TORONTO -- Theres a new hip face of the franchise, a new look in the works, and in 2016 theyll host basketballs biggest party. Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . The Toronto Raptors officially announced Monday that theyll host the 2016 NBA all-star game and unveiled homegrown rap star Drake as their new "global ambassador." They also confirmed theyll have a new look and new colours -- but not a new name -- for the 2015-16 season. Its all in an effort to turn around Canadas floundering basketball franchise, and what Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., called the beginning of a "new age" for the Raptors. Now the team has to do its part to live up to the hype. "Anything you do, for me, its all based on winning," said Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri. "This is all great and beautiful for the city, but at the end of the day, my responsibility, and my teams responsibility is to put that basketball team on the floor that is going to try and win out there. "Its going to take time and patience, but were taking on the challenge, and we love it. The people, the organization, the fans I think deserve it in Toronto." Drake, who grew up a Raptors fan and calls some of the leagues biggest stars his close friends, said he approached the team about getting involved. "I want to bring the excitement into this building, I want a team that people are dying to come see, I want the tickets to be extremely hard to get, I want to bring that aggression, I want to bring that energy," said Drake. "And obviously I want it to be a top team in the NBA, if not the top team." A crowd of several hundred people -- including reporters representing sports, entertainment and news, plus MLSE employees -- squeezed into the atrium at the Air Canada Centre for the announcement, which kicked off one of the most festive Toronto Raptors media days in the teams history. Drake -- who looked sharp wearing the lone electric blue suit among a stage full of black-clad MLSE officials and politicians, including Mayor Rob Ford -- joked he would "have to go to Harry Rosen and get some more neutral suits because the vibrant blues arent going to cut it." Leiweke scheduled the announcement to coincide with the opening of camp, he said, to set a tone for the franchise. He called the day a "turning point" for the team. "I think what youre seeing is the remaking of a franchise, the remaking of what people think about us, the remaking of the demand in the marketplace for us," Leiweke said. "I think theres a reason that we led the NBA in new ticket sales the last few weeks, theres now a buzz about this organization." Leiweke stressed the all-star game isnt the final destination, that winning a championship is. But a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2008 has a long way to go. The Raptors went 34-48 last season, spending most of it digging out of a horrific 4-19 hole. "Not to make Masai feel any more pressure than he already feels but I think we know weve got to be competitive by the all-star game," Leiweke said. "We cant be a dormant franchise, and what we wont do is have one thing to talk about in 2016, which is an all-star game. The all-star game should be part of a new image, it shouldnt be the new image." The players said there was reason to be optimistic. Rudy Gay, acquired in the mid-season three-team trade, looked stronger for his summer spent in the gym, and said hes put on 20 pounds of muscle. A lean Kyle Lowry looked about 20 pounds lighter. DeMar DeRozan spent much off the off-season improving his three-point shooting. Monday, they were focused on the beginning of training camp and the coming season, while sounding at best only mildly interested in all the all-star hype. "Its a lot better when you have a good team going into playoffs and is known as a good team and then host the all-star team, than (host the all-star game) as a sub-par team," Gay said. He did say Drakes backing meant something. "Hes a staple in this city, and for him to behind us as we try to get better as a franchise, it says a lot," Gay said. The 26-year-old rapper, who said he travels the world preaching the "gospel that is Toronto," grew up following the Raptors, and called the Vince Carter era the source of his best basketball memories. He envisions "everybody wearing Raptors stuff. I want to have merchandising through the roof, I want everybody to be proud and patriotic about being from here and supporting this team." Drake counts among his good friends: Raptors forward Amir Johnson, and Toronto native and University of Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins. Last week Johnson, on his own accord, bought out all of Drakes new album "Nothing Was the Same" at two Toronto stores. He then handed out the several hundred copies free to fans at downtowns Yonge-Dundas Square. "Hes just a great guy," Drake said of Johnson. "Luckily for us, we have an amazing foundation thus far, so I think