Alex Wong @ Raptors Show Appreciation Thread

[tecumseh18]

The only MLSE Raptors podcast that actually felt untouched by the corporate side of things. I’ll miss the chemistry between Alex and Will.

I’m surprised at how polarizing he is on this board but it makes sense since RealGM tends to have much older users compared to Twitter or something.

They built the most popular basketball podcast in Canada off the backs of Will and Alex, I hope Sportsnet doesn’t forget that.

At least two of the oldest guys on this board have supported Alex in this thread.

If there's one thing I've learned in my many years on this earth, it's that racism isn't dying out with the newer generations. Maybe you don't spend as much time on X as I do.

I don’t want to to be that guy but I think the race thing is a bit of a reach here. It would be weird to support Will and not Alex if this was a race thing, no?

No doubt there are racists out there that hate the two for being Asian and no doubt it was harder for these guys to come up as minorities, but surely there are non race based reasons for not enjoying listening to Alex.

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

[Ado05]

lol im watching todays episode, it really feels like blake hates the back and forth of will and alex. dude barely cracks a smile when they are joking around.

Blake has been like that since he joined the show. He’s a total wet blanket, often interrupting Will and Alex’s jokes with his know-it-all stats that put me to sleep. Alex is/was the best part of the show. I’ve been a fan of Will and Alex’s chemistry since Run It Back on Yahoo and it’s a shame he’s leaving.

Blake never really fit well with Alex and Will. Those two obviously have great chemistry. Really sucks he's leaving. Hope him and Will still make some content together, they're funny together.

[AbC?]

Haven’t listened in a year plus but Alex is actually funny. I don’t care for in-depth analysis from the show because I know more than them about ball anyway. I just wanted entertainment and the banter between him and Will was great.

[ebo]

At least two of the oldest guys on this board have supported Alex in this thread.

If there's one thing I've learned in my many years on this earth, it's that racism isn't dying out with the newer generations. Maybe you don't spend as much time on X as I do.

I don’t want to to be that guy but I think the race thing is a bit of a reach here. It would be weird to support Will and not Alex if this was a race thing, no?

No doubt there are racists out there that hate the two for being Asian and no doubt it was harder for these guys to come up as minorities, but surely there are non race based reasons for not enjoying listening to Alex.

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

That's such a defensive position to take.

Things don't need to be so extreme - calling out bias doesn't mean people are placed into camps as being either seething racists or "colour blind" altruists. There are gray areas where we can all recognize and reflect on biases we all carry, and take those moments to reflect on where we have blind spots rather than getting so defensive.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using RealGM mobile app

[rage2021]

if anything they should have doubled down and got more talent like Alex. people want to be entertained if its a mainstream show.

leave the analytics and stuff for podcasts or other alternative media. its just the truth when it comes to casual audience/fans - they want entertainment i.e Inside the NBA

[tecumseh18]

I don’t want to to be that guy but I think the race thing is a bit of a reach here. It would be weird to support Will and not Alex if this was a race thing, no?

No doubt there are racists out there that hate the two for being Asian and no doubt it was harder for these guys to come up as minorities, but surely there are non race based reasons for not enjoying listening to Alex.

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

That's such a defensive position to take.

Things don't need to be so extreme - calling out bias doesn't mean people are placed into camps as being either seething racists or "colour blind" altruists. There are gray areas where we can all recognize and reflect on biases we all carry, and take those moments to reflect on where we have blind spots rather than getting so defensive.

Defensive?

Watch on YouTube

[spykelee]

Any post with Andre the giant in it deserves an And1

[Reeko]

I think there's a space for a guy like Alex in the Raptors media landscape. Clearly he's talented, as he's written books on the team and I've heard that his latest one is actually really good. But as far as the Raptors Show, yeah... I won't miss him. I actually want to hear guys talk about the team, I don't care about how much sushi you can put away or how your love life sucks since you got divorced. I would love for them to get Zarar (the Godfather of Raptors Republic) on the show because he's a really knowledgeable and funny guy, but I'm pretty sure that he has a good job outside of media. Will and Blake have their own banter and have had good chemistry going back to their Raptors Republic days.

[JJWong17]

Who comes into an appreciation thread just to slag on the person? Some of you are absolutely miserable

I'll miss the banter and I wish Alex good luck wherever he goes next!

username checksout JJ Wong.That you Alex's mom?

Oh yes, two fans of the Toronto Raptors with the name Wong must be related! Tell me, does all your your "humour" come in the form of racial stereotypes or do you actually have a modicum of creativity? If you do, I suggest you tap into it in the future; it'll make you look a lot less ignorant and you might actually say something funny

[hyper316]

And although I'm not Asian, I think it's great that they rep the Asian community in such an inclusive and fun way.

best of luck to Alex!

I'm not Asian either, but I appreciated them sharing their experiences as Asian Canadian immigrants with a dose of humour and humility. To a third generation white Canadian male like me, it was a perspective that wasn't available anywhere else in the media channels I follow.

That said, I still haven't tried bubble tea. But when I do, it will be because of Alex and Will.

