Bankai wrote:Some serious recency bias here combined with some random excuses about Canadians I keep scratching my head on. Again, congrats to Bianca. But are you guys seriously saying that her US Open win was more "Canadian" and more of a "Story" than the Raptors Title Run?! Is this bizarre world?! Kawhi leaving put a damper on it, but dont let it fool you how big the Win was for the Country as a whole, right up there with the 2010 Winter Olympics in terms of Country wide impact. Biancasanity falls off rather quickly once you go past the GTA. She is a story, but not THE Story.
Did Bianca have over half of Canada's population watching her win the US Open?
Did Bianca have numerous Viewing Parties all across Canada, watch her match against Serena?
Did Bianca have numerous Canadian Politicians, Sports Teams, and Influential people rally around her?
Will Bianca have the Canadian Prime Minister, Ontario Premier, and Opposition Leader attend her Rally?
Will Bianca have 3 Million proud Canadians attend her Rally?
Will Bianca have many Championship Shirts, Hats, Flags and other Apparel being displayed today with pride all over?
Raptors Title Run had more Canadian Content, were more grand, and more appreciated in all of Canada. They were THE Story in 2019. End of Story.
Everything you say is true, but I think you're undermining how much of an impact Kawhi leaving left on this title run. It did more than just dampen it. Right now I'm hearing Bianca talk all over, appearing in interviews saying how she's proud of representing her city and the country. I'm in Canada right now and Bianca is just getting more and more popular. The phrase She's The North was created when she won it, but it's sticking more and more. The aftermath isn't as important as the journey, but it's still important. If Kawhi came back and said he loved Canada and wants to bring Toronto more ships, the Raptors easily take this. That didn't happen. He reinvigorated the stigma that franchise players don't want to be here, and smashed the record for how soon a finals MVP left their team.
Bianca is proud to rep her city and country, and brought home something no other native Canadian did. This might be the genesis of a long fruitful career. Kawhi did the same, could have made Toronto a basketball powerhouse for years to come, and he didn't.