Funny how the sports world has turned upside down in these parts.
Just two months ago, after getting off to a 2-8 start, the Raptors appeared set to enjoy another dismal, uninteresting campaign and coach Sam Mitchell looked like he wouldn't have his job much longer. Injuries to key players, notably star forward Chris Bosh, appeared certain to hasten changes in Raptor-land.
The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, had played so well that after 22 games they were second in the Eastern Conference and the powers-that-be at MLSE decided to reward GM John Ferguson by picking up the option on his contract for next season and in so doing take him off lame duck status.
Today, however, the tables have turned.
The Raptors, at the moment, are the most exciting show in town, and that probably extends to a year-round basis. The Argos don't even have a quarterback and Ricky Williams was basically a bust. The Blue Jays did add some star power in Frank Thomas, retained Vernon Wells and should be able to score a lot of runs next summer.
But none of the Argos, Blue Jays or the stalled Leafs are as appealing as the basketball team Bryan Colangelo has created, a squad that lost by a point to high-powered Dallas on Sunday but won a lot of hearts by the manner in which they competed with the Mavericks.
Andrea Bargnani, meanwhile, represents something none of the three other teams have, and that's a bona fide superstar in the making below the age of 25.
Maybe it won't happen. Injuries and happenstance have derailed many a career along the way.
But even Dirk Nowitzki says Bargnani is better than he was at the same age. He's seven feet, can shoot the three and rebound, passes extremely well and even has impressive nerve to take the big shots.
This kid could be the real deal.
The Leafs don't have anybody like that, and neither do the Jays or Argos.
The Raps, yes, have benefited by playing a weak division, but they did fight through early adversity and injuries, while by comparison the Leafs have seen injuries almost totally derail their playoff hopes.
The Leafs' third highest paid defenceman is their best, and unless Andrew Raycroft finds another level over the next 90 days the Leafs are going to be in the same position next summer they were last summer, looking for a No. 1 goalie. And Raycroft will still have two years left on his contract.
Based on how quickly the Raptor-Leaf axis has turned upside down from October, of course, it could be reversed in the next two months.
But don't bet on it. On a weekend where the NFL delivered three thrilling playoff games, the Raps were equal to the test and delivered a gem of their own even in defeat.
They appear to be the Toronto team most worth watching.
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