Become a fan of bluetoro on Facebook!

Argonauts and Maple Leafs celebrate with the Ikea Monkey

Unless you’ve been living under a rock during the last week (also know as wandering around New Jersey at all hours of the day trying to locate where the lockout talks are taking place) you’ll be familiar with the latest media sensation “the Ikea Monkey”, who was discovered right here in Toronto.

This resulted in the social media world going into overdrive, placing Darwin (yep, that’s his name) in as many ridiculous places as possible, with varying degrees of success.  (To be honest, I didn’t actually find any of them even mildly amusing but then again, I am a miserable git.)

These attempts to amuse the general public included the local sports teams.  For example, here’s the Argonauts take:

Solid effort all around.  The team only recently won the 100th Grey Cup so it’s topical and you can totally imagine that cheeky rascal climbing into the cup.

Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs also tried to get in on the action, but as usual they got it totally wrong:

Seriously, how ridiculous is that?  At least try to come up with a realistic scenario.  For a start, the “Ikea Monkey” is only a recent occurrence, but it’s a black and white photo!  The latest it could have been taken was in 1967, the last time the Leafs actually won the Stanley Cup.

And even if it was a genuine photo, are you really telling me that’s the same bloody monkey that was running around Ikea last weekend?  Referred to as the rhesus macaque, this particular species has a lifespan of 25 years, making it impossible for the monkey in the picture to be the same one!

But of course the Leafs would have known this if they’d actually taken the time to do a little research.  No wonder the team has had little success on the ice in recent years.  It’s all in the detail guys.

Photo credits: @torontoargos & @MapleLeafs


Argonauts Mike Bradwell attends Hugo Boss event & P.K. Subban harasses Phil Kessel

Hugo Boss opened a new store in Yorkville last night and as you’d expect, the event was littered with people from all walks of life, including several professional athletes.

It was no surprise to see Argonauts receiver Mike Bradwell there, especially as he does modelling work on the side.  Here he is posing for a photo with P.K. Subban and someone who I can only assume is Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger or someone of that ilk*. 

(*Why else would you voluntarily allow yourself to be pictured with an old guy who has white hair and a pot belly if it wasn’t Father Christmas?)

Really though, I’m more interested by the imposter on the far right.  Seriously, what is Phil Kessel doing there?!?!  You wouldn’t normally expect to see him at events like this.  And I don’t mean because he’s renowned for being shy.

Let’s be honest, while he’s a pretty damn good hockey player, you don’t really associate him with words such as ‘fashion’ and ‘style’.

Fortunately P.K. Subban filmed some footage of last night’s opening, possibly inspired by his current stint on Sportsnet.  Subban really seems to have embraced his new role in the media, right down to harrassing Kessel, something which I think we can all get on board with:

Dec 10, 2012 | Phil kessel caught on #subbycam #hugoboss store opening in yorkville! by PKSubban on Keek.com

Photo credit: @bwelltweets


Maple Leafs Jake Gardiner hoists the Grey Cup

If you’re a Maple Leafs player these days (or a fan for that matter), you’ve pretty much resigned yourself to the fact that you’re unlikely to ever get the chance to celebrate a Stanley Cup win.

As such, you can’t really blame defenceman Jake Gardiner, along with the Marlies Greg McKegg, for taking a rare opportunity to actually get their hands on some silverware:

Hey, if you’re a professional athlete, you want to know what it’s like to actually hoist a championship trophy at least once in your career, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with hockey.

Photo credit: @Jgardiner272


Blue Toro’s top pictures and stories of the week

Well, with the Argonauts winning the 100th Grey Cup, TFC hiring Kevin Payne as their President & GM and the Leafs becoming the first NHL team to be valued at $1 billion, it’s been another eventful seven days on the Toronto sports scene.  Here’s our top pictures and stories of the week:

1) Showing that even a lockout can’t stop them thriving off the ice, Forbes.com reported that the Maple Leafs were the first NHL team to be valued at $1 billion (US):

Ironically, a lot of the fans that question how this is possible, contribute by continuing to pay outrageous prices for tickets and merchandise.

In fact, Maple Leaf fans remind me of a needy boyfriend trying desperately to cling onto his flashy girlfriend by plying her with money.  And yet, like the Leafs, if you take away the bleach-blonde hair, fake tan and false breasts, there’s actually not really anything that special about them.

