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For the 2008-2009 professional sporting season, no town took a beat down like Toronto. While Toronto-hating may be the glue that holds the rest of this country together, no city deserves this kind of cruelty.

Consider the following numbers between March 29, 2008, and March 29, 2009:

Franchises: 6 (baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, soccer)

Wins: 163

Losses: 201

Winning percentage: 43.8

Teams with winning records: 1

Playoff games played: 0

Toronto FC, the Rock and the Leafs, all finished last in their divisions. The Jays, Raptors and Argonauts were the 'success' stories. They climbed the ladder to second last.

Coaching turntable

Sports teams in Toronto dismissed coaches like they were contestants on The Minor Celebrity Apprentice.

On March 29, 2008, the six men coaching pro teams in the city were Rich Stubler, John Carver, Paul Maurice, John Gibbons, Glenn Clark and Sam Mitchell. Not one of them has the job today. That's six out of six coaches who either resigned or were fired - an unemployment rate of 100 per cent.

Future bright?

For Toronto sports fans the key question is, 'won't someone make this stop?'

The critic's choice might be The New Adventures of Old Cito. Gaston's the guy who couldn't get a job managing in Major League Baseball for 10 years, despite winning back-to-back World Series titles.

So so sad.... Good read though

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2009/05/ ... gtown.html

ouch i didn't know it was that bad.... good thing I don't really cheer for all toronto sports teams (Just Raps and Jays)..

It's been a depressing time these past few years because none of the teams are at a point where they are on the verge of something big. Toronto FC looks good this season and hopefully they can keep it up the whole season.

Firing Sam Mitchell worked out really well.

I firmly stand by my assessment that Sam Mitchell was not very good at all.

Alfred wrote:I firmly stand by my assessment that Sam Mitchell was not very good at all.

I too, stand by the same sentiments.

Greatest coach in Raptors history (not exactly saying much, I guess). Sam's offense was the only reason the Raptors stayed afloat for 2 years.

They went from a .500 team under Sam to a horrible one under Triano (25-40, was it?).

Boston really has it lucky.

Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and the Patriots all had good seasons.

Alfred wrote:I firmly stand by my assessment that Sam Mitchell was not very good at all.

you should start a thread about it over on the Raps board. Raps were 8-9 when he got canned and were probably good enough with him as coach to face Orlando once again in the 1st round. 41-41 the season prior and 48 wins before that. Says something that your assessment is a little off.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:Greatest coach in Raptors history (not exactly saying much, I guess). Sam's offense was the only reason the Raptors stayed afloat for 2 years.

They went from a .500 team under Sam to a horrible one under Triano (25-40, was it?).

Sorry, Butch Carter was undoubtedly completely insane, but Sam still never did enough to take the weakest award in NBA history from him.

Strav wrote:

Alfred wrote:I firmly stand by my assessment that Sam Mitchell was not very good at all.

you should start a thread about it over on the Raps board. Raps were 8-9 when he got canned and were probably good enough with him as coach to face Orlando once again in the 1st round. 41-41 the season prior and 48 wins before that. Says something that your assessment is a little off.

If you replace a terrible employee with someone worse, does it make the first employee a good employee? The answer is no.

I've yet to have anybody ever explain to me why exactly Sam was a bad coach. He seemed to motivate well (kind of like the "Cito effect,") and his offense at least worked. And of course, his results were good, too. 2 playoff appearances on a team without much talent.

After what he did in Toronto, Sam will get another NBA job as a head coach whenever he wants.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:I've yet to have anybody ever explain to me why exactly Sam was a bad coach. He seemed to motivate well (kind of like the "Cito effect,") and his offense at least worked. And of course, his results were good, too. 2 playoff appearances on a team without much talent.

After what he did in Toronto, Sam will get another NBA job as a head coach whenever he wants.

- Absolutely terrible with X's & O's.
- Terrible with late-game matchups.
- Brutal substitution patterns
- Best players averaging way too many minutes early in the season.
- The thwarted development of Andrea Bargnani.
- Lack of accountability
- RE: X's & O's, sub patterns- outcoached in consecutive playoff series, albeit to the better team both times, still outcoached.
- Does not have a noticeable advantage or clear cut strength over other coaches.

There is probably more.