Have you tried ramen yet? Will and Alex always talked about eating ramen with Yuta one day

[Tha Cynic]

At least two of the oldest guys on this board have supported Alex in this thread.

If there's one thing I've learned in my many years on this earth, it's that racism isn't dying out with the newer generations. Maybe you don't spend as much time on X as I do.

I don’t want to to be that guy but I think the race thing is a bit of a reach here. It would be weird to support Will and not Alex if this was a race thing, no?

No doubt there are racists out there that hate the two for being Asian and no doubt it was harder for these guys to come up as minorities, but surely there are non race based reasons for not enjoying listening to Alex.

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

When you say older, how old are you talking? 60? 70?

[hyper316]

I know Will reads realgm, and probably Alex does too

Like how it was just fun talking about hoops and random stuff, kinda like no dunks / basketball jones

Want wacky stats, funny nicknames

[junot111]

Aren't there other "serious" Raptors related podcasts? I'm not a long time listener of this show but my understanding is that the dynamic between Alex and Will is how they came to become popular in the first place. I listened to the recent shows and found that while Blake adds value with his serious analysis, he offers very little "entertainment" value. It would be boring AF without Alex and I don't see myself tuning in

[tecumseh18]

I don’t want to to be that guy but I think the race thing is a bit of a reach here. It would be weird to support Will and not Alex if this was a race thing, no?

No doubt there are racists out there that hate the two for being Asian and no doubt it was harder for these guys to come up as minorities, but surely there are non race based reasons for not enjoying listening to Alex.

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

When you say older, how old are you talking? 60? 70?

I dunno. It was the original post who said "much older". Ask him what he meant. To a 20 year old, I guess 40 is much older. But I happen know there ARE guys who are in their 60s and 70s on this board, who have commented in this thread.

I was simply taking the original narrow issue (who's objecting to Alex?) and making a broader point about the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-woke-ism that we're seeing. It's not just with older people. It would be nice to have hope for the future, but it doesn't look like humanity is quite there yet.

[6ixpessant]

Alex Wong? Lol... Sports media really is in the toilet if this guy gets a thread.

[Tha Cynic]

I was responding to the suggestion that RealGM users represented a "much older" crowd who might be more inclined to have antipathy towards Alex (and Will for that matter). I took it as suggesting that older people are more likely to be racist. I disagreed with that suggestion, or at least with the implication that racism will die out with us old farts, ushering a new era of peace, understanding and DEI.

When you say older, how old are you talking? 60? 70?

I dunno. It was the original post who said "much older". Ask him what he meant. To a 20 year old, I guess 40 is much older. But I happen know there ARE guys who are in their 60s and 70s on this board, who have commented in this thread.

I was simply taking the original narrow issue (who's objecting to Alex?) and making a broader point about the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-woke-ism that we're seeing. It's not just with older people. It would be nice to have hope for the future, but it doesn't look like humanity is quite there yet.

When 30,000 civilians can be annihilated while everyone is watching and with no retaliation, yeah there are issues. I think we have learned a lot in the last few months about how much power a certain few have in terms of world control. But that’s a topic for another place.

[JL2002]

Alex Wong? Lol... Sports media really is in the toilet if this guy gets a thread.

Unless you were happy with 20 minute of Raptors coverage during every other show, after hockey news back then repeating the same thing throughout the day, Alex had a lot of influence behind the scene to bring a Raptors' dedicated show to Sportsnet. He wasn't great on air, or at least is not everyone's taste, but outside of these 2 (Alex and Will), who would you say can replace 2 hours of dedicated Raptors' content right now? Smith and Jones? Click-bait title YouTubers?

[TOStateofMind]

Have watched/listened here and there for a while but him leaving isn’t too shocking, especially in this iteration of the show. The show was at its best cause of will and alex just shooting the **** and talking ball and random stuff, with guests coming in every once in a while. Awkwardly placing Blake in between them was obviously never gonna work long term.

[JL2002]

I dont think this will have the same effect as Sid leaving Tim and Sid and the ratings bombing, but it will not be the same for sure.

Good Luck Alex in whatever new job you have taken.

I don't think so either, but Will obviously hangs a lot with Alex outside of the broadcast, sometimes it's not about what's on air, but also the bond with your coworker too, and I just hope whatever it is does not cause the show to suffer. I don't listen to all of the show, but Monday's show for example, I felt Blake has been rambling a lot, and if there's bball usage rate stat for these 3, I felt like it's more 50% Blake, 35% Will and 15% Alex right now. lol.. Maybe it's just one off, but I just hope the quality of the show doesn't suffer.

[ill-Will03]

Honestly Blake threw the whole chemistry off on the show. He definitely has a place in the Raptors media space, but this show just wasn't it. I loved Will and Alex last year, but this year just hasn't been the same and you can tell Blake feels like the 3rd wheel most of the time lol. Sportsnet shouldn't really push for an analytics & stats based show imo because that's more for the die hard fans. I think most of the casuals will rather enjoy raptors content that is more entertaining.