Raptors to the playoffs and Rocco Rossi for Mayor of Toronto ...

So ... I'm out of the city on Sunday, Jan 17th, and will not be able to attend as my Raptors host the Dallas Mavericks at the ACC, and I got to thinking that it would be cool to give my tickets (a pair of Row 1 platinums) to some deserving, fellow Toronto Raptors fans who are as passionate about the city and it's future as they are about the team. You see, if there is one thing that I know, it is that we Raptors fans have a huge amount of civic pride in Toronto. We are proud of our city, we are passionate about our team and we have very thin skins and easily take offense when those south of the border under-estimate or disparage our "house" without ever having been here. This is OUR city, OUR house, and the Raptors are OUR team.

Speaking about our city ... we FINALLY get to choose a new mayor in 2010 and the race is on as of January 4th (not a moment too soon as far as I am concerned). If there is one thing that I've learned from my years of starting, building and growing companies, it is that TIMING is everything. The next 4-8 years might be the most important years for this city to re-establish itself as the world-class, cosmopolitan powerhouse that we know it is capable of being. While the United States remains mired in a slow recovery from the self-inflicted financial and economic crisis of the past 2 years, Canada and Toronto specifically is uniquely positioned to really separate itself from the crowd, and restore its rightful place as a cosmopolitan metropolis which is business friendly, which attracts the best and brightest, where jobs, innovation, energy, culture, beautiful architecture and social responsibility all come together. This is a unique opportunity and a unique point in time for us to get the leadership of this great city of ours right.

Given everything that I know about Rocco Rossi, I am convinced that he is the right man at the right time for the most important job in the country. This city deserves a mayor who has the ability to articulate a long term vision and plan for one of the most important jurisdictions in the country, and who has the charisma and proven organizational skills to orchestrate the realization of that vision. Rocco brings conviction, passion, deep experience with running real organizations, and the integrity to lead. Besides, Rocco is also a huge Raptors fan, so what's there not to like !!!

So, here's my ask ... give me a couple of sentences, as a comment to this post, on what your views are, on the most important priorities for our new mayor to take on when he or she takes office. At the same time, please consider joining me in supporting Rocco Rossi, by registering on his website at www.roccorossi.com or on his Facebook page at Elect Rocco Rossi for Mayor of Toronto. I will make a choice as to the best posting by Friday of this week, and will award the tickets to the author, and announce it on this blogsite.

Let the postings begin !! And remember, in the words of the great Winston Churchill ... KBO (Keep Buggering On !!!) :-)

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