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Toronto Argonauts

They are the only major team in the city to win a league championship this century, doing it twice, in 2004 and again in 2012. The Argos have fielded some capable teams over the last 15 years — including one stint with perhaps the best defence in history — and have a universally beloved ambassador: Michael (Pinball) Clemons.

The problem with the Argos has generally been off the field. They went bankrupt in 2003 when their New York-based owner stopped paying the bills, raising concern the franchise would fold. It has not folded, but neither has it found solid ground.

As of this writing, the Argos were still facing the prospect of homelessness. Their lease at Rogers Centre expires in 2017, and a move into BMO Field, a soccer-specific stadium by the shore of Lake Ontario, is likely their last hope. It has been reported BCE Inc. and MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum are in talks to buy the team from owner David Braley, but nothing has been announced, because nothing is ever easy with the Argos.

Toronto Raptors

They were supposed to be the good team, an island of success in the roiling sea of failure in Toronto sports. When they made the playoffs last year, the Raptors turned a cul-de-sac outside Air Canada Centre into a nightly basketball revival, with fans crammed into what became known as “Jurassic Park.”

Toronto lost, but it seemed like a noble loss, a blocked shot away from winning in Game 7 at home. This year, the Raptors won a franchise-best 49 games and, despite faltering in the final few weeks, still had home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.