2) I was going to tell you all how sorry I felt for Justin Bieber after he was booed during the half-time show at the Grey Cup.  I mean he is just a kid at the end of the day.  However, then I saw this photo, taken while he was in Toronto:

Let’s just say I will now also be booing Bieber if I ever see him.  The guy really doesn’t help himself does he.

3) In fact, here’s Amir Johnson and Drake trying their darndest not to physically assault him:

4) The Raptors have been on a tear of late, losing six straight games.  Baring the brunt of the fans frustration is Andrea Bargnani, largely centring on his 2-19 shooting performance in the double-overtime defeat to the Spurs.

However, you try shooting the ball when some inconsiderate git has his hand right in front of your face:

5) I think it’s safe to say Steve Nash is getting frustrated with being stuck on the sidelines watching his Lakers teammates flounder along.  He’s even beginning to annoy and insult other people:

I don’t know who Nash is giving grief to, but I’m guessing it’s not Shaquille O’Neal.  (Think about it………..)

6) Sticking with the Lakers, Ricky Romero did what any good brother would do and took his sisters to watch the Lakers in action on Tuesday night:

The Lakers even went as far as to make Romero feel right at home, losing 79-77 to the Indian Pacers.  (Okay, fine. That was a bit of a cheap shot.  Romero’s a good guy.  I genuinely hope he can revert back to his form of previous seasons in 2013.)

7) Everyone has been dealing with the NHL lockout in different ways.  For example, P K Subban is using the time to be a hockey analyst for Sportsnet, while Joffrey Lupul is plying his trade in Russia.

However, I’m concerned that not everyone is coping as well.  Take Phil Kessel for example, who appears to be morphing into a combination of a train spotter and slightly overweight version of ‘Where’s Waldo’?:

8 ) This week provided a dream ending to the 100th Grey Cup festivities as the Argonauts emerged triumphant and took to the streets on Tuesday for a victory parade.  About the only downside to the proceedings was the appearance of Rob Ford:

I think the look on the dude’s face to the right sums it up perfectly.  Even Ford’s declaration that November 27th was to be known as ‘Argonauts day’ has to be treated with suspicion.  I’m guessing he’s just attempting to drum up support from the general public in light of his current legal issues.

9) Still on the Argonauts, and the CFL in general, it grinds my gears about how critical people are of the league. Yes, it’s not as big or as successful as the likes of the NFL, NBA and MLB, but keep in mind that it’s never likely to be, given that it is purely a Canadian game.

However, the CFL is doing just fine.  In fact, I’ll leave it to some Calgary Stampeders fans who attended the game at the Rogers Centre to sum the situation up:

10) And finally, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with sports, I feel compelled to add my nickel’s worth to the Toronto Sun’s reader’s choice awards.

What stood out most was how many awards Citytv won.  For the most part, I have no problem with this as I regularly half-watch the show while writing.  For example, Dina Pugliese, who was voted sexiest woman, is definitely on my ‘to do’ list.

However, Kevin Frankish as sexiest man? Really?!?!  Is this the best Toronto has to offer?  Even as a bloke, I can see that he’s nothing special.  Actually, if Frankish is capable of winning this award, I’m putting forward my early candidacy for next year’s ‘Sexiest Male’ award.

I just hope you’re able to ignore the fact that:

a) My entry picture is blurred

b) I’m drinking an Oreo cookie cocktail

c) I’m not even on television (with good reason) and it’s debateable that I even have a personality

d) I might, just might, have had to post the picture as part of a bet that I lost

Enjoy your weekend!


Toronto Sports Fans prepare for a cold winter

Well I hope you all enjoyed the Argonauts victory parade yesterday afternoon.  In fact, you might want to hold on to the memory as long as possible.

(With the obvious exception of the presence of Rob Ford.  Seriously, that guy should not have been allowed to hoist the Grey Cup under any circumstances)

As good as it was to celebrate another sports championship, yesterday marked the end of the festivities, leaving us with nothing to look forward to except a long, dark, miserable, cold winter.

Now some of you will be thinking ‘well what’s new?’ so I better clarify that I mean this in a sports sense.  As it stands, we have no Maple Leafs games on the horizon, despite the recent introduction of mediators to the ‘negotiating’ process.

Also, the memories of last season’s successful Marlies campaign are fast beginning to fade away.  Currently embroiled in a three-game losing streak, the team sits fourth in the North Division, nine points out of first place.

