Levelling an Accusation: Toronto Fans Don't Really Care if They Win

Mark Dewdney, Toronto Sports Fan

Listen to me before you jump on the title, now. There is a big problem with the Toronto sports scene, and we all know it.

Problem is, we just don't care.

When you go off to New York, Philly, Boston, or even Milwaukee (tiny Milwaukee, for God's sake) the fans expect a LOT out of their teams—and they aren't shy about telling the players exactly how they feel, good or bad.

It's just not so here. Everyone says that Toronto sports fans think that we are, or at least should be, the centre of the known sports universe.

That's close—but not quite (and that statement alone will make a few Toronto fans mad)—what's really going on here is that Toronto fans are scared to death that Toronto will be ignored.

We have an inferiority complex; mention another city or team, and be met with scorn or an indifferent wave of the hand, "Who, them?" even if they swept us last season.

The largest problem seems to be with the culture in Toronto. Let's face it, fans worship anyone that just wears a major-league jersey (of any kind) with the word "TORONTO" on it. "LOOK! LOOK! SEE?!? AKI BERG IS IN THE NHL, AND HIS SWEATER SAYS OUR CITY'S NAME ON IT!!!" Major—MAJOR—complex.

That's why Toronto fans are willing to settle for a lesser product on the field. Examples? Okay:

Vernon Wells—Ol' "Burnin" Vernon is batting .258, OBP of .305, with 10 homers. TWO-FIFTY-EIGHT? For a guy making THAT much?

Vernon, in Philly they'd be BURNING your dad's paintings, not commissioning them for teammates.

Do Jays fans boo?

Not with any significant volume—until Wells finally struck out (looking, yet) with runners on in the late innings against Tampa Bay.

How about the Raptors' notorious playoff failures? Terrible trades? Less-than-stellar stars? Debatable drafts?

There's still love there—in Boston, fans would be staying away in droves.

Argooooos...? Don't make me laugh. "The Wildcat"? Oh, boy. Here, kitty, kitty...better yet, go away—smells like a litter box. Yet, Toronto fans would welcome Arland Bruce III back with open arms, if he was just wearing Argo blue—see, just like myyyy jersey?!?

The only way some fans will stop rooting for the Argos is if we get an NFL franchise—well, THAT would prove we really belong with the Americans, wouldn't it? (No...but it would at least put an end to the "well, the CFL is a better game," claims.)

Then there's the Maple Leafs...whoo, boy. Never mind "where do we start?" It's "when does it end?"—specifically, when do fans start demanding more?

Oh, sure, the phone lines buzz whenever the Leafs are the topic du jour on "The Fan", and there are lots of fans...lining up for Berg, Raycroft, & Jason Blake autographs (okay, no fair picking on the cancer patient. I'd like his autograph, though certainly not for anything to do with the on-ice product, peeyew.)

Here's the thing...not many of those fans will take it upon themselves to tell our heroes that "Hey boys, it's not good enough!"

Nope. If we have "professional" athletes (I'll use the term loosely) with the word "TORONTO" across their chests, we would let just about anything go.

Alex Rios cussing out a kid at the ROM? No problem. He's one of ours! Vince's Mom? Aw, that's okay, as long as she's here.

Indeed, the loudest disapproval in decades has been for Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, who has the temerity to suggest that we'd be better off without one of Toronto's favourite sons, Roy Halladay.

OK. Hold on here.

Nobody's suggesting that it's wrong to cheer on your heroes, all the way down to Joe Inglett, Darryl Boyce or Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

Nothing even wrong with verbally patting them on the back and tellin' em, "It's okay, get 'em next time..."

My problem is when Jays fans politely applaud yet another ground-ball out from a multimillionaire; the correct response is, "COME ON, RIOS, WE DON'T PAY YOU TO MOVE RUNNERS OVER!!!" (I wish Wells would at least move a runner over now and again...)

Nobody wants to come here...and the main reason why isn't the weak Canadian dollar (come on, if you want a $1 million US contract, I'll pay you $1.6m CDN—that's about right, eh?)

The reason we have such a hard time attracting free agents (pay attention, Leafs fans, guys like the Sedins wouldn't sign here, and it weren't the money) is the losing culture—nobody CARES if we don't win!

The sports culture of any city is exclusively set by the fans. ("WHAT?!?" you bellow. "I DON'T STEP ON THE FIELD! I DIDN'T MAKE WELLS LOOK AT AN 0-2 CURVE!!!")

You're right. However, Mister Fan, you set the bar low to begin with—you were happy, barely, but happy indeed just to see Doc & Hill at the All-Star Game with that big blue "TORONTO" across their jerseys, weren't you? You were.

Why should management try to attract winning players and change the culture if the fans just don't give a drat? Sure, we poured into the streets back in 1992 & 1993, and we yearly rehearse the Argos' & Leafs' parade routes over Molson Canadian in our favourite sports bars, and boy, do we cheer...

...and that's the problem.

We cheer. We cheer when they do well, we cheer a little quieter when they do poorly, and Lord forbid that a Canadian sports fan should EVER berate one of our heroes who's not performing up to expectations!

This is why I'm such a big fan of Brian Burke. I'm not sure we'd get along personally—he's a bit of a blowhard, a definite "Type-A" personality, and I like to be the alpha male myself...but I share Burke's drive.

Heck, I'm "just" a fan, but I'm right behind Burkie, who knows a winner when he sees one. Say what you want, but this year's Maple Leafs will not be good losers.

That man will not tolerate mediocrity with a smile. He will not say nice things about "effort", "hustle" and "the future" in the midst of a losing streak. 

If we get a player who buys into the "loser culture" in Toronto, Burke will promptly a) foam at the mouth, b) say something completely unprintable, and c) threaten the culprit that he will be banished to hockey Siberia if he doesn't get his head out of his backside, el pronto...

...as it should be.

As fans, we need to get it together. The owners ask the GMs to get the players they do because we demand that level of player. Burke is leading the charge in LeafLand, and that's unfortunate, because it's not Brian Burke's job to set the pulse of Leaf Nation—THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR JOB!!!

Let's not go as far as Philadelphian sports fans, who, it's reported, would go to the airport to boo bad landings.

However, this milquetoast "that's OK, get 'em next time, there's-always-next-year" fan-ship that we permit right now IS JUST NOT OKAY.

Players not cutting it? You must let them know—in no uncertain terms. Lack of effort must be met with howls of protest.

Shut out? NOT ACCEPTABLE. 0-for-4? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Goalie pulled before the end of the game? LET THE WHOLE DAMN TEAM HEAR YOU.

Under performing millionaire? STOP BUYING THEIR JERSEY! 

Vote with your wallet? Sure. However, as my kids have learned, justice delayed is justice denied—the lesson must be learned immediately—and there is no better way to motivate your chosen star than to give him some encouragement—yes, positive, clap and cheer when he does well—but do not be afraid to get on them when they stink.

Believe me, they hear you loud and clear, no matter how much they pretend otherwise.

Toronto fans have got to stop sitting on their hands, open their mouths, and let out the frustrations; TELL 'EM WHEN THEY SUCK.

Tell 'em when they're good, you bet. However, when you wear "your" guy's name on the back of your jersey, you're responsible to the rest of us...and responsible for your star's effort or lack thereof.

Light a fire under them. I'll be right beside you.