The Toronto Globe and Mail’s excellent soccer blog posted this tidbit yesterday: Toronto and Columbus will compete for a cup this season.

My reply: What?

These sorts of artificially constructed rivalries drive me crazy. Don’t force a rivalry down a team’s throat.

I know there’s tons of natural animosity between the two cities, assuming that most Toronto citizens have a) heard of Columbus and b) can locate it on a map. Those same citizens have a storied history of supporting other natural rivalries between the two cities.  There is no greater rivalry in college football than The Ohio State University v. University of Toronto, after all.

I’m not sure the TFC brass has actually looked out in the crowd during BMO Field home games, but this particular fan base doesn’t need any gimmicky rivalry to come out and hate the visiting side.

To the TFC brass, I have but one message: Keep your mitts off a naturally developing fan base and let the action on the field dictate what team will provide the rivalry that captures the imagination.