Does Toronto have an inferiority complex?

Torontosaurus · 07-07-2009, 12:13 AM

As an NBA city, does Toronto have an inferiority complex?

Quote:

A Sign Of Major Strides
Mike Ulmer's Blog
July 6, 2009 -12:07 p.m.

According to Hedo Turkoglu's agent, an official announcement is expected Wednesday or Thursday and when it comes it will be almost too delicious to be true.

Turkoglu, a highly sought-after NBA free agent, has reportedly chosen the Toronto Raptors because they play in Toronto.

Turkoglu and his wife Banu are from Istanbul. They have a baby girl, Ela. His agent sited “The Toronto Factor” as the reason he chose the Raptors over a host of U.S. cities, including beautiful Portland, Oregon.

Since they began playing in 1995, the Raptors have struggled to overcome some hometown handicaps.

First it was a home arena that was a baseball stadium. Then came the endless losing, a by-product of its expansion beginnings.

Mostly, Toronto is not Miami or Los Angeles. It offers neither glorious winter weather or a jersey NBA players grew up wearing.

There have been players who bolted, plenty, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Antonio Davis.

But the victory by the U.S. Olympic men’s team at the Beijing Olympics ended a long run of disaster for Americans squads. Those defeats were inflicted by Europeans. And as Europeans have moved into the forefront of their NBA teams, they have brought a new agenda, a broader sensibility of where they want to live, where they want their children to live and which community do they want to align themselves with.

Andrea Bargnani has a huge following among the city’s Italian-speaking fans. Point guard Jose Calderon has cornered the Spanish market. Slovenian Rasho Nesterovic often spoke openly about making the city, with its countless ethnically-flavoured enclaves, his post-retirement home.

The attraction has reached south. The Raptors were able to attract Bryan Colangelo, a former NBA Executive of the Year and a member of one of the game’s first families.

None of the recent players acquired to play here, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O’Neal, Jason Kapono, have described the standard of living here in anything less than glowing terms. The Raptors most recent draft choice, DeMar DeRozan, laughed off internet reports that he wouldn’t play here.

It is time for Toronto to start getting over itself. Toronto fans are like the muscular man who sees nothing in the mirror but the spindly teenager he was.

As we ponder the possible arrival of the 30-year-old Turkoglu, it’s time to remember: players come and players go. Orlando won’t throw out its mouse ears because Turkoglu left. The club traded for Carter. It’s business.

Likewise, Chris Bosh may or may not resign with the Raptors but if he doesn’t, the club has taken steps to make sure it will be competitive. If he does stay, then the news is even better.

But should they land the biggest free agent in their history, the Raptors have finally purged the fatalism, well founded fatalism but fatalism nonetheless, that marked much of their history.

We’re fine, thanks.

Say it together, Raptor fans: “They like me. They really like me.”

Pistol Pete · 07-07-2009, 12:48 AM

To answer you question: Most likely.

henrymakepeace · 07-07-2009, 01:43 AM

True, but I think it's rather American superiority complex. How can anyone choose Canada over the States? They are brain-washed that the U.S. is the best country on earth which is a laughable statement IMHO.

AR1815 · 07-07-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrymakepeace

True, but I think it's rather American superiority complex. How can anyone choose Canada over the States? They are brain-washed that the U.S. is the best country on earth which is a laughable statement IMHO.

I agree.

Maybe BC realized that with the NBA becoming more globalized and all, the lone international team should probably have at least a few non-US born players.

To be honest, if I had the choice to play anywhere, I'd play in Europe. I still can't figure out who wants to go to 90% of the NBA cities. Besides LA, Chicago, and NYC, I wouldn't want to live elsewhere.

curryking1 · 07-07-2009, 10:25 AM

^Cross off Los Angeles too. I don't want to have respiratory problems from epic daily smog intake.

There's no inferiority complex. It's just the American superiority complex. The negativity that Toronto and Canada receive for not being American is just a bunch of superficial stereotypes and a lack of knowledge combined with rampant misinformation about our country.

Americans still don't know ***t about Canada. Americans still don't know ***t about any other country in the world but the US, and they don't even really know their own. Most of them can barely explain the logic behind their choices of political platforms, because most of it is based on 1) Is he Evangelical Christian? and 2) I hope he won't raise taxes. Their political system is so epicly convoluted as a massive pop contest, the most wide-eyed and rebellious and smooth-talking man always wins.

Let alone that... they are frikkin' imperialists and don't realize it... and they still defend their constitution like it's a message from God, although even a country like Bolivia knows that a constitution is meant to change, and even the people who wrote their constitution knew that their judgment was not infallible.

They really do think we are some doormat to America. Maybe so in 1850, but today to suggest Canada is lesser than the US and so similar to it is a bit of a stretch.

