Listen to That’s A Rap #90: Checking in Eric Smith, the Raptors’ radio man

The Most Magical Place on Earth.

Where Dreams Come True.

These are a pair of slogans that Walt Disney World has used. What better place to have dreams of an NBA return come true, than a magical place where COVID-19 doesn’t exist. With such a momentous announcement on the horizon, the boys brought in a very special guest to discuss the latest news from around the league.

Eric Smith — the play-by-play voice of the Raptors — was gracious enough to offer his time and wisdom to the show. If there’s one episode of That’s A Rap you listen to, this is it! Enjoy the latest and make sure to post your comments below.

In This Episode:

It’s a small world after all! The NBA is inching closer to a return, with Orlando as the likely landing spot. The ESPN Wide World of Sports resort has everything a “bubble” environment could ask for. Locking down the location is only one piece to an incredibly difficult puzzle that Adam Silver is trying to construct.

Bring back 16 teams — eight from each conference — and start directly with the playoffs? What about a 20-team World-Cup style format? Can all 30 teams come back? With so many options floating around, which appeals to you most?

Regardless of which option is chosen, a lot of people are not going to be happy. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have already expressed their refusal to play if their respective teams do not have a shot at the playoffs. What happens if a player tests positive? At what point does the league shut down again, if at all? Every new tidbit of information brings forth a plethora of new questions.

Other types of questions arose as we scanned through Eric’s Instagram page. His career path has been influenced by a “who’s who” of various media personalities. From Howard Stern to Dick Enberg to Elliotte Friedman, the entire post-break segment is must-listen material for anyone interested to know Eric’s backstory and what it takes to succeed in this business.

3:05 - Disney World

7:15 - Players as fans

10:00 - East vs West

19:30 - Beggars can’t be choosers

23:40 - Influencers

31:30 - Sliding Doors

43:05 - (W)rap-up