Sports in Canadian culture

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

I find this hilarious, people from outside Ontario keep laughing and gloating about how the Raptors TV ratings are so horrible, and that the Argos TV ratings are so much better *gloat, gloat, gloat*. Meanwhile, the Raptors are part of a profitable enterprise that's not going anywhere and these folks are crying themselves hoarse that the Argos and the CFL are at risk of disappearing. Make up your minds...please tell me these half dozen tables of TV statistics are part of a cogent argument. Also, why is it if the Alouettes stop playing or if an Ottawa CFL franchise folds as they have a couple times the CFL survives and infact grows, but somehow if a "non-sports town" like Toronto loses a CFL franchise that somehow the entire CFL will collapse? And for the record, I like most Torontonians are not anti-CFL, heck I'm routing bigtime for a Halifax franchise and follow up on developments there on a weekly basis, but I prefer communicating with people who state their intentions clearly and don't use manipulative arguments. If you're afraid that Toronto getting an NFL team will make the CFL less viable due to the importance of Toronto then state it clearly, and we shall debate on those terms, but to just insult Torontonians as anti-Canadian and anti-CFL/wannabe-Americans for being ambitious in wanting more teams and options is frankly transparently manipulative logic. Unless of course you mean it and are really that stupid, which just means there's no point debating further and dumbing ourselves down to that level...

In my case I am not anti-anything except the arguments of Canadians who have an irrational hate for the CFL and other things uniquely Canadian. It has nothing to do with geographic location.

[GlassCity]

And I have clearly stated that the reason I don't want an NFL team in Toronto is because I'm afraid of the implications it would have for the CFL. However that doesn't seem to stop you from insulting the rest of the country's population and their homes.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

And I have clearly stated that the reason I don't want an NFL team in Toronto is because I'm afraid of the implications it would have for the CFL. However that doesn't seem to stop you from insulting the rest of the country's population and their homes.

I assume this is not directed at me.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I assume this is not directed at me.

No, it's an addition to your post. I agree with you 100%

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Ramako

I don't watch curling because the sport just doesn't interest me. I don't watch the Jays and Raptors merely because their respective leagues represent the best talent in the sport, but because I also genuinely enjoy baseball and basketball. If I'm going to spend the time and money to follow a team closely, I have to both enjoy the sport and feel like I'm watching it at its highest level. I can't imagine why anyone would follow a team without genuinely enjoying the sport itself, though I did notice a lot of people at Jays games last season who clearly knew nothing about the team or the sport, but were there because the Jays had become fashionable. edit: I can also appreciate the community-bonding aspect of sports which is why I don't begrudge them for it, and which is why I would take in an Argos or TFC game myself if they were in the playoffs.

I also want to cheer for a Toronto team. I like football (and I'll watch the Argos if they're in the playoffs) but I'm not sure why I should have any interest in cheering for Buffalo's team.

I can't speak for others, but your theory about wanting to attach to an American brand doesn't really apply to me. MLS, for example, is a predominately American league, but I still don't have a lot of interest in watching the Toronto FC. The quality of soccer is still mediocre. If anything, I'd rather have a Toronto soccer team that plays in the Euro leagues.

The Raptors did reduce ticket prices a couple years ago, but they're still in top third of the league for ticket prices. They're not exactly giving tickets away. And despite only making the playoffs 5 times in their near 20 year history, they've never averaged lower than league average attendance, and are usually in the top half. I think you're out to lunch on the Jays attendance. They got higher attendance last season than they've had in 15 years, and have great television ratings.

Ok, I’m a little confused now. You said this a couple of pages back:

I personally think the NFL would do fine in Toronto. There are a lot of people who don't care about the Bills simply because they're not Toronto's team. I've never gone to a Bills game or followed the Bills, but if they had 'Toronto' on their jerseys, I'd absolutely go to games and watch on television. There are many others like me.

I interpreted this as you saying that you don’t follow NFL football, but you’d attend games and watch on TV if the team had Toronto on the jersey. This seems to be different than what you’re now saying about why you attend Raptors and Jays games.