Living in Canada and living in the USA is not even close to the same thing.

There is, for whatever stupid superficial reason, contempt for Canada's only basketball team. And honestly, Canada in general. Why? Who the hell knows. There isn't any reasonable answer.

Windex · 07-07-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AR1815

I agree.

Maybe BC realized that with the NBA becoming more globalized and all, the lone international team should probably have at least a few non-US born players.

To be honest, if I had the choice to play anywhere, I'd play in Europe. I still can't figure out who wants to go to 90% of the NBA cities. Besides LA, Chicago, and NYC, I wouldn't want to live elsewhere.

you should travel around the U.S.

Rimpianto · 07-07-2009, 10:48 AM

my opinion, as an european, is that if i have the choice between usa and canada i would choose canada. More culture, more cosmopolitan mentality, less crime and less "oh i need oil, let's go invade a foreing country with the first excuse we found".
Anyway, i prefer to live in europe.

**Belsius** · 07-07-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimpianto

my opinion, as an european, is that if i have the choice between usa and canada i would choose canada. More culture, more cosmopolitan mentality, less crime and less "oh i need oil, let's go invade a foreing country with the first excuse we found".
Anyway, i prefer to live in europe.

wow, talk about stereotypes. I wouldnt visit Italy because they elected Berlusconi as president. How does that sound?

Rimpianto · 07-07-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belsius

wow, talk about stereotypes. I wouldnt visit Italy because they elected Berlusconi as president.

Yes, you're right, for the same reason i'm not living in Italy anymore

**Belsius** · 07-07-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimpianto

Yes, you're right, for the same reason i'm not living in Italy anymore

**Belsius** · 07-07-2009, 11:02 AM

But seriously, I live in Spain, I have been in various places in europe and the US. Saying one place is better to live than another one is just ignorant. Different people prefer different things. I myself could only live in big cities. I love european cities like Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Barcelona, but the city Im in love with is NY. Its just special. I would hate to live in LA.

So basically I could only live in big East Coast cities.

Jakkal · 07-07-2009, 11:04 AM

LOL When I worked in the US I had a co-worker who thought China was in Europe.

Superjudge · 07-07-2009, 11:16 AM

now now fella's, the grass is rarely greener, just different.

Canada does have an inferiority complex, as a nation, always has. But for reasons far greater than NBA free agency.

Leave it for "The Podium" as it's purely a political science topic.

Windex · 07-07-2009, 11:21 AM

Canada is just low key
U.S. cities tend to show what they got

so people notice what different U.S. cities have to offer

Rimpianto · 07-07-2009, 11:22 AM

And about this?

:P

I forgot to say "in my opinion", but seriously, i don't like the usa policy and their lifestile. Obviously there are so many difference between different part of the states, but talking about big cities i would never leave Europe for the states. But i may think about Canada. I feel canada more close to an "european mentality".

Apollo · 07-07-2009, 11:56 AM

I love Hedo and all but its a sad state of affairs when a club looks back through its history and Hedo Turkoglu is its biggest free agent signing ever. Lets hope the Hedo signing is a sign of many positive things to come because as of right now the Raptors will probably only have the MLE at their disposal for a very long time. I hope other free agents will be as willing to snub American destinations for a similar offer to play in Canada.

bladeraptor · 07-07-2009, 12:08 PM

damn that video is hella funny. i would actually like being the country next to america because it would make you look smarter and you wouldnt even need to do anything.

XiaominWu · 07-07-2009, 12:46 PM

I think you could find similarly moronic people in pretty much any country you wanted. Certainly there are plenty of idiots on the streets of Toronto if you wanted to do that.

bogus · 07-07-2009, 01:27 PM

It is definitely true that, by and large, Torontonians (and Canadians in general) have an inferiority complex when it comes to the US.

I remember getting into arguments in high school - high school - about whether Canada could beat the US in a war. Seriously. Inevitably, whoever I was arguing with would bust out something along the lines of 'well, we beat them in 1812 - and burned down the White House, too!' I always responded that Canada wasn't even a country in 1812, and that the war was between the US and Britain. Not to mention, of course, that the US has increased their military strength just a little bit since 1812.

At thet same time, it is also definitely true that, by and large, Americans have a superiority complex. But their complex is not directed specifically at Canada, it's towards everybody.

To me, that's the saddest part: we have this ridiculous inferiority complex but the other side barely even knows that we exist. Do you think any American kids are arguing over whether or not their country could beat Canada in a war?

Apollo · 07-07-2009, 02:01 PM

Wow, we're getting off track.

