One evening in late October 2003, thousands gathered at a new arena in downtown St. John’s to watch NBA history: LeBron James’ rookie debut – then an 18-year-old rookie but today a global icon with multiple championships and MVP titles.
Instead, fans have been heartbroken – and 19 years later, some want to see a promise made on that disappointing night come true.
On October 23, 2003, the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital for an exhibition game, which was to be the first basketball game played at a newly constructed arena. built – the old Mile One Center – and James’s NBA debut.
“You get to see LeBron James’ debut, what’s not to love about it?” said Matthew Brake, who carpooled that evening with high school friends from Pasadena, 650 kilometers down the Trans-Canada Highway on the west coast of Newfoundland. They booked a hotel room in the city and waited impatiently from the upper rows of Mile One for a tip.
Things didn’t quite go as planned.
Watch the video above to see archival footage of this legendary sports fiasco.
![A crowd stands on a basketball court with towels under their feet.](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/19-Years-Ago-St-Johns-Was-Denied-A-Chance-To.jpg)
There was a delay, Brake recalled, then another delay and another, as fans sat and watched the NBA stars toss a few buckets during the pre-game warmup.
Among the notable talents on the roster that night, besides James, were Vince Carter, Jalen Rose and another rookie looking to make a name for himself in the league: future NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh.
“There’s a bunch of kids on the floor with towels wiping something up. We didn’t know what was going on. Over time the players left,” Brake said.
The hardwood floor in the yard was soaked with damp. The city was experiencing an unusually humid late October day, and the body heat of thousands of excited fans in the sold-out arena did not help the situation.
“I felt very bad”
Glen Grunwald, general manager of the Raptors at the time, was next to the field as officials discussed what to do.
Play the game and risk hurting some of the biggest names and assets in the league? Or cancel and disappoint fans, some of whom, like Brake, had traveled far out of town just to get a close look at NBA stars?
“It was a great vibe in the city and everyone was excited. It was also a unique place for the players. They didn’t know much about St. John’s or Newfoundland, so they were excited to that,” Grunwald told CBC News.
![A man holding a microphone standing on a basketball court.](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666536481_540_19-Years-Ago-St-Johns-Was-Denied-A-Chance-To.jpg)
Unfortunately, Grunwald said, due to the condensation on the ground, the pitch was not safe to play on.
“The air came out of the ball very slowly. Finally, the referees in the NBA, who make these decisions about canceling games, said, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t continue with this game. We tried to clean it. but it just won’t work,” he said.
Grunwald was given a microphone and given the thankless task of breaking the bad news. For the fans in attendance, it is perhaps Grunwald’s speech announcing the cancellation, after a long walk to center court, that they remember the most.
“I felt bad because a lot of people came up to me after that and said, ‘Hey, I drove from Corner Brook…to come to this game,'” Grunwald said.
“It was really, really difficult. Nobody wanted that to happen, nobody wanted to come this far and not play the game. It was really unfortunate.”
A wasted second chance
Boos rained down from the rafters of Mile One. Some of the more unruly fans threw food on the floor.
But in his devastating speech, Grunwald gave hope to local fans, with the promise that the Raptors would be back within two years.
“We were committed to doing it. Unfortunately, after this season I was fired,” he said with a laugh.
“Things fell through and it didn’t happen.”
![](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666536481_999_19-Years-Ago-St-Johns-Was-Denied-A-Chance-To.jpg)
But Grunwald’s comeback plans didn’t end with his tenure with the Raptors. A few years later, while in charge of the New York Knicks, he had plans in place to bring that club to St. John’s.
“I had lined up with the Washington Wizards to face the Knicks in the 2014 preseason at St. John’s and unfortunately I got fired again,” he said, laughing again.
“The Wizards didn’t want to continue after I got fired. If I could just keep a job, we’d have a game there.”
Keep campaigning, says former chief executive
Fans haven’t forgotten about Grunwald’s pledge, either.
That’s why Brake is spearheading the #RaptorsToTheRock campaign to bring an NBA game back to St. John’s next year, which will be the 20th anniversary of the game that never happened. The Raptors have played exhibition games in cities outside of Toronto this year.
Brake uses Twitter to reach out to whoever he can, including players who were at that game in October 2003, earning him a response from Vince Carter, who said he remembers that night, and the local hero of the basketball Carl English, who said he would do what he can to help the cause.
![An image of a bullring with a sign saying Mary Brown's Center.](https://oponame.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1666536481_220_19-Years-Ago-St-Johns-Was-Denied-A-Chance-To.jpg)
“The Toronto Maple Leafs were here a few years ago, they did their training camp and their preseason game here,” Brake said. “There were only positive things to say about it. Twenty years after the game was canceled, it seems like the perfect time to come back for a bit of revenge.”
Grunwald said he would like to see a plan come to fruition.
His advice? Keep campaigning.
“It was a special day in so many ways. Both good and bad. It’s a good story in the sense that it’s legendary in terms of how it all came together and fell apart and who was involved “, did he declare.
“I really hope the games can resume there. It’s complicated and things have to fall into place, but I think the fans should let the Raptors know they still want the game.”
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