Chipper Jones indeed made a very unkind statement about Toronto borne from his brief visit during the WBC: “I don’t know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it’s not exactly Las Vegas. To say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.” We’ve established that Mr. Jones will not be joining the State Department post-baseball.
(Yes, Chipper; Toronto is “up”. This seems like overkill, though.)
However, Toronto has lost its collective mind over Chipper’s comments. DEADSPIN noted the local blog outrage, but we all pay attention to this guy on a regular basis. The Toronto papers have leaped into the fray as well, mocking his Southern manner in questionable “humor” pieces and penning lazy editorials demanding Chipper never come back to Toronto. (Apparently, they get Wikipedia in Canada.)
Even Chris Bosh had to defend Toronto and he probably won’t be there in a year. Toronto media, you wouldn’t get your undies in an uproar if you knew who you were dealing with.
First, Toronto sports fans are collectively rather outrageous and defensive. We shouldn’t be surprised if the whole city gets its dander up over negative comments. However, we also find out the locals haven’t been following baseball for the last 15 years because this is Chipper Jones we’re talking about.
We know some people can’t get enough of Larry, but this is the man that once tried to impress Kelly Clarkson with his moves at a NASCAR race and got gutted when she didn’t recognize him. Hell, he impregnated a Hooters waitress while married.
Of course he prefers Vegas! The only place he seems to love more is the trainer’s table. This is not a man that appreciates a cosmopolitan city. Not everyone does.
So learn to laugh a few off, Toronto; no one seriously thinks you have to defend yourselves against Chipper Jones. Do you see the other big cities getting defensive when the traveling circus comes through town and the clowns look bored? (Well, maybe Calgary. Man, that town’s dull!)
11:32 am on March 19th, 2009
I doubt Milwaukee is much fun either, but Toronto definitely has lots of things to do, and places to see. Definitely not Vegas, but hey, nothing else is!
3:56 pm on March 19th, 2009
Chipper Jones? meh. Isn't he just John Rocker without the crazy eyes??Â
11:10 pm on March 19th, 2009
Actually, Milwaukee is a LOT of fun. We may not have many clubs where some douchebag making $7/hr gets to tell us whether we can go in or not, but there are a lot of hot chicks who like to party. So, stay out of the Mil…more pussy for me.
1:49 am on March 20th, 2009
And the guy from Milwaukee gets defensive. Is there any town that wouldn't defend themselves, especially when it's a foreign hillbilly. And I hate The Big Smoke!
10:55 am on March 20th, 2009
1992. 'Nuff said.
2:04 pm on August 4th, 2009
im not even canadian and i think this article is bs. so many ignorant pricks that dont even realize that Toronto is one of the nicest cities in the world (look it up)… as compared to ATLANTA!?!?!? have fun in the dirty DIRRRRRRTY south chipper you fucking bumb
9:40 am on February 8th, 2010
I’m Western Canadian and totally agree with Chipper. Toronto is a craphole. They think they are the center of the universe. They think they speak for Canada and it pisses most of the rest of the country off. I’m glad he said it like it was, he should have been harsher on those arrogant pricks
4:04 pm on August 24th, 2010
Calgary? Dull? Who the hell are you? Have you ever been here? No shit it’s dull. But don’t tell the rest of the word!
2:19 pm on January 19th, 2012
Toronto is like the NY of Canada. It’s a world-class city with a little bit of everything. Other Canadians think that people from Toronto think they’re the best, kinda like Americans think New Yorkers are “hotshots”.
But seriously, Toronto is a really nice city, I’ve been there many times. I jump on the opportunity to go to Toronto whenever I can because there is always something new and exciting to do.
As for Chipper, he is not exactly a person who has many brain cells to spare. So I’m not too worried about these comments coming from a guy like him.