The Toronto Raptors are heavy underdogs to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only are the Raptors less experienced and without home court advantage, they also struggled with each of their first two opponents, needing a Game 7 win in both series to advance. Meanwhile, the Cavs are 8-0 in the playoffs, have one of the top two or three best players in the world, and two others who are among the best at their positions.
With all that being said, you wouldn’t find too many people outside of Canada who are picking the Raptors to advance through this round, much less win the NBA title. Still, it would have been nice for them to be included.
CBS Sports recently ran a poll asking readers to pick which of the teams remaining would be the champs at the end of the season, and you’ll notice something curious was in the place of where the Raptors should have been.
Cool poll, @CBSSports. (via @WheelerTSN) pic.twitter.com/dxwGdtQ6EO
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) May 17, 2016
“Other” is apparently what Toronto has been resorted to at this point, although to CBS’ credit, they said they ran the poll before Game 7 of the matchup between Toronto and Miami.
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/732592002181652485
Still, there had to have been a better solution than “other,” and Raptors fans are somewhat justifiably upset about it, starting a #wetheother hashtag on Twitter in protest.
While it’s one thing for a random Raptors fan on Twitter to be upset by something so trivial, it’s an entirely different thing when the mayor of the entire freaking city writes out a full-page letter explaining how he’s totally not mad about an inconsequential online poll, but still felt the need to address it in full.
Take it away, Toronto Mayor John Tory.
Yes, that would be a hand-written letter by Tory sent to the CBS offices in New York addressing the online poll. Despite Tory’s insistence that he was “not offended” by the poll, it’s quite obvious that’s not exactly the case. Tory made sure to also mention Dwyane Wade shooting during the Canadian national anthem, another thing that Raptors fans were totally not upset about.
Look, it’s understandable for a public official to take pride in his local team, and it’s also completely reasonable for Raptors fans to feel slighted despite their squad’s accomplishments, but this is just petty. Tory’s last line, in which he says, “Please don’t hesitate to have your people call my office to get prime camera positions for the parade after the Toronto Raptors win the NBA Championship,” actually comes off as completely delusional.
Maybe wait until after your team beats the Cavs and then the Warriors/Thunder before you start worrying about the parade, Mr. Mayor.