for the franchise its going to take work but theres a base foundation there." What exactly his role will be -- or even how much hell be around the Air Canada Centre considering he just released his new album -- remains to be seen. But Leiweke promised Drake will have "as much a footprint on the all-star week as the NBA will allow us to." The city last hosted an all-star game in 2008 when Major League Soccer held its showcase here. The NHL staged its all-star game in Toronto in 2000 while the Toronto Blue Jays hosted baseballs marquee contest in 1991. The 2014 all-star game will be held in New Orleans while New York will host the 2015 contest. Leiweke says an NBA all-star game usually generates somewhere around $100 million for the host city but he predicted Toronto will eclipse that, saying he and Drake have been discussing making the festivities about more than just basketball and music. "Were already talking about fashion, were talking about films, were talking about food, were talking about all the things ... that are the trademark of this great city," said Leiweke. "We certainly see it as an opportunity to let everyone see all the phenomenal parts of Toronto." cheap nfl jerseys . However, the defending American League champions may have caught a big break as they head to Turner Field tonight for the first of three interleague meetings with the Atlanta Braves. . Pierre relishes the opportunity to be the go-to guy. St. Pierre scored twice, including the game winner, as the Bulldogs edged the host Toronto Marlies 2-1 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. [url=http://www.wholesalenfljerseychina.net/]http://www.wholesalenfljerseychina.... . - Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward, who led NFL rookies last season with a team-high six interceptions, may miss two weeks of training camp because of a hamstring injury. [url=http://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/]cheap nfl jerseys . Mariano Rivera enters the contest one save shy of tying the all-time record of 601 set by Trevor Hoffman, while CC Sabathia will be trying to become the first Yankee pitcher to post back-to- back 20 win seasons since Tommy John (1978-79). cheap jerseys . Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo took the field on Saturday afternoon to face off against the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the first time since their second-straight Grey Cup victory last November. Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia pitched into the ninth inning and Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer, as the New York Yankees downed the LA Angels of Anaheim, 3-2, in the second test of a three-game series. Sabathia (7-3) was finally pulled after allowing an RBI single from Maicer Izturis with two down in the ninth, which cut New Yorks edge to 3-2. The lefty ended up charged with eight hits and two runs -- one earned -- with three strikeouts. I felt pretty good. My change is what kept me in the game. They did help me out a lot by swinging early, Sabathia said of his outing. Mariano Rivera retired Erick Aybar on a pop out to notch his 15th save. Robinson Cano added a solo shot for the Yankees, who have won five of their last six and recovered from dropping Fridays series opener. Jeff Mathis knocked in the other run for the Angels, who have lost three of four. Subbing for Dan Haren, who was scratched with a back injury, Ervin Santana (3- 5) was tagged in defeat for three runs on seven hits in seven full frames. Sabathia appeared to be headed for his second complete game of the season after retiring Mark Trumbo and Mathis to begin the ninth. But Peter Bourjos singled, then advanced on defensive indiffeerence before scoring on the Izturis base hit. cheap jerseys. Rivera was called on, and got Aybar on one pitch. His appearance was the 1,003rd of his storied career, moving him past Goose Gossage into 14th place on the all-time games-pitched list. CC had good command and a great changeup. He kept the hitters off-balance. He threw the ball great and our defense was outstanding, said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Cano snapped a scoreless tie with his solo homer in the fourth. Angels right fielder Torii Hunter made a leaping attempt at the ball, but ultimately came up empty. I got close enough to getting it, Hunter said. I just tried to make a play for Santana. He pitched his butt off. I thought I had a chance, and I ended up catching a fan. Mathis hit a sacrifice fly to center in the home half to tie the game. Alberto Callaspo, who hit a leadoff double, came in on the fly to center. Curtis Granderson worked a leadoff walk in the sixth and two batters later, Rodriguez cleared the wall in left-center for a 3-1 New York lead. GAME NOTES:The home run from Rodriguez tied him with Mel Ott on the all-time RBI list at 1,864...Sabathia improved to 6-7 lifetime against the Halos, while Santana fell to 5-4 against the Yankees. ' ' '