The team that Toronto forgot: Arthur, Nov. 26

In his column, Bruce Arthur wonders what it will take to attract more people to Argo games. The answer is simple: it ain’t going to happen. Here’s why.

By any definition, the CFL is a minor league. You’d be hard-pressed to find a CFL player who wouldn’t jump to the NFL in a heartbeat.

Toronto has become accustomed to the major leagues. We have teams in the NHL, the NBA, MLB and MLS. Even when our own team is less than stellar, we know that, in the opposing teams, we will see some of the best players in the world, or at least on the continent. That simply can’t be said for the CFL.

Secondly, there is the game itself. The larger field of the Canadian game does make things a bit more exciting; but the three-down rule is a killer. It limits strategy, forcing teams into an automatic pass-run-kick cycle. The three-down game becomes stifling.

But despite these two issues, there is a third, overriding factor: Football is simply not a part of the Canadian psyche the way it is in the U.S. Down south, every high school of any standing has a football team. Some of their stadiums make our pro stadiums look silly.

Americans are used to living and breathing football in a way that is totally foreign to us. For the same reason, most Americans just can’t get into hockey the way we do here.

The Argos continue to be the only football game in town; and they will continue to appeal to the diehard fans. But as for broadening the fan base, that’s going to be a really tough sell.

Ronald Weir, Toronto