Bosh Puts Raptors First While Garbo Puts Spain First
By Walter DubowecTwo different players, from two different countries with two different outlooks on the importance of their ‘team’.
That pretty much sums up what has occurred with Chris Bosh and Jorge Garbajosa during this fall’s FIBA Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Clearly Chris Bosh put the Raptors first, while Jorge put Spain first.
Clearly Chris Bosh put the Raptors first, while Jorge put Spain first.
Bosh has a case of recurring plantar fasciitis and decided that he needed to rest his feet in advance of the grueling NBA season. Bosh’s allegiance lies first and foremost with the Toronto Raptors who are paying him $13 million to play like a superstar for 82 games. So it was a case of Bosh telling Team USA that his personal health and the eventual success of the Raptors that mattered most.
Garbajosa viewed his situation very differently. He was even willing to ante up some of his own cash so the Raptors had sufficient insurance should he get injured during the tournament – albeit a meaningless group of games, because Spain already has a birth in the Olympics sewn up.
Remember, Garbo suffered a gruesome injury in Boston, which the Raptor team doctors believe has not yet sufficiently healed. In an official statement, the Raptors made it clear that Jorge requires another surgical procedure to enhance the healing process. The fact that they publicly made this statement in a Raptors' press release speaks volumes as to the depth of the team's disagreement with Garbo's decision.
The Toronto Raptors medical staff noticed that Garbo's fractured fibula, still wasn't healed. They urged Garbajosa have surgery to insert a metal plate and screws to ensure it heals properly.
The Garbajosa insurance policy, for which a $1 million premium was paid, is worthless in my opinion. Like MLSE needs more money? No. MLSE needs a player who is available to play at the highest level possible during 2007-08 and in return they will pay him $4 million.
Hopefully, Garbajosa goes through the tournament and no serious re-injury occurs. Then again, what happens if Jorge goes down? Or what if the lack of proper treatment results in him missing significant games for the Raptors in February or March?
Or what if Garbo is only able to play at 80% efficiency for most of the season. Is that fair to his team-mates and the fans? The answer is not no - its 'hell no'!
No Raptor Cap Relief If Garbo Can't Play
The cold reality is that if Garbo gets injured, he still gets paid and the Raptors have a huge hole they need to fill. There is no cap relief for the Raptors if Jorge can’t perform.
Maybe there’s something in jersey #15 that causes players to make dumb ‘me first’ decisions. Back in 2000, Vince Carter foolishly decided to attend his UNC graduation, which Raptor management opposed - even though they bit their lips and made nice with Vince.
Fast forward to 2007 and Jorge Garbajosa has foolishly decided to play for Spain in a move which Raptor management opposes - even though they are biting their lips and making nice with Garbo. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Bryan Colangelo conceded to the venerable George Gross that, "the Spanish Federation forced my hand to let him play,"
I love Garbo’s heart and determination, but his decision which could potentially put his Raptors season at risk does not sit well with me. Its a selfish move.
Even worse, he is increasing the risk of incurring a career-ending injury. His employers, the Toronto Raptors, deserve better. Garbo's macho decision is not fair to his team.
Chris Bosh, on the other hand, rightfully put his Raptor team mates and the fans first!
Great read and I agree, Garbo clearly put his country first (which is respectable) but considering the injury he suffered he should be sitting out.
Bosh made the right choice and I'm very happy he did. I guess he knows the Raptors wouldn't be the same without him, and I think someone needs to show Garbo how horrible we were without him at the end of last season.
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You might be right but people shouldn't mistake Garbo as being someone who thinks club basketball isn't that important.
Maybe he's just really passionate about his country. Not saying CB4 isn't but it's not like the American team really needs him, perhaps Garbo is a more important piece of the puzzle in the Spanish team than CB4 is in Team USA.
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