Raise the Hammer

Scott Mitchell playing to win...

For Mitchell, his approach to the proposed Pan Am stadium was consistent with his win-at-all-costs mantra. In the hypercompetitive world of professional sports — into which Mitchell was born and has lived his entire life — this wasn’t unusual.

But the stadium discussions weren’t a competition — at least in the athletic sense — as much as they were an inherently political process, involving a Byzantine array of agendas. “Winning” in this arena has a more complex definition and getting there is often an exercise in subtlety and negotiation. This was the world in which Mitchell found himself now. And his natural instincts have upset more than a few people along the way.

“He is an offensive lineman exploding off the line in the middle of a china shop,” says one city hall source.

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There’s little question that an extreme competitiveness has been a driving force in Mitchell’s life and approach to his job as president of the Ticats. It has been a key element in the success of the team in recent years, and to his personal success.

In pro football, a win-at-all-costs mentality isn’t considered a liability. ... But there are drawbacks to this mentality, particularly outside the environment of pro sports. Few around city hall were willing to comment on the record, citing the delicate nature of ongoing negotiations and the upcoming vote on Ivor Wynne renovations. But the sentiments from city hall were almost universal.

“His style of bringing a gun to the meeting doesn’t work in the political environment,” said one insider. “You can’t bully people.”

And yet another said: “He doesn’t live in this community and he doesn’t have any loyalties to this community. He’s certainly rubbed people the wrong way.”

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Mitchell says he has regrets.

“Everyone has made their fair share of mistakes, and I’ve certainly made mine during this process.”

But remains unapologetic for his approach.

“I certainly think I’m blunt. I don’t believe in dancing around issues, particularly something as important as this,” Mitchell says. “My job is to protect Bob Young, to protect the team and to protect the league. Sometimes that’s going to conflict with city-building.”

That's most of what you need to know about what went off the rails.