Why is the corporate plane of the Toronto Raptors’ ownership group flying from Toronto to San Diego on Friday morning? No one knows, but it’s enough to send parts of Twitter into another frenzy.
The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment corporate plane was tracked by a CTV News aviation journalist and a whole host of Raptors fans desperate to know what it all means. Free agent target Kawhi Leonard, after all, did go to college at San Diego State.
For those asking, MLSE corporate jet departed Toronto this morning and is headed towards San Diego. No confirmation who is on board or if it’s related to #KawhiUpdate #KawhiWatch. (file photo) pic.twitter.com/ydXgai8G0V
— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) July 5, 2019
Update: MLSE corporate jet just landed at San Diego Int’l Airport. Arrived from Toronto. No confirmation who is on board or relation to #KawhiWatch2019 #KawhiUpdate #KawhiLeonard pic.twitter.com/jtGxV2NY1q
— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) July 5, 2019
To be clear, there is no concrete indication that this has anything to do with Leonard. That wasn’t enough to calm down Raptor fans.
The San Diego airport livestream has gone up 2200% in the last 20 minutes. This needs to end.
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) July 5, 2019
There were plenty of theories and wild speculation as to what could be going on. One popular one, at least among Raptor fans, was that the plane was picking up Leonard’s friends or relatives to fly them back to Toronto to see him re-sign with the Raptors.
I am not sure what to make of this. If Leonard is on board, could mean anything. If he's not and MLSE has sent their jet to pick-up (pure speculation here) friends and family to bring them back to TO … https://t.co/vv6hxaHKuT
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) July 5, 2019
Naturally, the total lack of clarity — there was no information to indicate that the flight even had anything to do with Leonard — was great fodder for jokes.
Exclusive: Kawhi may or may not have been on a plane that left Toronto this morning for San Diego and he may or may not have made a decision and this plane flight may or may not indicate what it is.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 5, 2019
It’s somewhat similar to what happened Wednesday, when the city of Toronto went wild over Leonard’s alleged meeting with Raptors brass in the city. The saga needs to end at this point just for the sake of some people’s health.