And finally, we have those (un)loveable losers, the Raptors.  As I sat there last night, watching them getting their asses handed to them by the Rockets, I felt a sudden sense of desperation descending upon me.  And not just because I was out of beer.

For everyone complaining about their inability to close out in their last four games, surely it’s a better option than last night’s effort?!  Being in a position to win against the likes of the San Antonio Spurs represents progress to me unlike the effort in the Houston game.

I have stood by this team through thick and (mostly) thin.  I have even been able to justify the majority of Bryan Colangelo’s decisions during his tenure.

(For example, whereas everyone turns into Captain Hindsight when it comes to criticising the signing of the likes of Jermaine O’Neal and Hedo Turkoglu, at the time everyone was excited about the moves.  In fact, the only major mistake Colangelo made was believing he could build a roster around Chris Bosh, who was quite clearly never a number one option of any real substance.)

However, we’ve now reached crunch time in the Colangelo era.  He has been patiently rebuilding the team since Bosh left, assembling a young squad that will hopefully be able to grow together both on and off the court (which actually appears to be the case.)

Call me crazy, but I still believe in Colangelo, Dwane Casey and the rest of the Raptors organisation.  They will turn it around eventually, I promise…………….we might just have to wait one more season.

And in the meantime?  Hey, it could be a lot worse.  This sure as hell has to beat living in Winnipeg or Saskatchewan, who have nothing to look forward to on the sports horizon for the foreseeable future.

Even Vancouver and Montreal will have to wait until March for the start of the MLS season.  Call me sadistic, but I’ll take watching losing teams over no teams any day of the week.


Argonauts celebrate Grey Cup win with victory parade

jordan younger toronto

With the amount of complaining Torontonians do these days, you’d think the city has never enjoyed any sporting success.  However, as we all know, the very opposite is true.

The Maple Leafs trail only the Canadiens for Stanley Cup wins, the Rock are tied for the most NLL championships and the Blue Jays are the only ‘foreign’ team to ever win the World Series.

And let’s not forget the Argonauts, who added to their all-time leading Grey Cup haul with a 16th triumph on Sunday against the Stampeders.

Yes, today was a day to be proud and celebrate being a Toronto sports fan as the Argonauts held their victory parade downtown.  As you would expect, lots of people attended to help add to the party atmosphere:

Grey Cup parade toronto
Bay Street Toronto

Unfortunately, as is normally the case at these types of occasions, there always has to be someone there to ruin the party:

Rob Ford Toronto

Seriously, does Rob Ford have no shame? Well, given that he’s going to appeal the decision to remove him from office, I guess not.

According to news reports, regardless of the outcome, Ford intends to run for office again in 2014.  I guess I should be confused as to why he will even be allowed to do this, given the circumstances behind his dismissal.

However, if he does run again and somehow gets in, then the blame should go squarely on the shoulders of the voting public.  As the saying goes: “Fool me once, shame on you.  However, fool me twice…’


Toronto Argonauts win the 100th Grey Cup: Recap (part two)

Click here for part one

5) Chad Kackert was well worthy of his MVP award, gaining 195 total yards on only 28 touches.  He ran like a man possessed.  How could you not appreciate the way he actively looked for contact with Calgary defenders as he repeatedly bulldozed his way down the field.

Overall, its hard not to root for a guy like Kackert.  And in response to Steve Simmons comment that he’s a nice guy but a lousy interview, maybe you just weren’t asking the right questions.  Everyone has a story to tell, but at the end of the day it’s the job of the journalist to get a person to open up.  Maybe it’s time Simmons started looking in the mirror a bit more.

6) Actually, in reference to Kackert’s MVP award it’s easy to forget how people were in uproar when the Argonauts let Cory Boyd go earlier this season, at a time when he was the leagues leading rusher.  (For the record, I was one of those people who defended the move.  No really, you can read it here.)

Surely yesterdays result now proves GM Jim Barker knows what he’s doing.  If the front office has any clue (and indeed decency) they will offer Barker an extension right away.  The guy just helped you win the Grey Cup!

Besides, do you really want to bring a guy like Eric Tillman in?  Let’s leaves aside the 2009 sexual assault incident.  The Edmonton Eskimos have long been held up as a model for how to run a franchise.  Now?  That reputation is in tatters, thanks to the ‘influence’ of Tillman.  Something for the Argonauts to think about while deciding how to build on the momentum of yesterday’s victory.

