National Post 2001
Over and over, the little guy in the yellow shirt comes out of nowhere, walks across the screen to the Toronto Argonauts logo, drops his shorts and urinates. The cheeky little graphic is decidedly low-tech, but is an apt symbol for www.argos-suck.com, a Hamilton-based Web site run by a group of fanatic Tiger-Cats followers.
“It’s just kind of a continuation of the whole thing around the Hamilton-Toronto games,” Bill Andrews said of the site he helps run. While he actually doesn’t hate Toronto, he does enjoy the intense rivalry. “It’s more of a lark, and just a good laugh.” Andrews and his friends have posted dozens of photos of people holding buttons and signs reading “Argos Suck!” in front of celebrities, famous landmarks and even a few unsuspecting Argonauts. One picture shows Toronto GM Paul Masotti smiling into the camera, while a man beside him holds an “Argos Suck!” button over his shoulder. TSN commentator James Duthie, B.C. Lions GM Adam Rita, television’s Mr. T and a statue of Wayne Gretzky have been included, knowingly or inadvertently proclaiming the Argos suck.
The buttons have also made it to the White House, Mexico, the Rose Bowl and even the Sydney Olympics. “It’s great how they ambush people,” said FAN 590 personality and Argos commentator Mike Hogan, who has signed the site’s guest book . “I know at some time, they’ll probably take their shot at me in one of the bars after the game.”
After deflating the rivalry last season with an appalling first half of the season, the Argos appear ready to renew hostilities with Hamilton this summer. Toronto has even gone as far as to sign free-agent running back Archie Amerson and linebacker Mike O’Shea — who both played significant roles with Hamilton last season — to contracts this spring. “It’s a contrast between the cities; Big business versus Steeltown,” Andrews said of the site, named for the chant that usually greets Toronto when it visits Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. “It’s kinda nice to have someone just down the road that you can boo. It’s kind of handy.”