Sam had to go sometime, and I'm glad it happened sooner (later?) than later (even later?). Unless the guy was coaching Lebron or Kobe, he would not have outcoached an opposing coach in a 7-game series.

chocolateSensi wrote:
- Absolutely terrible with X's & O's.
- Terrible with late-game matchups.
- Brutal substitution patterns
- Best players averaging way too many minutes early in the season.
- The thwarted development of Andrea Bargnani.
- Lack of accountability
- RE: X's & O's, sub patterns- outcoached in consecutive playoff series, albeit to the better team both times, still outcoached.
- Does not have a noticeable advantage or clear cut strength over other coaches.

There is probably more.

Most of those points are opinionated and don't have any bit of evidence behind them. I would argue them....but talking about the Raptors and their entire **** show of an organization kind of pisses me off. In fact, I don't even know why I started on about them. I'm glad I don't have to pay them much attention until June.

Sam had to go sometime, and I'm glad it happened sooner (later?) than later (even later?). Unless the guy was coaching Lebron or Kobe, he would not have outcoached an opposing coach in a 7-game series.

Not with Bosh as his court leader, anyway.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:

chocolateSensi wrote:
- Absolutely terrible with X's & O's.
- Terrible with late-game matchups.
- Brutal substitution patterns
- Best players averaging way too many minutes early in the season.
- The thwarted development of Andrea Bargnani.
- Lack of accountability
- RE: X's & O's, sub patterns- outcoached in consecutive playoff series, albeit to the better team both times, still outcoached.
- Does not have a noticeable advantage or clear cut strength over other coaches.

There is probably more.

Most of those points are opinionated and don't have any bit of evidence behind them. I would argue them....but talking about the Raptors and their entire **** show of an organization kind of pisses me off. In fact, I don't even know why I started on about them. I'm glad I don't have to pay them much attention until June.

Sam had to go sometime, and I'm glad it happened sooner (later?) than later (even later?). Unless the guy was coaching Lebron or Kobe, he would not have outcoached an opposing coach in a 7-game series.

Not with Bosh as his court leader, anyway.

What did you want him to do? Bust out imaginary coaching stats? Or course this is all opinion - thats all you have - that and W/L record.

I found myself swearing at the telivision almost everygame Smitch coached for the exact reasons Sensi cited. Smitch was a bad coach - I'd honestly like to see you back up your threat of argument here. No offence man, but I think your a more knowledgeable baseball fan, and the beat down you laid on Sensi awhile back about BJ will be returned twofold about Smitch.

billy_hoyle wrote:I found myself swearing at the telivision almost everygame Smitch coached for the exact reasons Sensi cited. Smitch was a bad coach - I'd honestly like to see you back up your threat of argument here.

If you really want to know my opinion, you could go read the countless threads that I posted in for 3 months before I became disgusted with the Raptors after the Marion trade occurred.

But you know what I'll humour you....the only legitimate knock on the Smitch from that list that I can see is his play calling weakness (an obvious weakness for anybody that was paying attention). Not sure how anybody could say he was poor with late-game match ups when none of his players play any defense (Sam's teams relied on their offense to win, so he kept offensive players in the game). Nor do I get the criticism that the best players were playing too many minutes early in the season (#1, haven't you considered the possibility that is why they were actually winning half of their games?, and #2, Bosh still ended up playing 38 minutes a game anyway). And the only person who thwarted Andrea Bargnani's development was Andrea himself. He got too many minutes in 2007-2008 as far as I'm concerned, but Sam stick with him, hoping he would wake up. He never did. Maybe you'd have a legitimate gripe if Andrea wasn't averaging 25 minutes a game with Sam, but he was.

Basically, Sam's like Cito Gaston, the basketball coach (and no, it's not because they are both black and fairly G). Poor in-game strategists (yes, enough to make us both swear at the television at them), but good motivators who gets the most out of their players offensively. If you like Cito, I really don't see why you wouldn't like Sam.

No offence man, but I think your a more knowledgeable baseball fan, and the beat down you laid on Sensi awhile back about BJ will be returned twofold about Smitch.

I can lay the smackdown on anybody, any time, any place. But yes, basketball is just the winter sport I follow in between baseball seasons.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:

chocolateSensi wrote:
- Absolutely terrible with X's & O's.
- Terrible with late-game matchups.
- Brutal substitution patterns
- Best players averaging way too many minutes early in the season.
- The thwarted development of Andrea Bargnani.
- Lack of accountability
- RE: X's & O's, sub patterns- outcoached in consecutive playoff series, albeit to the better team both times, still outcoached.
- Does not have a noticeable advantage or clear cut strength over other coaches.