7) Talking of momentum, as much as I love the Argonauts, I don’t believe last night was the start of a return to the good old days in Toronto.  Unfortunately, a lot of Torontonians will compare attending the 100th Grey Cup as the equivalent of going to a Maple Leafs game, i.e. it is something they can tell people they’ve done in an attempt to impress them.

However, let the record show that I will have absolutely no problem with being proven wrong.  Realistically thought, the team is going to have to look towards eventually building their own stadium, preferably in the downtown area, with a capacity of around 25,000-30,000.

8 ) And finally, regarding the future of the CFL as a whole, it is now generally accepted that it will never be on the same level of the NBA, MLB or NHL in Canada.  However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be a success in it’s own right.

Ottawa is already on the cards to return to action in 2014.  Now let’s see if commissioner Mark Cohon can really earn his salary and get a tenth team sorted out as soon as possible.  A team on the east coast would be the ideal move to make the CFL a truly Canadian, coast-to-coast game, which everyone can be proud of.  Then, I might be able to deal better with the permanent grin on Cohon’s face.

Here’s hoping.


Toronto Argonauts win the 100th Grey Cup: Recap (part one)

Congratulations to the Toronto Argonauts on their well-deserved win against the Calgary Stampeders.  I think we can all agree that the 100th Grey Cup was a success.  The organisers put on a memorable show and Torontonians can be proud of their contribution throughout the week.

As such, I thought I’d add my take on the festivities with eight thoughts of my own.  (It would have been ten but it turns out I don’t have that much going on in my head, something that my ex-girlfriend would undoubtedly agree with.)

1) Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised, given that he’s from Winnipeg, but Burton Cummings rendition of the Canadian national anthem was awful.

Isn’t it meant to represent an emotional and spine-tingling moment?  At one point I did actually get a shiver down the back of my spine but then I realised I was just shuddering at how horrendous the whole experience was.

Cummings was named an officer of the Order of Canada, which amongst other things, is awarded for dedication to the community and service to the nation.  Mr. Cummings, please feel free to continue this dedication by announcing that you will never sing the national anthem at a public event ever again.  Thank you.

2) I wasn’t too enamoured with the coaches’ pre-game speeches.  However, then I realised that they mostly probably saved what they really wanted to do to the other team (ala Gregg Williams) for when the television cameras were out of the locker rooms.

3) For all the talk over the years about Toronto’s apathetic CFL fanbase (mostly deserved) they were really into the game yesterday.  Their reaction during the introduction of the Argonauts team dispelled any concerns that the atmosphere was not going to be one worthy of the Grey Cup.

I know people in Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatchewan will find this hard to believe, but on their day, Toronto sports crowds are as good as any in the country.  When they can be bothered.

4) You can almost guarantee that somewhere in Quebec today there will be fans complaining about what they perceive as a lack of appropriate respect during the player introductions, i.e. not waiting until the French announcement had finished before coming out onto the field. To those people I say for them to stop thinking like a woman and be more rational for a minute.  The introductions take too bloody long as it is.

Click here for part two


Blue Toro’s Top Pictures and Stories of the Week

I’m not sure what’s going on at the moment, but we’ve just enjoyed another eventful seven days in Toronto.  Not that I’m complaining.

John Gibbons gets rehired as Blue Jays manager, the Argonauts qualify for the 100th Grey Cup, Chad Owens wins the CFL Most Outstanding Player award and the Raptors……….err…………….hey, it’s just nice to have an NBA team isn’t it?  Here’s Blue Toro’s top pictures and stories of the week.

1) Apologies for showing this picture again, but we start off with my favourite photo of the week, taken from the NBA game between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks:

The sad thing is, most men would likely react in a similar way.  At least this boy has the excuse of not being an adult.

2) Of course in situations like the above, the blame has to be firmly placed on the father, who should have better prepared his son for what he was going to see at the game.

The smart move is to give your boy exposure to attractive women from an early age. A really early age:

Mark my words, that boy will be a Casanova by the time he grows up.

3) One of the benefits of being a professional athlete is the potential for some new pussy to jump onto the bandwagon.  In light of the Blue Jays recent off-season activity, it appears that their players will benefit from this particular perk of the job:

Oh come on!  What were you expecting?

