The Raptors announced last night that Jorge Garbajosa, their Spanish forward who saw a world-renowned foot and ankle specialist in Baltimore yesterday, requires surgery on his injured left leg, at least in the opinion of the Toronto medical staff.

There will be red tape to cut through before anyone's cut open; the club is still awaiting a written report from the Baltimore specialist Dr. Mark Myerson. So whether the impending operation will end Garbajosa's season isn't clear. What is without dispute is that in Garbajosa's native Spain, where he is a beyond-reproach hero, media coverage has been making the Toronto franchise out as the villain.

"The Raptors have a bit of a grudge (against Garbajosa)," Spanish centre Pau Gasol said a while back, summing up the Spanish spin on things.