Welcome to another week of the past scenes, teams, and memes of Toronto! It’s Toronto Appreciation Nite for the Weekend of May 15th!
This week we celebrate Craig Berube by talking about the times we’ve been fired. And then tell you, the completely normal story of a Toronto coach getting fired, rehired, and then publicly asked to wear a paper bag over his head because apparently the 1970s didn’t have HR.
• The Tempo launched and the streets of Toronto were thrilled, even when they lost. We talk about why we’re even excited than before, and why we believe the upcoming road trip will be a great bonding experience, because every movie ever, told us so.
- The Jays went 3-3 this week, and as you may recall, Dan’s been ranting all year about “where is the hitting?” and all it took was the Magic of Barbie! Dan was there for the Jays 14-1 Barbie Day win, and tells us a tale of two meathead men, who tried to ruin it for everyone in his section.
• Speaking of the Jays, in our group chat debate this week: Why isn’t everyone more panicked about the Jays forgetting how to hit baseballs? Listen to Vince try and talk Dan off the ledge… at least until July.
• From the “i guess we have to talk about the Leafs, right?” File: SPOILER ALERT: Berube’s out, nobody is surprised, and we run down the lesser talked about names, who we think fit Ted Rogers and John LeafsGPT model of a modern major manager.
• No Frost Three-Peat: We’re rooting for Ottawa, but as they launch expansion, does the PWHL have a branding problem, if the takeover only takes over 50% of the time? Why fans are upset, but should they be?
• The Raptors are not getting Giannis. Please log off the internet. The case for why Giannis isn’t going to be the answer.
• In our fan Service segment - we dive into fantasy fill-ins.
Over on Offside, Davis Schneider picked Roy Halladay as the former Jay, he thought the modern roster needs most. So who would you draft from the past? Vince wonders if the Rocket would fit on the team, while Dan makes a draft rule, that feels a little anti chewing tobacco.
• Minor League Weirdness: Have you ever sat on a ball, so it could go down into the crust of the earth? We thought the World Series fence-ball was peak baseball weirdness. We were wrong… so, so wrong.
• Toronto Public Health Soccer Branded Swag? We can’t stop thinking about what happened to the Dean and Annie on Community, but yeah somehow this became sports content. Shots fired, or you know, not so much.
• And in Over/Under Appreciated:
- “The Tempo”: Good name? Well, in a Toronto Life article we learned of another team name, if the team wasn’t named the Tempo and we’ve never appreciated “Tempo” more.
- Spaghetti as a Baseball Snack? The internet is on a mission to let you know what major league stadiums allow you to bring your bagged spaghetti. Find out if Toronto made the list, and why you may have to show a pasta prescription.
- Dunkin’ Donuts is trying to return to Canada again like an ex texting you at 2 a.m, hoping you forgot what they did. WE DIDN’T FORGET AFFLECK!
• And Finally on our Appreciation Parade:
- Dan loved OPERAMANIA II and sings the praises of the Opera Revue, and Junction City Wrestling - because Toronto culture is impossible to explain to outsiders.
- Vince talks about the legacy of Jason Collins and how we still have a long way to go for queer players in professional sports.
So pull up a seat at the table, and we'll call Rusty. Come for the odd story of Harold Ballard toe clippings, stay for the Barbie Day bro-ha-ha and learn about our Tempo faves. All that and more on this week’s Toronto Appreciation Nite.