Also, to repeat, if you go to Raptors and Jays games then you’ll know that there is a big difference between the official attendance and the number of bums in the seats. This is true for the Argos too, btw. Lying about attendance numbers seems to be part of the sports culture there. In any event, what it means is that the official attendance numbers are not reliable. Watch a few games and notice the actual number of bodies in the seats, and that'll give you a better idea of what the real attendance is.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Ok, I’m a little confused now. You said this a couple of pages back:

I interpreted this as you saying that you don’t follow NFL football, but you’d attend games and watch on TV if the team had Toronto on the jersey. This seems to be different than what you’re now saying about why you attend Raptors and Jays games.

I'm not quite sure what you're confused about. I'll follow a team (and attend their games) if: (1) I genuinely like the sport, (2) the team plays the sport at a high level, and (3) the team represents my city. I don't follow NFL football in that there's no particular team I follow, but when I find myself somewhere where a football game is on for whatever reason (friend's house, Super Bowl, etc.) I genuinely enjoy watching. If Toronto had an NFL team, then I'd have a reason to follow a particular team. Otherwise, I'm not just going to pick some other city's team at random for the sake of having a team to follow. It's hard to get invested in a team artificially.

The same thing happened to me with basketball. When I was a kid, I liked basketball but there was no particular team I followed. The only NBA basketball I ever watched was Jordan's Bulls when they were in the playoffs, because Jordan in his prime and in his element was such an amazing spectacle. Once the Raptors came to town, I had a reason to follow a particular team. I got hooked and I've been a huge Raptors fan ever since.

Originally Posted by Allan83

Also, to repeat, if you go to Raptors and Jays games then you’ll know that there is a big difference between the official attendance and the number of bums in the seats. This is true for the Argos too, btw. Lying about attendance numbers seems to be part of the sports culture there. In any event, what it means is that the official attendance numbers are not reliable. Watch a few games and notice the actual number of bodies in the seats, and that'll give you a better idea of what the real attendance is.

I assume that's simply the difference between tickets sold and people who actually showed up for the game. Is it customary in other cities to list the attendance as number of people through the turnstile rather than tickets sold? I wouldn't know, but I'd assume that in virtually every stadium or arena which isn't perpetually sold out, there's going to be a number of people who don't actually show up, especially if the team's playing like crap.

Anyway, I've been going to Raptors games since '95. Ten years ago, I was used to the place being sold out almost every night. These days the place isn't full, but it certainly doesn't feel sparse. One thing to keep in mind is that the platinum level often looks empty (both in real life and on television) but that's because, speaking from first hand experience, a lot of platinum seats holders usually spend a lot of time in the platinum lounge sipping cocktails and trying to look cool.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Ok, I’m a little confused now. You said this a couple of pages back:


I interpreted this as you saying that you don’t follow NFL football, but you’d attend games and watch on TV if the team had Toronto on the jersey. This seems to be different than what you’re now saying about why you attend Raptors and Jays games.

Also, to repeat, if you go to Raptors and Jays games then you’ll know that there is a big difference between the official attendance and the number of bums in the seats. This is true for the Argos too, btw. Lying about attendance numbers seems to be part of the sports culture there. In any event, what it means is that the official attendance numbers are not reliable. Watch a few games and notice the actual number of bodies in the seats, and that'll give you a better idea of what the real attendance is.

Every sports team in existence "lies about attendance figures". Go ask the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks. I guess lying about attendance figures is "a big part of the sports culture there" as well.

If you're wondering why I'm using so many quotes, its because I would never agree with any of the ridiculous rhetoric spewing from your keyboard.

And again, why are you lauding the the sports culture in Saskatchewan (or anywhere else in Canada) while criticizing the one in Toronto? Every where you go in this country, the most popular sports teams are the ones playing in the highest tier leagues. You just admitted a few posts back that no one in Saskatchewan understands football, but they follow the team anyways because its the best they have. Why is this a good thing when it happens in Saskatchewan, but not when it happens in Toronto?

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not related but this made me think how cricket fans says baseball is boring and baseball fans say cricket is boring.

And anyway, curling is as Canadian as soccer is Brazilian.

Baseball is a pretty dull spectator sport. I'm emphasizing "spectator" in all cases. Playing the sports is far more enjoyable.

