the New Balance store! Gimme those Kawhi sneakers!!!

@noorkashif9107 5 лет назад

Love the colors I’ve seen of them and overall silhouette def want a pair myself

@demiurgenazarick1348 5 лет назад

Dammit so that's why it wasn't named as Toronto Beavers 😤😤😤

@IppiopaidFEEDBACK 5 лет назад

😊

@ranga-tanga5902 5 лет назад

Toronto great to see success i make great content

@things4yougaming723 5 лет назад

What about Vince carter

@blessednash5786 5 лет назад

Vince Carter should have been on this roster or retire raptor

@dmok42195 5 лет назад

Blessed Nash just trade for him today before the next game

@aegonii8471 5 лет назад

Daniel Lai Kei Mok The hawks should’ve traded him to the raptors when they traded Jeremy Lin.

@digitalathlete5835 4 года назад

Proud Macedonian

@jaybee9097 5 лет назад

you dont measure a teams popularity when there having the best season of there life. Any team is successful and create buzz when there at the top like the raptors are now. But what will happen when there last place in the league? back to empty arena and bad tv ratings...only a few teams in north america that have big and loyal fan base

@markpagtama7954 5 лет назад

The raps has the best fanbase tho.

@jaybee9097 5 лет назад

@@markpagtama7954 um you can say every team has the best fanbase when there at the top. lol where was raptors best fan base before they started making playoffs? LOL

@markpagtama7954 5 лет назад

@@jaybee9097 ive been saying it since i started following the raps. Roughly 2010 or 2011. They do have the best fanbase. They never leave the stadiums on blowouts.

@thatonecanadianguy6523 5 лет назад

@@jaybee9097 You have NEVER been to a Raptors game have you?

@fitchick3649 5 лет назад

Fans have been going to the games for years before we ever got to this point.

@ledzeppelin5647 5 лет назад

I'd be happy too if they made ME millions.

@Alwayslosingmoney 5 лет назад

This dude look like part raptor.

@vascogamero530 5 лет назад

S K that’s why they only filmed his top half

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

I hate myself for almost smiling at your comment

@ericyuan9718 5 лет назад

Let the ol' white guys watch hockey 😆😆😆

@oeao2841 5 лет назад

Is he the one that got rid of Vince?

@KardiFan2000 5 лет назад

Nope, that was Rob Babcock.

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

Vince got rid of Vince

@TheNightmareFish 5 лет назад

Brett screwed Brett

@jumchaesoojenlisa6543 5 лет назад

Always some white guy behind the scene running everything

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

Always some white guy on the internet posting stuff about race to look cool.

@trevorcunningham8687 5 лет назад

Not one word about Kawhi. This guy is being interviewed because of him. Some nerve. Kawhi should leave!

@sophia13able 5 лет назад

Let's go WARRIORS!!!!!

@dmok42195 5 лет назад

Wrong show troller LOL

@sophia13able 5 лет назад

Let's go WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!

@sophia13able 5 лет назад

Let's go WARRIORS!!!!

@blainealexander5091 5 лет назад

He literally called his team a dinosaur lol

@MBB563 5 лет назад

Sorry Toronto or Canada ..happy to see you guys in the final....but it's our sport ...USA...the championship stays in America.

@ramin9510 5 лет назад

What a stupid comment. Do your research before barking like a female dog. Basketball was created by a Canadian. Its OUR sport. Btw. F america. Keep being israels dog .stupid clown

@aonghusjohnson1814 5 лет назад

MB Canadian guy invented the sport look it up

@fallemblem 5 лет назад

It's literally the opposite of your sport but ok lmao

@jacquesschrap8932 5 лет назад

Not to mention the first ever sanctioned professional game was played in Toronto with the Toronto Huskies vs the New York Knickerbockers. Educate yourself .