Outsourcing , The NBA Way !

I've been saying a long time ago that B.C. should start recruiting from Asia for players to wear the Raptors uniform.It's a way to add value to the franchise and of course , marketing wise. But B.C.'s europecentric approach in bolstering the lineup of the men in red continues this season with the addition of Roko Uric from Croatia . Yes , Colangelo drafted Nathan Jawai, a 7'0" center from Australia, for a change . But how many ( basketball paying ) fans are from Australia residing in T.O ? Or even just the population of Australians here ! The easiest way to find out is to ask those swaggering drunks coming out of downtown bars if they are Aussies ! Or another way is to ask those dancing Matildas in local ballrooms if they are from down under . No, mate is their likely answer. I was fortunate enough to watch some NBL games ( Australian pro league ) when I was in Australia some years back . They don't play bad basketball , I told myself . If only these white mates can jump like kangaroos , they will be awesome.Do you know how the Raptors got Jawai ? It's via Jim Kelly, head scout of the Raptors , who spent some time in Asia years ago before joining the Raps. Kelly is married to a Filipina and used to write a sports column in the Philippines. Like it or not , B.C. will soon outsource players from third world countries..... to meet the NBA salary cap !

If the NBA is wise , India and the rest of Asia aside from China , will be places to go for basketball players. In fact , MLSE should lead the way . Imagine how many Indians will fill the ACC if the Raptors have a turban wearing MJ play alike or a skilled Hindu slashing to the basket instead of the stomach of a appendicitis suffering patient in a TO hospital. Or even a bearded Pakistani driving the lane instead of a dilapidated metro cab ! Indians are really a tall breed . The average height of Indian nationals stand at 5'8" . There are parts of the country where people are as tall as the Europeans . The only reason they appear less tall is because Indians sway their heads sideway if they agree with what you are saying instead of up and down when nodding .A country of a billion people should produce a handfull of 1st class basketball players. The Raps need to bring some prospects in Canada soon -- put them in a rigorous training for 3-4 years , watch them develop into NBA caliber players and walah! the Raptors will have a bevy low cost but highly skilled players. And it is gonna be a win-win situation as thousands of their countrymen in TO will fill the ACC . I can just imagine moi watching a Raptors game live at Air Canada . Mr. Ahmad, to my right , cheering the team with his arms raised and Mr. Singh ,to my left, doing the same thing .....and yours truly desperately covering his nose !




Superfan : Hey , I don't smell . You can ask Ms. Carter here. She even smells my balls ! I mean , my basketballs .