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by theman23

And again, why are you lauding the the sports culture in Saskatchewan (or anywhere else in Canada) while criticizing the one in Toronto? Every where you go in this country, the most popular sports teams are the ones playing in the highest tier leagues. You just admitted a few posts back that no one in Saskatchewan understands football, but they follow the team anyways because its the best they have. Why is this a good thing when it happens in Saskatchewan, but not when it happens in Toronto?

Really? You have to ask why? You're looking for logic in what amounts to tin hat ramblings from a certain poster where Toronto is concerned?

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by theman23

Every sports team in existence "lies about attendance figures". Go ask the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks. I guess lying about attendance figures is "a big part of the sports culture there" as well.

If you're wondering why I'm using so many quotes, its because I would never agree with any of the ridiculous rhetoric spewing from your keyboard.

And again, why are you lauding the the sports culture in Saskatchewan (or anywhere else in Canada) while criticizing the one in Toronto? Every where you go in this country, the most popular sports teams are the ones playing in the highest tier leagues. You just admitted a few posts back that no one in Saskatchewan understands football, but they follow the team anyways because its the best they have. Why is this a good thing when it happens in Saskatchewan, but not when it happens in Toronto?

Dude just ignore him. What a pathetic little put-down to throw in there; defining a rather common practice (inflation of attendance numbers) as a staple of Toronto's sports culture.

He's got his head too far up Western Canada's ass.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by saffronleaf

Dude just ignore him. What a pathetic little put-down to throw in there; defining a rather common practice (inflation of attendance numbers) as a staple of Toronto's sports culture.

He's got his head too far up Western Canada's ass.

lol, best quote ever...glad to see Torontonians calling out these trolls. Most Torontonians are way too polite (except the occasional direct person) in the face of the put downs and city bashing we get from the outstations, we really need to put these hillbillies in their place and remind them whose boss more often

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by Acajack

And anyway, curling is as Canadian as soccer is Brazilian.

For Canadians over the age of 60, perhaps.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

we really need to put these hillbillies in their place and remind them whose boss more often

This pettiness is affecting your grammar. But I don't think anyone needs to be reminded who your boss is anyway.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by rousseau

This pettiness is affecting your grammar. But I don't think anyone needs to be reminded who your boss is anyway.

lol, talk about petty. Why don't you put your location in your profile, or like all the other hillbillies are you embarassed of your backwater too?

[Antigonish]

What bothers me about NFL in Toronto isn't so much that a team will be based there instead of 2 hours east and across a border, but all of Canada's national media (term used lightly) will force feed Toronto Bills crap down everyone else's throats. This takes away coverage from other Canadian sports and sports teams and will do nothing but hurt the CFL and other Canadian leagues and teams.

That isn't the fault of any single person from Toronto, but that's just the way it is.

[Antigonish]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

lol, talk about petty. Why don't you put your location in your profile, or like all the other hillbillies are you embarassed of your backwater too?

I take it people should be embarrassed because they aren't from a big city? Good luck surviving the first wave of food shortages in the future, the first ones to die off will be those condo yuppies living off Younge Street.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by Antigonish

I take it people should be embarrassed because they aren't from a big city? Good luck surviving the first wave of food shortages in the future, the first ones to die off will be those condo yuppies living off Younge Street.

I may be a condo living jerk but I've also got 200+ acres of land (with access to fishing) in rural Ontario, 2/3 of which is arable and enough solar/wind power to plug back into the grid, I think Ive got it covered. Listen, it's the backwards anti-Toronto Western-centric hillbilly types which I'm targetting, no need for every person living in a small town to take it as a personal attack on their inner child. I actually like some small towns like Cambridge, ON, and Kelowna, BC and love the whole survivalist living in the country schtick but since none of you guys are saying anything when the Allan83's and elly63's of this world take cheap shots at Toronto, I'm gonna call them out for what they are.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

lol, talk about petty. Why don't you put your location in your profile, or like all the other hillbillies are you embarassed of your backwater too?

At this point my guess would be that you are not from Toronto yourself. Obviously your on an embarrass Toronto mission.

[P Unit]

I think Mr. Corporate is my favourite poster on this site. He's obviously successfully trolling a bunch of people here, and at the same time he's allowing the Rest-of-Canada crowd to voice their weird resentment towards Toronto with impunity because they're reacting to a bunch of over-the-top stereotypes about the people who live here. It's perfect.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

We could really do with an ignore function on this board