Raptors fans slam Toronto newspaper over notion team isn't Canadian enough

Chase Kell

If you were wondering why Toronto Raptors centre Chris Boucher was trending on Twitter earlier this week, you were not alone.

The Raptors have been the talk of the sports world in recent weeks, taking a 3-2 series lead over the mighty Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, but Boucher hasn’t exactly been leading the charge.

In fact, Boucher has only seen four minutes of court time throughout the 2019 playoffs, and those minutes came during garbage time in the Eastern Conference final against the Milwaukee Bucks.

But Boucher didn’t become popular on social media due to his recent play with the Raptors. Rather, the fact that Boucher is in fact a Raptor is precisely why he became a trending topic.

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 17: Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Scotiabank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Chris Boucher was the last player you would expect to be trending during the NBA Finals. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Earlier in the week, amid all of the optimism and excitement surrounding the team, the Toronto Sun published an article that questioned how Canadian the Raptors truly are. The article and its promotional tweet have since been deleted.

A screen shot of the tweet, since deleted, sent to promote the article in question.
A screen shot of the tweet, since deleted, sent to promote the article in question.

The assertion that a Toronto team isn’t Canadian enough because it doesn’t employ any Canucks is debatable at best, but the Sun’s article was quickly slammed online for one glaring oversight: Boucher is from Montreal.

Before long, fans took to Twitter to share this basic fact, making Boucher a trending topic right around the same time the Sun likely deleted its article.

While some fans were quick to remind the Sun about Boucher’s spot on the Raptors’ roster, others took the time to shut down the notion that Canadian teams should employ Canadian players in order to be authentically Canadian.

The Sun may have done enough to create a genuine debate, but when you see Jurassic Park-style viewing parties popping up throughout the country — Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina, just to name a few — it’s safe to assume that the country has already accepted this Raptors squad as not just a Canadian team, but Canada’s team.

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