SIMMONS: Celebrating Larry Tanenbaum, the great Toronto sports owner who wasn't really the owner

National Post

3 days ago

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The rest has been a quarter-century of growth, wealth translating to weathier and a minority owner becoming more and more powerful.
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When Bell and Rogers bought 75% of MLSE from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund, neither would trust either side to be in control. Tanenbaum, along with Lastman, finessed his way into remaining in the position of chair — and not just any chair.
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With Bell having three seats on the board and Rogers having three seats on the board, they couldn't necessarily agree on anything. That meant the controlling votes in so many cases belonged to Tanenbaum and Lastman.
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The only time it ever backfired on them was when Brian Burke was rightfully let go by the Leafs. Bell decided it wanted Burke out. It talked Rogers into agreeing with its side. The two then went to Tanenbaum and told him of their decision — and also told him to fire Burke.
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While against the move, Tanenbaum fired Burke.
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One flaw of Tanenbaum's time as owner in Toronto: He loved everyone who worked for him. He treated them like they were family. He believed in what believed in. Even with a flawed general manager such as John Ferguson Jr., it took Tanenbaum years to see what others spotted rather early in Ferguson's reign.
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That was the best and worst of Tananbaum all at once. Even those who were fired over the years — from Masai Ujiri to Brendan Shanahan all the way down to Dave Nonis — all found a way to thank Larry after the fact. That is pretty rare in professional sports. You don't get fired and thank the owner.
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They did in Toronto.
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And the betting still around the city is that the emotional parting with Ujiri would not have happened in Raptorland had Tanenbaum been making the call.
All these accolades for a man who owns one-fifth of MLSE until he sells that portion of his shares. And what's amazing today and maybe for so much of the life of MLSE is how Tanenbaum has risen to power and prominence.
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He's one of the owners Bettman listens to regularly. In the much-richer NBA, he holds even more power as chairman of the Board of Governors and commissioner Adam Silver's voice of reason.
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It has been an incredible run really for Tanenbaum. He hasn't been the perfect owner. There is no such thing. But ask the players, the coaches, the executives who worked for him and they say nothing but praise.