Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
While I agree the Leafs are still the dominant sports franchise in the city you really are out to lunch here. The Raptors have one of the best followings in the NBA. They currently are playing in the best era in the franchises 22 year history. The Blue Jays are also a monster right now.
Fortunately for Toronto, not unlike Boston, New York, Chicago etc they have the population that will heavily support all their pro franchises (CFL doesn't count because it is irrelevant).
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I'm not saying the Raptors and Jays don't have great support, I'm saying it doesn't hold a candle to the Leafs, and it never will. It's very similar to the Cubs in Chicago. They support all their teams, but the Cubs are the crown jewel. Estrada made a pretty ridiculous assertion and won't back down from it as always. To say the Leafs have fallen behind the Jays and Raptors is pretty laughable. I go to Toronto at least once a month for work, our office is in the Air Canada Center so for him to say I'm not in touch with the sports scene there is not true at all. On Leafs game night there is a special buzz around town that doesn't exist for the other two teams. Outside of Jurassic Park in the playoffs, you really wouldn't even know the Raps are playing unless you are at the stadium. I can routinely walk up and get a ticket to a Raps game on game night unless Golden State, Cleveland, OKC, etc is in town. That's not in the realm of possibility for the Leafs.
The Blue Jays players have actually commented how great it is when training camp starts up because it takes the sports writers' focus off of them and the bullseye gets pointed directly on the Leafs.