J-Roc wrote:Guy Smiley wrote:Please. VC wanted Dr. J and wasn't happy ownership didn't abide. Is that what defines going in a different direction?? Not hiring a GM requested by a player? Nah, VC destroyed his legacy here. Hope he got to experience the greener grass on the other side.
Jack the Ripper did terrible things to women's clothing.
IOW, way to avoid the essence of why that was an issue.
He was frustrated with the organization, and tried to take an active hand. Not just in terms of ideas, but recruiting, building up the idea of playing in Toronto, etc.
When GG was fired, Vince raised his concerns with the direction, and pushed for Dr. J to take over, in large part because of the profile issue he saw as central to the organization's struggles with top name talent.
And Peddie
promised Carter they would interview him for the job.
Let me repeat that: he was promised. Peddie has never even denied it.
Forget whether you, yourself, as a fan then or now think Carter should have been given that promise...I would argue yes, it wasn't abnormal for stars and he was doing more for his organization than most, but w/e, side issue...the fact is, he was promised.
And then, not only was Erving never interviewed, but Carter found out that and the fact that Babcock was hired by reading about it in a newspaper. In any walk of life, that's Peddie giving Carter a big **** you.
So forget all the Spin he put on it afterward, that's what happened, that's what Peddie did to our franchise player, and yet people still want to spin it as spoiled VC didn't get what he wanted. He never demanded Erving be hired, at all. He asked that he be considered, and was promised he would, and then was told to go screw himself through the press.
That's the real history.