I cannot believe I am writing this but Toronto is quickly becoming a championship sports city.
Yes, that’s right.
The city where you could always count on the teams either being bad or finding a way to lose has suddenly figured out how to win.
Over the weekend the city of Toronto got their second championship title in three weeks when Toronto FC beat Seattle in the Major League Soccer final.
And it’s not like it was a fluke either.
TFC as they’re affectionately called, finished the season as the best team in the MLS, and are arguably one of the greatest MLS teams of all time.
Of course the title came one year after a crushing loss to the Sounders in the MLS Cup final, with the club figuring to be every bit as strong again next year when they aim for their third straight MLS Cup final appearance.
Of course the victory parade by TFC came before the confetti could even finish being cleaned up from the Toronto Argonauts’ Grey Cup parade.
The Argonauts, completed an incredible turnaround from last-to-first, capping it off by beating the mighty Calgary Stampeders in the final.
While it is nearly impossible to tell from one season to the next in the Canadian Football League how teams will do, it seems like Toronto has every reason to believe they can be right back there again next season.
And then of course there are the Leafs.
The team everyone loves to hate.
The team that epitomizes what being a Toronto sports franchise is all about.
Maybe I should say epitomized.
Because this Leafs team is good.
There is still plenty of season left for them to revert into the Leafs of old but this team does not have the feel of a team that’s going to blow it.
I expect they will be around come playoff time.
Will they win?
Not likely this year but they have as bright a future as anyone.
Then there are the Raptors.
Another solid Toronto sports franchise.
Are they going to win?
Well no, not with LeBron James ruling the east and the Golden State Warriors ruling the west, but this team is no joke.
The last few seasons they have consistently been a top team in the Eastern Conference, and even made an appearance in the final four in 2016.
They should be great again this season, but I doubt we will see a championship.
Finally, the team I believe least likely to win a title.
The Toronto Blue Jays.
It is amazing to think this team is considered Toronto’s worst, yet they are just 14 months removed from back-to-back appearances in the final four.
But a year of no playoffs will do that to you, especially when teams in your division are getting better everyday it seems.
How they do will be interesting.
They say they can compete this year, I’m not so sure.
Regardless of how they do, the city of Toronto is still a two-time champion in 2017 and figure to have many more chances in 2018.
Enjoy it Toronto, it has been a long time coming.
And unless you have finally shaken that perpetual loser tag you used to carry, it could be a long time before it happens again.
