The Current

Blue Jays fans who hate Toronto share their inner turmoil

Admit it, it's killing you isn't it? You're hopelessly in love with the Blue Jays even though you really hate Toronto. As the Jays cruise into the playoffs, many Canadians find themselves stuck: they love to hate Toronto, but they can't help but get caught up in the excitement.
Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, right, walks off the field as he celebrates the Jays' win over the Tampa Bay Rays with teammate Josh Donaldson following AL MLB action in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. (CP/Frank Gunn)

It's a season that's moved Toronto fans to sing their team's praises.... especially last night, after the Blue Jays clinched the American League East division title... for the first time in 22 years. 

Can you support the Blue Jays and hate Toronto at the same time? (Dan Hamilton/USA Today Sports)

But today we're asking whether Toronto's big league team has managed to clinch the even bigger title of being "Canada's" team. 

Because for all their on-field victories this year, there are still a lot of folks who just can't stomach the idea of cheering on a team from Toronto.

And that includes Vancouver's own, Rafe Mair. 

As a child I was a Habs fan not because I knew anyone in the city of Montreal, but because I couldn't stand the Toronto Maple Leafs '"Captain Canada Crap".- Rafe Mair. former radio host
Today, we're asking whether it's possible in this country to both hate Toronto, and love the Jays. 

  • Albert Nerenberg is a self-described 'laughologist', and co-director of the documentary "Let's All Hate Toronto".  He was in Kingston, Ontario.  
  • Robin Brown was a sports journalist for CBC for 20 years. She grew up in Toronto as a Blue Jays fan and now produces the radio program, Windsor Morning.  She joined us from Windsor.   
  • Michael Baumann is a baseball writer for the website Grantland.  He joined us from Houston, Texas. 
     

So what do you think? Can you support the Jays and hate Toronto at the same time?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Julian Uzielli and Ines Colabrese.