4) Sticking with the Blue Jays, you have to wonder what John Farrell is thinking after jumping ship for the Red Sox.  This isn’t the most polished photo but I think the sentiment can be appreciated by Toronto (maybe not so much in Boston.)

5) Its safe to say ‘Grey Cup fever’ has gripped Southern Ontario, with the 100th Grey Cup taking place this weekend in Toronto.  However, this fan appears to be treating the whole event as if it were some version of the ‘bird flu virus.’

I guess it just shows how fearful some people are of becoming CFL fans, knowing how un-trendy it is to be one in Toronto.

6) With the Grey Cup in town, there were various events taking place during the week, meaning numerous opportunities for people to mix with celebrities.  Here’s one young lady who was fortunate enough to meet former Argos quarterback Damon Allen:

I’m not sure who the woman is, but she looks like she could hold her own in a game of football.  And I don’t mean the Lingerie Football League.

7) I think we’re all a bit down on how the Raptors campaign has started.  Rumours are already starting to circulate that GM Bryan Colangelo won’t be back next season.  Pictures like this won’t help his cause:

8 ) Hopefully Toronto FC fans won’t think we’re rubbing it in too much, but let’s finish with a look at the MLS Cup.

Not surprising, given that it will be his last ever game for the L.A. Galaxy, David Beckham will likely be the focal point of their final against the Houston Dynamos.

Having said that, you still have to feel sorry for teammate Robbie Keane.  Despite leading the Galaxy with 16 goals this season, it appears that he is still somewhat of an unknown quantity:

Enjoy your weekend and let’s all wish the Argonauts good luck for Sunday.


Argonauts fans attend 100th Grey Cup Pep Rally

Toronto sports lovers are notorious for jumping on the bandwagon (with the obvious exception of hockey fans who should be both simultaneously admired and ridiculed for sticking by the Leafs through thick and mostly thin).  As such, Torontonians turned out in their droves last night for the Grey Cup pep rally.

As you would expect, the amount of people turning out was likely helped by the Argonauts shocking the Montreal Alouettes and clinching an unlikely spot in the 100th Grey Cup.

Everyone was in a good mood, including the players.  Here’s Mike Bradwell getting into the spirit of things:

This could well be the opportunity the Argonauts have been looking for to build some momentum and gain new fans.  But what will it take for this fresh enthusiasm to last longer than Grey Cup week?

The team is already the most accessible and fan-friendly in the city.  (For example, they let fans go onto the field after home games to meet the players and cheerleaders.)

In the interests of helping out the Argonauts, here’s a few thoughts that might encourage people to stick by the team beyond the end of this season:

1) The Argonauts have won 15 Grey Cups compared to 13 Stanley Cups for the Maple Leafs.

And before anyone comments about how the Argonauts only (currently) play in an eight-team league, please be advised that the Maple Leafs won their Stanley Cups in an NHL that only had six franchises.

2) Unlike Leafs followers, Argonauts fans don’t have a sense of entitlement.  Well, with the exception of those jackasses who would attend games and bitch the whole time about how poor the CFL is compared to the NFL.

And yes, I am talking from personal experience I’m afraid.  Get a clue you clowns.  If you’re that bothered, Buffalo isn’t exactly that far away.

3) Being a Argonauts, and indeed a CFL fan in general, causes you less grief than following the NHL, which is currently embroiled in its third lockout in 18 years.  How often does the CFL have labour strife?

And while CFL commissioner Mark Cohon may irritate people with the permanent grin plastered across his face, it sure as hell beats Gary Bettman’s constant scowl or the bumbling ways of Bud Selig.

4) And finally, Toronto sports fans often moan about the lack of winners in this town; the Raptors haven’t won a championship, Toronto FC has never made the playoffs, the Blue Jays haven’t been to the World Series since 1993.

(And we won’t even mention the Maple Leafs not winning the Stanley Cup since 1967………….oh, scratch that.)

In this respect, why not put your heart into cheering on the Argonauts?  It’s only been 2004 since their last championship and here they are, standing on the verge of winning the biggest Grey Cup game in CFL history.

Lets stop all these attempts to be wannabe Americans, quit being sports snobs and get the Argonauts back to the level of support they used to enjoy in the good old days.  Come on, you know it makes sense.

Photo credits: @bwelltweets & @JoeEppele59

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4