The Toronto Raptors were omitted from a recent CBS poll asking which team will win the NBA Championship, included only as “other.” Mayor John Tory responded with a note to CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus, letting him know that the snub was noticed.
As Mayor of "Other" I felt the need to talk to @CBSSports about their poll. #WetheOther pic.twitter.com/CYRqOljXHc
— John Tory (@JohnTory) May 17, 2016
Nobody can blame Toronto for feeling snubbed here, and the poll is pretty darned hilarious to look at when you remember that only four teams can possibly win the 2016 NBA Championship.
CBS Sports is running an NBA poll on their website but missing a key team.
Let's get #WeTheOther trending, Toronto! pic.twitter.com/A6P0xnQgfW
— Macko & Cauz Podcast (@MackoAndCauz) May 17, 2016
CBS Sports did respond with an explanation and while it makes sense, it’s not particularly strong.
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/732592002181652485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Okay, the Raptors were the last team to clinch a spot in the Conference Finals. That’s definitely true. Really, we can take CBS’ word that this was published before that ticket was even booked. Still, we have a few friendly suggestions for our friends at CBS Sports.
Suggestion 1: Abbreviations.
Raptors/Heat may not fit, but something like TOR/MIA just might do the trick. It’s only seven characters, the same as “Thunder” and less than either “Warriors” or “Cavaliers.”
Suggestion 2: Two different options
Why not have five options? The Warriors, Thunder, Cavaliers, Raptors, and Heat. It’s not like we’re still in the first round and there are 16 possibilities. A poll with five options shouldn’t disrupt things too much.
Suggestion 3: Wait until the round is set
This isn’t exactly a huge news item in the world. It certainly could have waited until after the Raptors and Heat finished Game 7.
But, what’s done is done. The Raptors are simply “other” for the remainder of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, a role that the Honorable Toronto Mayor seems to be embracing. Well done, Mr. Tory.