I think Ford is an average Joe running the city, and doing a great job at that. And that's why people hate him. He's not stealing tax money in broad daylight like the Senators are, he's not been caught getting a blowjob in a car by a hooker or had any extramarital affair, hasn't turned out to be gay etc. - so the media have gone after him from day one, to try to make a show out of him. Other than harmless stupid shit (see football reference below, for example), they haven't found shit, and I think that pisses them off.
It amazes me how political Toronto and GTA are when it comes to Ford. You have such obvious pay-offs to hate him, such as the Dean Blundell Show - OBVIOUSLY getting paid to talk shit, and the Toronto Gossip Star etc. It's just silly... Instead of running the city, all I hear is whining councillors - bitching because they can't have his job and he tells them to shut the fuck up when, in all reality, they really should just shut the fuck up.
Yes, he looks very funny, is very goofy at times (falling on the football field was the funniest thing I've ever seen lol) and drives himself around in his own truck - big fuckin deal. But he's saving the city money and getting shit done. Pot holes can kiss my ass, he's cleaning streets (and balancing books).