Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Raptors' Fan Sues For Front-Row Seats

A disgruntled Toronto Raptors' fan who last year paid $120,000 for front-row seats "right next to the coach" has filed a million-dollar lawsuit against the basketball team's parent company after it said it would add a new row of courtside seats in front of his.

Mark Michalkoff, president of the Toronto logistics company DLF Solutions Inc., paid $30,000 for a personal-seat licence for two "unobstructed VIP seats" to Raptors' games in August 2006, according to a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court. The licence is a one-time fee.

The tickets themselves, which were for seats sandwiched between the press row and the Raptors' team bench, cost another $90,000.

According to the statement of claim, if DLF wanted similar unobstructed seats this year, it would now have to pay $1,650 per seat per game, compared with $915 last year, an 80 per cent increase.

Via Toronto Star


Raptors Waive Luke Jackson

The Raptors waived swingman Luke Jackson from their preseason roster to get down to a league-mandated 15-man limit for the regular season that begins Tuesday.

Jackson, who signed with the Raptors at the end of last season, averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in five preseason games.

Via Yahoo.com


Raptors Pick Up Option On Joey Graham

Toronto forward Joey Graham will stay through the 2008-09 season after the Raptors exercised their fourth-year option Monday.

"I think Joey's earned it; he's gotten better every year," coach Sam Mitchell said. "He's a guy you definitely want to keep on your roster."

The team had until Oct. 31 to exercise its option on Graham, who is making just under $1.6 million this season. He will earn about $2.4 million next season. Graham has averaged 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in two seasons with Toronto.

Via ESPN


Raptors Oct 2007 Archive

  • Trading Tough For Raptors' GM

    Needing to pare his roster by one before 6 P.

  • Dixon, Jackson or Moon Could Get Cut

    In Toronto, it appears to be a three-horse field in terms of what players may be cut: Luke Jackson, Jamario Moon or Juan Dixon.

  • Bosh's Knee Feels 'Good' In Raptors' Victory

    Chris Bosh's return was more important than helping the Toronto Raptors to a preseason victory.

  • Bosh Practices Tuesday, Still Aiming For Return Thursday

    Chris Bosh hasn't played an NBA preseason game since Oct.

  • Bosh Has Sights Set On Facing Cavaliers

    Chris Bosh did more on the basketball court on Monday than he has in almost three weeks and his return to play seems imminent.

  • Luke Jackson On Raptors' Bubble

    Luke Jackson better show up in a big way in the final two preseason games, or he'll be shown the door.

  • Bosh Not Ready To Test Knee

    Raptor coach Sam Mitchell said that Chris Bosh will not play in Wednesday's game against Lithuania's Zalgiris Kaunas and will likely miss Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls as well.

  • Sam Mitchell: Give Me Some Tough Guys

    Raptors coach Sam Mitchel is trying to come up with an answer for a roster flaw.

  • Real Madrid Beats The Raptors

    Louis Bullock and Charles Smith combined for 45 points to help Real Madrid rally for a 104-103 win over the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game on Thursday night.

  • Calderon Comes Home To Madrid 12 Years Later

    A dozen years after he left Villanueva de la Serena and his family to move to Vitoria to play basketball, Jose Calderon will stand on the court at the Palacio de Deportes here as a Toronto Raptor, one of five Spaniards in the league – one of four in tonight's NBA doubleheader.

  • Stern Not Sold On Europe Trip

    NBA commissioner David Stern isn’t so sure about the new concept that had the Celtics, Minnesota, Toronto and Memphis hold their training camps in Europe.

  • Bosh To Sit With Knee Problem

    Chris Bosh will not play in the Toronto Raptors' exhibition game against Real Madrid tonight.

  • Bosh Slowed By Knee Injury

    Raptor officials said Chris Bosh "tweaked" his left knee during a practice last week in Treviso, Italy.

  • Kapono A $25 Million Bench-Warmer?

    Raptors coach Sam Mitchell went on the defensive on Sunday when asked if he would be disappointed if Jason Kapono, the club's most expensive, most heralded, off-season signing, did not turn out to be a regular starter at the small forward position -- the lone starting spot still up for grabs.

  • Raptors Nip Virtus Roma In Europe Live Tour Play

    Chris Bosh scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Toronto Raptors held off a spirited Virtus Lottomatica Roma squad for a 93-87 preseason victory Sunday.

  • Raptors' Mitchell: Playing European Teams Not Ideal

    Raptor coach Sam Mitchell, whose club will play almost half its pre-season games against non-NBA teams, would rather not face the likes of Lottomatica Roma, Real Madrid and Zalgiris Kaunas.

  • GM Still Believes Ukic Will Be Raptor Some Day

    President and general manager Bryan Colangelo said 23-year-old Roko Ukic remains a part of Toronto's future plans.

  • Raptors Exercise Bargnani's Third-Year Option

    Andrea Bargnani will play for the Toronto Raptors through the 2009 season.

  • Raptors Still Concerned About Garbajosa's Leg

    Bryan Colangelo likes what he sees from Jorge Garbajosa so far but there are still concerns about the long-term care of the forward’s healing left leg.

  • Bosh Gives Up Trying To Gain Weight

    Chris Bosh has given up trying to intentionally gain weight on his 6-foot-10 frame after failing to add much girth despite his best efforts.

  • Raptors Scout Gallinari In Milan

    Four members of the Raptors front office -- Wayne Embry, Jim Kelly, Marc Eversley and Masai Ujiri -- made the five-hour drive from Treviso to Milan yesterday to check out Italian teenager Danilo Gallinari.

  • Treviso Camp Makes Raptors Bond In 'Non-Traditional Environment'

    The Raptors arrived in Treviso Saturday morning and got in three practices on the weekend.