Raptors fans trend #WeTheOther after perceived CBS poll snub
CBSSports.com poll asked who would win title: Warriors, Thunder, Cavs or 'Other'
On Tuesday morning, Raptors fans found an online poll on CBSSports.com that asked its readers which team would win the NBA Championship.
They were aghast that, instead of "Raptors," the poll listed the team from Toronto as "Other."
This <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA">@NBA</a> poll question is the best! <a href="https://t.co/GZmoXhTPML">https://t.co/GZmoXhTPML</a>
—@WheelerTSN<a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA">@CBSSportsNBA</a> That's a great poll you've got there <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/qPlQa2UtWs">pic.twitter.com/qPlQa2UtWs</a>
—@tomteichroebCool poll, <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a>. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/WheelerTSN">@WheelerTSN</a>) <a href="https://t.co/dxwGdtQ6EO">pic.twitter.com/dxwGdtQ6EO</a>
—@jeskeetsLOL @ CBS, c'mon fam. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/nQBbnfcZXU">pic.twitter.com/nQBbnfcZXU</a>
—@_scottjohnsonThey don't want us to win and they don't even consider us at all. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://t.co/lFHZLeDTEw">https://t.co/lFHZLeDTEw</a>
—@clickflickcaIn response, sports writers and Raptors fans embraced the moniker and coined their own twist on the team's "We The North" slogan
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> is definitely worth Trending
—@WheelerTSNHonestly, one of the few hashtags I can get behind. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/OOaLcKzqrI">https://t.co/OOaLcKzqrI</a>
—@ekoreen<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RTZ?src=hash">#RTZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/VAXnbaxSRw">pic.twitter.com/VAXnbaxSRw</a>
—@_rallycap<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors">@Raptors</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN1050Radio">@TSN1050Radio</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet">@Sportsnet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/timandsid">@timandsid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a> chew on this! <a href="https://t.co/9Djh7E5LLC">pic.twitter.com/9Djh7E5LLC</a>
—@RJJays1975If <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors">@Raptors</a> game ops doesn't have <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> shirts for Game 3, I am going to be very disappointed <a href="https://t.co/pbOlviCNq1">https://t.co/pbOlviCNq1</a>
—@PuckDontLieAnd as news of the CBS poll with the missing option spread…
Just voted 'other' in CBS' poll <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RTZ?src=hash">#RTZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/Gd1A35Ddck">https://t.co/Gd1A35Ddck</a> <a href="https://t.co/CmFi1l2qCA">pic.twitter.com/CmFi1l2qCA</a>
—@Franklandlab…the results shifted
LOL! CBS sports poll fail! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA">@CBSSportsNBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/TMFoOxROBD">pic.twitter.com/TMFoOxROBD</a>
—@DougPoonAnd other polls on Toronto websites sprang up in response
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a>, how do you like OUR poll? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://t.co/MYZydHrPdo">pic.twitter.com/MYZydHrPdo</a>
—@newstalk1010On late Tuesday morning, an explanation was published. According to CBS Sports, the omission wasn't a snub against Toronto – it was simply an old poll that hadn't been updated
We posted it before Game 7! Raptors/Heat wouldn’t fit! We love you, Canada! <a href="https://t.co/FStrHVn0pU">https://t.co/FStrHVn0pU</a>
—@CBSSportsNBAThe poll option "Other" was changed to "Raptors" on CBSSports.com shortly thereafter.
The name had stuck, however. It even got a mention on the Twitter profile page of the Raptors themselves.
Raptors bio... 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheOther?src=hash">#WeTheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/5C85LkPGBu">pic.twitter.com/5C85LkPGBu</a>
—@Draisaitl_It also inspired Toronto Mayor John Tory to pen a delightfully tongue-in-cheek letter about the perceived slight.
The letter, presented on official City of Toronto letterhead, is addressed to the chairman of CBS Sports – and in true Canadian fashion, it's as sharply snarky as it is polite.
"We're not the slightest bit offended. In fact, we're accustomed to being underestimated," it reads. "Just a few days ago LeBron James said he was looking forward to playing the Heat — a team that is now golfing."
"In Toronto, North America's 4th largest city, it's actually quite exciting for us to have our Raptors in the Conference Finals – a first for a Canadian team," Tory continued. "Especially since basketball was actually invented by a Canadian. You're welcome!"
"Please don't hesitate to have your people call my office to get prime camera positions for the parade after the Toronto Raptors win the NBA Championship," the mayor concluded.
"We will mark their space as 'other.'"
As Mayor of "Other" I felt the need to talk to <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a> about their poll. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WetheOther?src=hash">#WetheOther</a> <a href="https://t.co/CYRqOljXHc">pic.twitter.com/CYRqOljXHc</a>
—@JohnTory