City, Sports & Play
This isn't about last night's score
Die hard hipsters fear not, the image above may be of a professional basketball game but I have little desire to tell you about how the Raptors earned each of their fans in attendance a slice of pizza by scoring 100 points.
In hindsight, to frame my story correctly I should have taken a picture of the stands.
Why the stands?
Because in those seats were representatives from the different communities that make up our city. Classify Raptors fans by race, religion or language. It really doesn't matter because boo-ing the ref is a universal sound that transcends every imaginable border.
From my section the boos rained down heavily from two young men dressed in blazers and yarmulkas to my left and a Sikh fellow to my right who couldn't believe the game was going into overtime.
Now forgive my shortsightedness when I say jeering an old man with a whistle can do wonders in bringing people together. This team, more than any other in the city, manages to do that for every home game.
I'm starting to think that all of the city's problems can be solved with a game of 3-on-3 on a halfcourt.
Don't like the idea of Lakeshore subway? Lace up the pair of Air Jordans sitting in the back of your closet and bring your A-game.
Tired of hearing Pitfield say we're one step away from implosion? Drive down the lane and deliver a tomahawk jam on her and her platform. I believe the proper hoop slang would be, In her face!
If sport can create more inclusion than City Hall's best laid out plans in unifying the city settling things on the court is just fine with me.
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You can go to a Blue Jays game for $9, or an Argonauts game for $15, so a Raptors game at $12 doesn't set it apart by any means. Its only the Leafs that put themselves out of reach so I don't think the cost of a Raptors game explains the diversity or unity.
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That said, I've often wondered why there is not more emphasis on sports in Canada. In the US, there is more interest in college football then professional football in Canada with the CFL. Even high schools have stadiums compared to GTA schools of which some don't even have a team, let alone more then questionable wooden bleachers.
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As seen with the recent re-opening of the New Orleans Superdome, or the current hot streak by the Detroit Tigers as they near the World Series, sports teams are vital to the community and to the health of the city itself. When teams play, and moreso when teams win, everyone benefits.
I think the cult of hockey in this city (and in this country) makes the appreciation of other sports (professional or amateur) dwindle a bit. Which is sad, especially since hockey has been reduced to a niche sport in many US markets, so it would make sense to foster the appreciation of other sports in the city.
Of course, Canadian universities don't offer athletic scholarships unlike US schools, so that could be a reason why our college athletic system isn't as developed as the NCAA.
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How can we turn this dream into a reality?
I mean, not to open a Pandora's Box or anything, but a simple look at the athletes, the fans and the culture of both sports would indicate to me that basketball is much more inclusive. As to the Argos, well they are trying, I will give them that much.
If the Raptors make a run like they did five years ago, I don't think it would be too untoward to suggest that the Raptors will become role models and not a joke. And for certain problems in this city, I don't think that would be a bad thing.
Relative affordability is still a factor ... Raptor seats aren't the cheapest, but the fact they CAN be bought by their fans is helpful in itself.
Plus, I think basketball is the sport that is most accessible to kids. It requires only a ball and one hoop, and not too much space ... an alleyway, a driveway, an abandoned schoolyard. Baseball, while minimal, still requires open and preferably green space to play.
Being a co-owner of basketball season tickets, however, I will admit that the Raptors do draw a remarkably diverse crowd, possibly because (as Gloria so astutely pointed out) of the accessibility of the sport, but also because basketball has a certain cultural cachet as the 'hip' urban sport to play.
Around where I live, I can see the excitement that just the two pre-season wins have caused in the community. If the local youth can get so excited about their team with a few relatively-worthless wins, a strong season will do wonders for exciting and empowering the city.
After Jorge Garbajosa sinks a 3-pointer the P.A. booms into the mic "Uno, dos, triple!" When Delgado used to play for the Jays the word "cuadrangular" wouldn't appear on the old Skydome's jumbotron every time one of his shots reached the bleachers.<br><br>
The Raptors are a team that allows players to showcase their nationality and to a lesser degree identity (cough ... league imposed dresscode) so fans can identify with players. That choice reflects our city.