The enthusiasm of the crowds inside and outside Scotiabank Arena. The multiple versions of Jurassic Park throughout Canada. The true multi-ethnicity of Toronto on full display.
Even the jaded on-air people at NBA TV, ESPN, and ABC are now aware of the significance of basketball in Canada.
The Toronto Raptors have been in the NBA playoffs for the sixth straight season. The Raptors fell 2 games short of the finals in 2016. Being in the NBA Finals has made a huge impact on the Raptors and especially Toronto in the eyes of the world.
There may be some who might think Toronto is a cold place (think hockey). Toronto's weather is comparable to Chicago, though Chicago can be a cold place at times. The late spring weather has looked nice during the Raptors long playoff run.
NBA Finals coverage has more of a world impact than the Stanley Cup Finals, especially in countries that may not be as familiar with Canada.
Nav Bhatia is the superfan of superfans. Bahtia is the Superfan who has been to every Toronto Raptors home game since the beginning in 1995.
A mechanical engineer by trade, Bhatia became a car salesman and later a top car dealer.
"I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t womanize. I just Raptorize," Bhatia said. "I went to the Raptors, and then I got addicted. It is the best game, the most exciting game on this planet."
There were lots of lean times for the Raptors but Bhatia let his love for the Raptors win out.
The New York Times had a feature on Bhatia a couple of seasons ago.
The crowd goes wild for President @BarackObama, including MVP cheers. #WetheNorth pic.twitter.com/OfgSqbwZM2
— Josh McConnell (@joshmcconnell) June 3, 2019
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has had a good week in Canada. Obama gave a speech in Ottawa, dropped by to see his buddy Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a nice conversation. Obama then made it to Toronto alongside NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The ABC coverage was limited to the reaction to Obama being on the scoreboard. The MVP chant could also mean "Most Valuable President."
The ABC announcers mentioned that Obama is involved with the new basketball league coming soon to Africa.
Trudeau reportedly was going to go to Game 2 but those plans changed. Going to games shouldn't be a priority of prime ministers but Trudeau could use the positive exposure.
Stanley Cup cooldown: Why Vancouver got so hot and bothered
There are now multiple versions of Jurassic Park in 9 Ontario cities as well as Halifax. The Ontario official communities include Pickering, Vaughan, Halton Hills, Brampton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Midland, and Windsor.
Vancouver, home of the NBA Grizzlies from 1995-2001, is not having a similar outdoor experience. The city said there wasn't a suitable venue for the series. Vancouver did have outdoor crowds for the 2011 Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canucks were the last Canadian team to reach a final of the 4 major North American sports.
While we are not comparing the Toronto Raptors to the Tragically Hip, Cineplex, one of Canada’s largest theatre chains, is airing the NBA Finals for free in 33 cinemas across Canada. The theatres locations range from Mount Pearl, NL to Victoria.
The Toronto Argonauts, sibling team in the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment complex, is wearing We The North jersey patches to honour the Toronto Raptors. The team debuted the jersey patches in the Argos home preseason game at Varsity Stadium. The kickoff was 10 hours before the start at Game 1 and a few kilometres north.
The Argos are in Hamilton on Thursday between Games 3 and 4 in Oakland. Toronto doesn't start its CFL season until after the NBA Finals.
Rob Ford on Kimmel: Sticking to the script
With the NBA Finals on ABC, we weren't surprised to see Jimmy Kimmel have a bit of fun with Canada. Kimmel sent his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez to the media gathering before Game 1 in Toronto. Rodriguez offered a Canadian shot — maple syrup — to OG Anunoby and Norman Powell.
Anunoby turned down the shot, telling Rodriguez that he was allergic to maple syrup. Powell took the shot but only drank a little bit.
Jimmy Kimmel had then Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on his show back in 2014.
2019 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs scoreboard
2019 Toronto Raptors NBA Finals preview
Toronto Raptors make first trip ever to NBA finals and will play Golden State
2019 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs preview
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
Canadians don't get local telecasts during the Stanley Cup playoffs while Americans get local TV feeds in the opening round. MLB offers an international feed for the World Series, even if the Toronto Blue Jays are playing.
The Toronto Raptors fans in Canada get a local feed for the NBA playoffs from Rogers Sportsnet and TSN all the way up to the NBA Finals. Canadians can access the ABC feed via cable or satellite, antenna for a limited audience (Toronto, Windsor, south of Montréal), and through CTV2 (Games 2, 4, 6) and Citytv (Game 3).
From what I've heard, the Raptors coverage is more relevant with anthems being aired and more Drake sightings. ABC has ignored Drake in the games in Toronto.
photos credit: NBA TV; ABC/ESPN/NBA; @Raptors; CFL
Twitter capture: @joshmcconnell
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