We the North

Praise

A Toronto Star “top bestelling book” of 2020

Praise for We the North:

“Doug Smith always gets the first question in any Raptors press conference—as the dean of our press corps, he’s been in the front row for every development over the past 25 years. There’s no one better placed to write a history of our team’s first quarter century.”
—Nick Nurse, head coach, Toronto Raptors

“Very rarely in the business of professional sports a coach and sports writer can become friends! Doug is that rare person, because of his integrity and his reputation for the truth. I didn’t always agree with him, but I never thought or felt his opinions were personal. As a professional coach that’s all you can ask for. Doug was that writer. I have the utmost respect for him as a writer and a man.”
—Sam Mitchell, former head coach, Toronto Raptors

“There’s no better person to write a book on the Raptors than Doug! He’s seen the high and lows of the organization in every way! I look forward to reading this tremendous masterpiece!”
—Damon Stoudamire, first Raptors draft pick

“If anyone in Toronto can say they’ve seen it all and been [with the Raptors] every step of the way it’s Doug Smith.”
—Breakfast Television, CityTV

“If you’re a basketball fan, this book will be a slam dunk. . . . We the North takes readers on a twenty-five-year journey from the birth of the Raptors franchise all the way to its championship season in 2019. Smith recounts all the big moments and key players that helped transform this team from the relative obscurity of its early days into one of Canada’s most successful and popular teams.”
—Everything Zoomer

“An apt and loving take on a team that has built its own identity and represents the city of Toronto better than any other major sports entity, despite a comparative lack of history and tradition. That the Raptors had to fight the entire way, while being overlooked and underestimated on both sides of the border, just makes this story that much more rewarding.”
—Quill & Quire