07-07-2009, 10:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
curryking1 a Raptors fan Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 97 Representing:	^Cross off Los Angeles too. I don't want to have respiratory problems from epic daily smog intake. There's no inferiority complex. It's just the American superiority complex. The negativity that Toronto and Canada receive for not being American is just a bunch of superficial stereotypes and a lack of knowledge combined with rampant misinformation about our country. Americans still don't know *t about Canada. Americans still don't know t about any other country in the world but the US, and they don't even really know their own. Most of them can barely explain the logic behind their choices of political platforms, because most of it is based on 1) Is he Evangelical Christian? and 2) I hope he won't raise taxes. Their political system is so epicly convoluted as a massive pop contest, the most wide-eyed and rebellious and smooth-talking man always wins. Let alone that... they are frikkin' imperialists and don't realize it... and they still defend their constitution like it's a message from God, although even a country like Bolivia knows that a constitution is meant to change, and even the people who wrote their constitution knew that their judgment was not infallible. They really do think we are some doormat to America. Maybe so in 1850, but today to suggest Canada is lesser than the US and so similar to it is a bit of a stretch. Living in Canada and living in the USA is not even close to the same thing. There is, for whatever stupid superficial reason, contempt for Canada's only basketball team. And honestly, Canada in general. Why? Who the hell knows. There isn't any reasonable answer. Last edited by curryking1; 07-07-2009 at 10:37 AM.*

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07-07-2009, 12:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pistol Pete ..homie don't play that. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 277 Representing:	To answer you question: Most likely.

07-07-2009, 01:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
henrymakepeace what he is. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,175 Representing:	True, but I think it's rather American superiority complex. How can anyone choose Canada over the States? They are brain-washed that the U.S. is the best country on earth which is a laughable statement IMHO.

07-07-2009, 10:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rimpianto not here Tolerate my english Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rome\Edinburgh Posts: 321 Representing:	my opinion, as an european, is that if i have the choice between usa and canada i would choose canada. More culture, more cosmopolitan mentality, less crime and less "oh i need oil, let's go invade a foreing country with the first excuse we found". Anyway, i prefer to live in europe.

07-07-2009, 11:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
Belsius a paranoid android My name is Iñigo Montoya Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,543 Representing:	But seriously, I live in Spain, I have been in various places in europe and the US. Saying one place is better to live than another one is just ignorant. Different people prefer different things. I myself could only live in big cities. I love european cities like Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Barcelona, but the city Im in love with is NY. Its just special. I would hate to live in LA. So basically I could only live in big East Coast cities.

07-07-2009, 11:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jakkal in dire need of a drink ...hic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 690 Representing:	LOL When I worked in the US I had a co-worker who thought China was in Europe.

07-07-2009, 11:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
Superjudge is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 17,593 Representing:	now now fella's, the grass is rarely greener, just different. Canada does have an inferiority complex, as a nation, always has. But for reasons far greater than NBA free agency. Leave it for "The Podium" as it's purely a political science topic.

07-07-2009, 11:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
Windex the next dictator of MLSE fresh and clean Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: uʍop ɹǝpun Posts: 22,477 Representing:	Canada is just low key U.S. cities tend to show what they got so people notice what different U.S. cities have to offer

07-07-2009, 11:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
Apollo a dick Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,151 Representing:	I love Hedo and all but its a sad state of affairs when a club looks back through its history and Hedo Turkoglu is its biggest free agent signing ever. Lets hope the Hedo signing is a sign of many positive things to come because as of right now the Raptors will probably only have the MLE at their disposal for a very long time. I hope other free agents will be as willing to snub American destinations for a similar offer to play in Canada.

07-07-2009, 12:08 PM	#17 (permalink)
bladeraptor neither hither nor thither the big raptus Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 224 Representing:	damn that video is hella funny. i would actually like being the country next to america because it would make you look smarter and you wouldnt even need to do anything.

07-07-2009, 12:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
XiaominWu ------------------------ Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,335 Representing:	I think you could find similarly moronic people in pretty much any country you wanted. Certainly there are plenty of idiots on the streets of Toronto if you wanted to do that.

07-07-2009, 01:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
bogus si sugob. raptors had feathers! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 454 Representing:	It is definitely true that, by and large, Torontonians (and Canadians in general) have an inferiority complex when it comes to the US. I remember getting into arguments in high school - high school - about whether Canada could beat the US in a war. Seriously. Inevitably, whoever I was arguing with would bust out something along the lines of 'well, we beat them in 1812 - and burned down the White House, too!' I always responded that Canada wasn't even a country in 1812, and that the war was between the US and Britain. Not to mention, of course, that the US has increased their military strength just a little bit since 1812. At thet same time, it is also definitely true that, by and large, Americans have a superiority complex. But their complex is not directed specifically at Canada, it's towards everybody. To me, that's the saddest part: we have this ridiculous inferiority complex but the other side barely even knows that we exist. Do you think any American kids are arguing over whether or not their country could beat Canada in a war?

07-07-2009, 02:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
Apollo a dick Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,151 Representing:	Wow, we're getting off track.