Raps get Ripped

There has long been the belief amongst Raptors fans that their team gets hosed when it comes to the referee's benefit of the doubt. That being in Canada and not being a superstar laden team, they don't get the breaks. and that may have never been more evident than the final seconds of last nights game to the Hawks. The Raps didn't get the foul call with a few seconds on the clock and therefore lost by 1 even though Demar Derozen pretty well got mugged under the net trying to put the shot up. This was an embarrassing missed call and the normally reserved Dwayne Casey came out and said what many of us feel. That the league simply wants them to go back to Canada and take it quietly. Now in fairness have the raptors had the stars the NBA so covets who get these calls? Not since the days of Vince Carter who most certainly would have 10 years ago. Have they ever been a contender? Uh, no. Have they ever done anything but be good citizens of the league, represent the city and country well (with the odd exception) or caused major problems? This is a team in a large market but because it's north of the border and gets little attention south of it the league doesn't give a damn. They don't draw players to the city, one of the best in North America, for whatever reason and therefore a like the kid who has to just accept because I said so from their parents and live with it. In David Stern's tenure as commissioner teams like Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit and San Antonio have won titles. These are all big market teams who had stars. The Spurs aren't a big market team, thought they have star players, even though there is seemingly still a lot of animosity to them from Stern. The other teams are glamorous and draw well and it's no coincidence the league likes it when they succeed. Any league would. They can market these players and teams and it's great for everyone, except their opponents. Many people will argue that the refs call should decide the game. Well, if by decide the game you mean he should have done his damn job then I agree. A foul is a foul, weather it's in the first few seconds or the last, and ought to be called that way by anyone with any kind of character. The Raptors have a long way to go as they are a young team and have to pay their dues but this blatant example serves to show that not all things are equal in the NBA.