Raptors Youngest Intern...Hurt, Humiliated

[SevensMom]

I just want to say as Steven's mom - "the Raptors youngest intern"...you were right!* Steven was and is hurt and humiliated by the owners of the Raptors.* I won't go into detail because it is all going to come out. But Steven was used and cast aside. He put his heart and soul into helping the team and now it is over, without any explaination from the owners to him or any thanks or good job by the owners. I will say it was a good character learning for him and he met some of the nicest people...the players. Good luck to them where ever they are and if Curtis or anyone sees this , please drop him a line and let him know how you are doing. Best of luck to Lewis, Curtis , Richard and all the others. Steven is cheering for ya!

[LightningMan]

Just remind him that there are people who do what they say and mean what they say and have him keep his chin up.

[tops804]

But Steven was used and cast aside. He put his heart and soul into helping the team and now it is over, without any explaination from the owners to him or any thanks or good job by the owners.


Just another owner treating players, coaches, fans, and interns in the usual ABA way. I'm sorry that they couldn't be the exception (There have been a few good owners over the years), but instead the rule.

I will say it was a good character learning for him

Remember, with every negative there is an upside. I hope he will be able to
take the good and bad from this, and use it to his advantage in the future.

Best of luck to both him, and yourself. :)

[Sam Hill]

http://www.itusozluk.com/img.php/66eaf5e01836fdd66c71ec1022b4e8943253/george+costanza

"Someone actually named their kid 'Seven!'"

(I know, the kid is Steven, but check Mom's username.)

[Paul S]

Madam - when we first even mentioned this you got upset at us as it was taken that we were critical of your son. We were not, we were critical of the way that team was putting a large burden on a young boy, like running the scoreboard and shot clock concurrently. Sadly we have seen, heard and read this sort of story before.

I also agree with Lightningman when he says "Just remind him that there are people who do what they say and mean what they say". I wish the young man well, he has learnt a hard lesson and has a parent who is involved in his life. These are both positives that can only help him on his journey thru life.

Although you say he was hurt and humiliated I hope there was no financial loss to the boy. It sounds as this young man was a big booster of the ABA and probably now has people saying to him "what the heck happened to that team?" Please remind him that this whole episode is not his doing and reflects on the owners and this wacked-out league.

Joe's crazy train really is off the rails entirely and needs to be stopped.

[The Magician]

I just want to say ... you were right! Steven was and is hurt and humiliated by the owners of the Raptors. I won't go into detail because it is all going to come out. But Steven was used and cast aside. He put his heart and soul into helping the team and now it is over, without any explaination from the owners to him or any thanks or good job by the owners.


Hey ABA CEO ...

Were you not supposed to be working and communicating with EVERY ONE of the ABA Interns, from all the teams, on a daily basis, mentoring them and giving them support :confused:

Of course, you were MIA, like always ...

Horrible leadership!

Get it right ... or get out of the game.

[SevensMom]

To Sam Hill.................It's his number, silly!:) He does play other sports and and 7 is his favorite number for his own special reason. I purposely used seven instead of Steven at first, because I didn't want his name out there.

[zeke41]

Good job, ABA...scar a young kid early in life so his level of moral and ethical expectation is diminished.

Can we get some REAL LEADERS in minor league basketball...PLEASE!

[nhamilton88]

Ahhh, the reason the Raptors failed is because like 99% of the other owners, they were broke going in. They tried to fund the team (like every other ABA rec team) with season ticket sales and try out fees. Highly doubt ANY ABA owner has the ability to use an American Express card...so they fall back on the above revenue sources and playing Scratch Lottery while drinking their 40's. If little Steven cracked open his piggy bank, I am sure that the dollar amount he had in their would be 100% more than the average ABA bank account.

[Sam Hill]

I purposely used seven instead of Steven at first, because I didn't want his name out there.

As a parent, I can appreciate that. But we already knew his name from the Raptors' original release (http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3708592), and if we didn't, you said it in your first post.

It's reprehensible when adults take advantage of and crush the dreams of children. I mean, he's an eighth-grader for crying out loud.

That said, I hope he and you get past it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Steven has gotten a valuable life lesson that many folks don't get until much later in life. Judging by most people who've been involved with the ABA for more than about 30 seconds, some people never learn the lesson.

Maybe one day he'll be a Jay Ramsdell type and use this experience as impetus to something great, whether it's in sports or not.