Why Raptor Fans Should Walk Tall

I had a bit of extra time yesterday, which gave me a chance to write something for the folks over at T.O Sports. They are focused on all Toronto Sports and that got me thinking. Who has the best franchise in Toronto right now? I think the answer has been clear for quite a long time. It is the Toronto Raptors by a mile. Leaf Nation can keep the faith all they like but the Stanley Cup is not coming to Toronto. Sure it sits in the hockey hall of fame but you know what I mean. In fact Dino Nation the name of this blog is my response to a Leaf Nation gone mad. I wanted to create something that was a place for Raptor Fans to have their own group of people that believe in their cause.

I am not against the Leafs or the fans of them. I just never will be one. I am not against hockey, I just have grown tired of the complete media overload of coverage. If anything the media has pushed me into being even slightly anti-hockey. But that being said it is totally crazy to think that Hockey will ever lose it’s place here in Canada. But I just don’t feel the need to bow and say as basketball fans we are not worthy. The same goes for media coverage too. I choose to stand up and say I have pride in what I love which is basketball.

It doesn’t hurt that in that article I mentioned off the top I think it is clear that the Toronto Raptors are Toronto’s best shot at winning a championship. You know they have a parade, the city is all a buzz with excitement. The country would also adopt the Raptors as it’s own as well. If you are thinking this turns into a wacky off the wall perdiction that the Raptors are winning the NBA Title this year, well no I am not saying that. What I am saying is that the Raptors are the only Toronto based team with a snowball’s chance in hell of doing it at this point.

Raptors are not on some long search to find a Bryan Colangelo like G.M. They have the actual Bryan Colangelo. Sam Mitchell is the longest serving coach in Toronto you may not like Sam but he has won a Coach of the Year Award. Name me the last time a Leafs coach or Blue Jays Manager was in the running for that? Been a long time I am thinking you have to go back to before the Raptors Franchise was here to find the answer.

The Raptors are heading to the Capital of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. (Which if you are looking to get tickets to see the exhibition intersquad game they go on sale next week and will cost 15 bucks.)  There is something symbolic in that in the sense the Raptors have long wanted to not just be Toronto’s team but Canada’s Team. I have also desired that as well to see Raptor Fans from all over this great country of Canada. In writing this blog I have noticed that it may not be as bad as the Raptors think. Lots of pockets of folks from all over this country love the Raptors. But for those pockets to grow into small groups and beyond it will take winning.

As many of you that read the blog on a somewhat regular basis are aware, I often call in to the Fan 590 on the show Hoops. This has been a topic I have kicked around with Eric and crew. They feel it will take a extended run in the playoffs to get this country to go Raptor Red. I think that is part of it but it also is something else. That is if you are a basketball fan take pride in that. Do not hide and be ashamed of it. Your sport is just as important to you as hockey is to the general public. So be proud of it and pass that pride on to others. You can accept the fact that hockey is always going to be number one in this country without having to bow at the sports feet.

The truth is there have been some close calls but no team from Canada has won the Stanley Cup since the Raptors birth back in 1995. For all the hype and extra coverage hockey has got it still hasn’t produced a championship in any city. Those are the cold facts of the matter.

Getting back to the Toronto point of view the Raptors are the clear only shot you have at winning anything. You can include the Leafs, Jays, Argos heck I’ll even throw in the Toronto/Buffalo Bills. None of these teams are close to getting to a championship. The Raptors are still on the outside as well but they are heading in the right direction. You can have your Matt Sundin and Veron Wells but I am rolling with CB4 and the Raptors. The Raptors are the one franchise that has shown that they are serious about winning. It took hiring Rob Babcock and almost blowing up the entire franchise to do it. But the fact is under Bryan Colangelo the goal will always remain the same. Championship or bust. Bryan Colangelo did not come to Toronto to just restore the Raptors he came here to build a champion.

So that is why if you are a Toronto Raptor Fan you should walk a little taller and a little prouder. You have reason to be hopeful and reason to believe. Leaf Nation may still believe but there is far much to believe in over on the other side of MLSE. So while this hockey crazy nation gets ready for another NHL season. I am preparing for another NBA season. I will watch a Raptor pre-season game over anything that Gary Betman and the NHL care to put against it. I am not saying everyone needs to be that way but take pride in the sport of basketball and the Raptors. You have reason too.

Stand together and be proud of the Raptors and Basketball that is all I am saying.

Tags: Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Dino Nation, Leafs, NBA, NHL, Raptor Fans, Sam Mitchell, T.O Sports, Toronto Blue Jays