Toronto is not the city where sports comes to die, it’s just in a bit of a funk. Toronto will bounce back, it’s cool. But in the meantime, local sports fans will continue to place an enormous amount of pressure in any talent that comes to town.
Enter Brett Lawrie
When Lawrie was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade that sent proven pitcher Shawn Marcum to the Milwaukee Brewers, it seemed like a decent move fuelled by the PR angle of having a Canadian born player on the team (Lawrie was born in Langley, BC). It wasn’t expected that Lawrie would excel the way he has in the minors this year, batting .353 with 64 RBIs and 18 home runs, that was an added bonus.
So this week when the long awaited happened, when Lawrie got the call and another young Jays prospect not living up to his hype Travis Snyder was relegated to the minors in Las Vegas (argue among yourselves how bad it truly is to be banished to play professional sports in Vegas), Jays fans went a little bit nuts.
There was also a steal of a deal sending essentially spare parts to the St. Louis Cardinals for a young all star in Colby Rasmus. The Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was heralded as a genius by many sportswriters for his work.
There’s something more telling here though, something beyond the impressive wheeling and dealing of a young GM quickly making a name for himself around the majors. It's clear, the writing is on the walls.
Toronto sports fans are in desperate need of cheering for a winning sports franchise.
It’s true, there have been championships recently - but not that many people follow Toronto’s lacrosse teams. The games are pretty fun - admittedly box lacrosse (Toronto Rock) is more entertaining to many than field lacrosse (Toronto Nationals, which actually left town for Hamilton this year). Those two teams are TO's recent champions, believe it or not (because you might not know that happened).
But lacrosse is not one of the four major sports in North America, even if it has been a Canadian national sport, and never receives the spotlight like the other games in town. In the end it’s not that important to most.
And this town wants to win and win at something it can brag about once again.
The Leafs woes are thoroughly documented really right across the country. After their World Series wins the Jays lost a step while playing in what has most likely been the toughest division in baseball over the past 10-15 years. The Raptors have had glimpses of excellence but have never made it far into the NBA playoffs, and are presently rebuilding once again. The Argos have fallen the past few season in the CFL, and the CFL is also celebrated more outside of Hogtown it seems. And after coming in with tremendous support unrivalled anywhere else in the MLS, Toronto FC has never delivered the same as their fans have, and is currently patching together a team this season with changes almost weekly.
Losing has become more than a pattern, rebuilding almost the norm at this point. Promises without payout, year after year. Someone needs to save Toronto sports fans before they get too depressed with their position in the wide world of sports. They need something to foster their hopes and dreams, they need someone to foster their hopes and dreams.
And this is why Vince Carter got booed harshly when he returned to Toronto after leaving the Raps, and still receives ‘the business’ even to this day. It’s why many former Toronto athletes, even if they were somewhat liked when they played here, receive lukewarm to negative receptions upon their returns. The good athletes, when they’re in town, are elevated to an almighty status that leads to a inevitable nasty breakup when they leave. It’s at the point where it is actually worth noting when someone gets cheered upon their return to Toronto.
It’s not fair, but it’s the reality of living in a large city that has sports fans with some serious self confidence issues. The bruised ego can easily be seen.
So when Lawrie said he was not a saviour it was actually taken as a show of humility since it’s clear that’s what everyone expects of him. It may be a little unfair that he has to say that, he’s only just emerging from the minors, but that is the case. Many feel he will lift the Jays back to greatness, in one way or another. Here's hoping he doesn't fall flat on his face.
It’s gotta be rough for these athletes like Lawrie, James Reimer the surprise standout goaltender for the Leafs last year, and whomever gets drafted high in next year’s NBA super draft by the Raptors.They will all carry a lot of weight on their shoulders.
Sports unite some fans because of the game itself, but for many it’s a far more primal reason. Whether they recognize it or not many are out there cheering on their gladiators, their tribe fighting the invading hoardes of outsiders. In some it leads to a rather passionate relationship. And clearly no tribe wants to be the one that always loses to everyone else. Every group will look for its leader. And as a result every new impact player coming into any sports team in Toronto will be put instantly under the spotlight, especially if the player is deemed any good at all.
It’s not tiresome and old that the media and fans carry such lofty expectations around here, it’s reality and it will continue to happen unless something changes soon. Hopefully it does happen too - c’mon c’mon c’mon, Toronto needs a winner! Toronto needs a new pair of shoes! Maybe then the fans won’t put an enormous amount of pressure on so many young superstars that some will actually decide to stick around for a while instead of relocating.
Maybe then, with the pressure valve released, other teams performing well can start winning without anxiety levels on high all around them.
Maybe then, not every trade and signing will be analyzed as the search for the new saviour.
