Tim Lieweke leaving?

[KeonClark]

I don't like to think about Lieweke leaving, it actually really depresses me. One of those guys that's a do-er, not a talker. Made waves with all the Toronto sports teams and left huge imprints, both on the business and sports personnel side, in each one of those franchises in a short time. Lieweke, with Uriji underneath, then the Raptors players. I thought the two of them were taking us to the promised land. Ah well if I had to pick between the two I'd take Masai any day. McHappys quote above about Masai (and Shanahan's) "resolve and determination to winning" was reassuring that MUs not going to up and leave once his "supervisor" is somebody different. I think Tim was a huge part in him coming.

[Uncle_Si]

That type of quote is what I mean by hot air.

Always talking about winning but little to show for it.

That is fine by me though. I'd rather have a guy hyping to be a contender than happy to make the playoffs (Colangelo).

Very much think Raptors/MLSE lost a huge piece with his early departure. Tannenbaum is happy to live in mediocrity it seems.

Losing Leiweke is awful for MLSE. I don't think you can replace a Leiweke, dude is a genius. He's left MLSE in a way better place than when he came in. All of the teams are set up for success, and although it might be some time before that success materializes I think MLSE now understands what it takes to win and understands how lucrative winning will be.

I'm pissed to see him go, I think he has a lot more up his sleeves to take Toronto sports to the next level, unfortunate we won't see what that looks like.

[zulfi]

That type of quote is what I mean by hot air.

Always talking about winning but little to show for it.

That is fine by me though. I'd rather have a guy hyping to be a contender than happy to make the playoffs (Colangelo).

Very much think Raptors/MLSE lost a huge piece with his early departure. Tannenbaum is happy to live in mediocrity it seems.

A very, very, very lucrative mediocrity that is.

[mcHAPPY]

Getting things done in a short time frame isn't hot air. The man produced. More significant change in the Raptors over a shorter time frame than at any time since the first season.

“We’re going to turn it into a super-club,” says Leiweke. “Here, this soccer team could be the most important team in town, if we win. If we win games we will be huge. I think the first team that wins a championship here will be a very important team in the history and the passion of this city.”

That type of quote is what I mean by hot air.

Always talking about winning but little to show for it.

That is fine by me though. I'd rather have a guy hyping to be a contender than happy to make the playoffs (Colangelo).

Very much think Raptors/MLSE lost a huge piece with his early departure. Tannenbaum is happy to live in mediocrity it seems.

[Puffer]

...I love what he brought to the table - even if it was all hot air. He certainly got things done in a short time frame. Hopefully that DLEague team is up and running next year.

Getting things done in a short time frame isn't hot air. The man produced. More significant change in the Raptors over a shorter time frame than at any time since the first season.

[mcHAPPY]

“We’re going to turn it into a super-club,” says Leiweke. “Here, this soccer team could be the most important team in town, if we win. If we win games we will be huge. I think the first team that wins a championship here will be a very important team in the history and the passion of this city.”

That’s the classic big-picture Leiweke vision: it’s what he was brought here to sell. Sure, the Leafs are starting a rebuild (which is actually, in the big picture, a good idea), and the Raptors are contemplating all options after a playoff flameout (everyone, from Kyle Lowry up and down, is on the table), and TFC is still muddling, in the early going.

But while he says he’s not thinking too much about legacy, he lists off the BMO expansion, which he calls the old version a high school football field; the Raptors practice facility and D-League team, which is coming; Drake’s new club and the new scoreboard which are coming to the ACC; the NBA All-Star Game in 2016 and the World Cup of Hockey this year. There are plans for Ontario Place, too, which remain in the pipeline.

The winning hasn’t happened, of course. But ever the optimist, Leiweke believes.

“I have great faith in (Leafs president Brendan Shanahan) and (Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri),” Leiweke says. “If there’s one thing I’m most proud of it’s those two guys. They will win, both of them. And they are not afraid, and they will stay the course, and they don’t give a damn what anyone says.”

Lots has been said about Leiweke in his time here, and it’s coming to a close. But he’s racing to finish what he can before he gets to throw back the keys and leave this confounding puzzle of a town behind.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/20...ut-arthur.html

Not sure what many feel about Lieweke but I'm going to miss him as a Raptor fan. I love what he brought to the table - even if it was all hot air. He certainly got things done in a short time frame. Hopefully that DLEague team is up and running next year.

[rocwell]

I feel bad for TFC fans. Just watched Bradley, Tim and Defoe press confs from January. lol.

My British friend told me that Defoe is 'big time wanker'.

EDIT:

Leiweke to @TheTorontoSun: "We got an offer (for Defoe) that would have been the largest fee in the history of MLS." http://t.co/e8Dx81hg2b

— Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) September 1, 2014

[rocwell]

TFC just fired entire staff ... I'm not a big fan ... but that's tough ... might loose Defoe ... *facepalm*

Newcastle, QPR and Stoke all made enquiries about Defoe. 10 hour till transfer window closes..

EDIT: Wow.. Defoe demands $150k a week salary! ( 90k pounds a week )

[007]

TFC just fired entire staff ... I'm not a big fan ... but that's tough ... might loose Defoe ... *facepalm*

lol wut, they're doing well.

[psrs1]

And whether it was TL or MU directly, TL was the one who got MU, so there's credit to be had there. And don't tell me MLSE would have hired MU on their own.

Excellent point.

[Sam17]

TFC just fired entire staff ... I'm not a big fan ... but that's tough ... might loose Defoe ... *facepalm*

Wow just when you thought tfc was going to turn things around

[mike, prague]

TFC just fired entire staff ... I'm not a big fan ... but that's tough ... might loose Defoe ... *facepalm*

[Pele]

whether they did or didnt doesnt matter. The sentiment is that toronto is done, they are doomed now that he i sgone, and to me thats simply rubbish.

Thats all im saying.

TL was a good executive, but life beyond this fellow will b just fine.

Just like with TFC.

[Bendit]

Basketball teams dont operate on the floor with their coaches in a vacuum. This should not be a eureka thought that ALL successful organizations start at the top of the pyramid and the more continuity of the talent there the better....it translates. We still dont know the real story here but we as fans should be concerned that there may be troubles in the boardroom. The Rogers and Bell marriage I believe is a tenuous one and it could be that TL may have had a problem with this. In any case TL did navigate well it seems with all the commitments he received in spending/capital projects. I would also not discount that the resuccessful signing of players may also have been due to his presence. He is a closer and would be an asset to any GM. Not the absolute end of the world but to pooh his departure on the face of it as inconsequential is being unappreciative of what he is all about and his record not just here but other spots.

[DanH]

whether they did or didnt doesnt matter. The sentiment is that toronto is done, they are doomed now that he i sgone, and to me thats simply rubbish.

Thats all im saying.

TL was a good executive, but life beyond this fellow will b just fine.

Who is expressing that sentiment? There is concern that the next guy brought in will be different, may not let Ujiri play the way he wants, etc. There is also some sadness over the view that Leiweke seemed to be doing more and more to increase the profile and success of this team, and that he won't be here to continue that.