There is probably more.

Most of those points are opinionated and don't have any bit of evidence behind them. I would argue them....but talking about the Raptors and their entire **** show of an organization kind of pisses me off. In fact, I don't even know why I started on about them. I'm glad I don't have to pay them much attention until June.

Sorry for the delayed response.

Anyway, yeah obviously they're based on opinion, but not entirely. I can guarantee you though that the evidence I have to support those 'opinions' are much more legitimate than anything you can gather to support your argument that Sam was a good coach, other than W/L.

So here you are, with only the most notable and dumbfounded examples I can recall.

- Absolutely terrible with X's & O's.

Hey Sam, your inbound play didn't work the first time, or the second time. How about try a different one, if you even have another one, before the team unravels and blows an 18pt 3rd quarter lead to our biggest nemesis Vince Carter, and the Nets.

- Terrible with late-game matchups.

Hey Sam, Jason Kapono cannot guard Matt Carroll. What makes you think he can guard Paul Pierce? On 4 consecutive late-game possessions nonetheless. Yes, he is in there for his offense, but there are these guys on your team named Anthony Parker and Joey Graham who can do a much better job. Or send a double team at least, and let someone else score.

- Brutal substitution patterns

Please, don't ever put a line-up of Ukic, Kapono, Moon, Humphries, and O'Neal at any given time on the court, unless it's a blowout.

- Best players averaging way too many minutes early in the season.

Haven't you considered the possibility that after playing so many minutes, Jose and Bosh would both tire way too early in the season, especially after playing throughout the summer? Jose averaged 37mpg, and Bosh 42mpg under Sam this year. And likely indirectly contributed to their respective injuries, no? Yes, Jose did not have a competent back-up all-season, but it was well documented that AP could man the point with some decency as evidenced from practice, yet never did in-game with Sam.

- The thwarted development of Andrea Bargnani.

So it was just a coincidence that Bargs began to play better overall, after Smitch got canned and under JT's tutelage? I think it's always been a confidence thing with Bargs, but I think this is where you are way off with the Cito comparison. They've beated this topic like a dead horse--- players love playing for Cito because they know regardless of how they perform, they will play. This was definitely NOT the case with Sam. The complete opposite actually. Especially Joey and Bargs we're on the shortest leash with Smitch. Sometimes rightfully so, most of the time, not justified.

Of course, I don't have any statistical backing for this, but it is well known.

- Lack of accountability

Find me a video, or some sort of transcript from a post-game press conference where Sam accepts even a PARTIAL blame of a loss throughout his 5 seasons here.

- RE: X's & O's, sub patterns- outcoached in consecutive playoff series, albeit to the better team both times, still outcoached.

This is probably has the most to do with opinion than any other point.

- Does not have a noticeable advantage or clear cut strength over other coaches.

After being a good motivator, what IN-GAME strength does Sam have over other coaches?

You remind me of the Jays fans when Gibbons was fired for no reason. Looking for somebody that isn't the players to blame. The team's record once he left tells the entire story, in my mind.

And again, I can't believe people go on about this nonsense concerning Andrea Bargnani. Sam played the guy more than he should have, if anything. In fact, I kind of hated how he continued to use such an ineffective player in the place of guys that could actually contribute.

The credit for Andrea Bargnani's breakout goes entirely to Andrea Bargnani, just like I would say about Adam Lind or Aaron Hill or any of these other Jays players off to hot starts. They are the ones playing the game.


Edit: Just read you entire post...there were some legit arguments to be made, but a lot of it wasn't true at all (the injuries, the substitution patterns, the hurting Bargnani's development (He hurt Joey? Are you kidding me? Joey hurt himself when he sucked for 4 years in his playing prime). It all brought back some horrible memories, though. There are like 2 or 3 good players on that team, and they all don't play any defense. Such a screwed up team Colangelo has put together.

Mustard_Tiger wrote:You remind me of the Jays fans when Gibbons was fired for no reason. Looking for somebody that isn't the players to blame. The team's record once he left tells the entire story, in my mind.

By this logic, no coach should ever be fired based on their teams play on the field/court.

Sam had to go, he was a good coach in 2/4 seasons. Those 2/4 seasons, we just happened to have pretty deep and balanced teams. The guy had no philosophy or approach whatsoever, and is better suited as an assistant, in my mind.