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TORONTO - With all eyes in the basketball universe focused on the Raptors in 2016, Canadas team is positioned to look a whole lot different. With the exception of their occasionally contested team name, the Raptors are slated for a full brand makeover by the time NBA All-Star weekend rolls into town in February of 2016. Alongside Drake - Grammy award-winning artist and the teams new global ambassador - and an eclectic panel which included NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, Tim Leiweke revealed an initiative to utilize the Toronto-born rap star in redesigning the Raptors image. "We are now going to submit to the league a new application for new branding and a new image and new colours, not a new name, but new branding," MLSEs chief executive announced at Monday mornings news conference. "Drake will be an ambassador and help us forge this new vision, this new buzz, this new excitement for where were taking this organization." This process has already begun according to Leiweke, who will work with MLSE, in conjunction with the NBA to complete these changes prior to the 2015-16 campaign, a monumental season for the franchise. Not only will Toronto welcome the NBAs annual showcase that year, it will also mark the organizations 20th anniversary season. "This is a team and this is a sport thats going to rock this city going forward," Leiweke said. "The NBA All-Star game gives us two years now to do some extraordinary things as we head to our 20th anniversary and create one of the greatest basketball opportunities, moments and franchises for the NBA." Leiweke has enlisted the help of Torontos most prominent entertainer. Drake will lend a hand in remaking the Raptors brand in addition to unofficially hosting events throughout All-Star week, but his role with the club could be even greater. "Weve only had initial meetings thus far," said Drake, who will have a permanent office right next to Leiwekes at MLSE headquarters. "I want to be as involved as possible. Obviously I have a busy schedule coming up, I just released an album, but anything they need me for I want to be here for, anything that can help the Raptors grow in the future." "Obviously I wont be able to be in the building everyday but Im extremely dedicated to it," the 26-year-old rap icon continued. "I do take it very seriously as a new job and as a new chapter in my life so its not just something for the sake of all the cameras. Im extremely dedicated to this franchise." Per Leiweke, Drake will be heavily involved in the design of the Torontos new logo and image, while suggestions from fans will also be incorporated. As for the team name itself, despite earlier speculation that it could be changed - and the best efforts of Leiweke - it will remain as is. "I would have changed the name," Leiweke admitted. "We took a vote and I lost." "Theres a lot of people that are smart in this organization, that have been here a while and they made a compelling case where the issue is not the name. So were going to go with them on that one and Im 100 per cent supportive." New general manager Masai Ujiri made a strong argument for keeping the name and focusing on something far more important, something that will be crucial for this team as they prepare to host the leagues marquee midseason event in 2016. "Anything you do, for me, is all based on winning," Ujiri maintained. "You can have the best name, worst name, you can have any colours you want if you have the right basketball players and thats our responsibility." "This is all great and this is beautiful for the city," he continued, "but at the end of the day my responsibility and my teams responsibility is to put that basketball team on the floor thats going to go out and try and win out there." Neither Leiweke nor Ujiri could, or cared to dodge the pressure that comes with hosting the worlds best players for the most star-studded event that professional basketball has to offer. With great opportunity comes great responsibility. "I think the 20th anniversary and All-Star game and the rebranding are all great," Leiweke cautioned, "but if we dont win and take advantage of the moment of truth, theyll all be wasted." That leaves the organization 28 months to right the ship. Entering their 19th season, the Raptors have missed the playoffs in each of the last five years. Theyve won just one playoff series, they havent had an all-star since Chris Bosh in 2010 and they have failed, time and time again to reestablish themselves as a relevant NBA entity following the departure of Vince Carter over eight years ago. The challenge is simple in concept; win, but slightly more convoluted in execution. New England Patriots Shirts . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. New England Patriots Gear . 22 because of a bruised foot and have added forward Sean Collins to the roster on emergency recall from Springfield of the AHL. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/. According to various reports, the striker is about to sign a five-and-a-half year extension with Manchester United worth a reported 300,000 pounds a week that would see him at Old Trafford until 2019. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys . The 27-year-old hit .209 in 86 at-bats last year after missing the 2010 season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. New England Patriots Store .com) - Australian Open champion Li Na, former Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and former world No.Manchester Thunder retained their position at the top of the Vitality Superleague table with a dominant 67-43 win over Roses rivals Yorkshire Jets. Having established a three-point cushion at the weekend with a win at Surrey and Hertfordshires defeat to Bath, Dan Ryans team closed in on top spot in the regular season standings after a super display.They now hold a six-point lead over Mavericks who play Storm themselves at the weekend before Mavs and Thunder replay their abandoned game on April 25. Fresh from their first victory of the season at the weekend when they edged out the Celtic Dragons 45-44, it was the Jets who started at a fierce pace forging a 7-2 lead inside the opening half of the first quarter. Vote for your Player of the Season Weve got the five contenders, so place your vote Led by Helen Housby at goal attack, Thunder rallied to level the scores at 8-8 before finishing strongly to take a three-goal lead at the end of the first 15 minutes.Despite Stacey Francis impressing in defence for Jets, Thunder continued to press home their advantage throughout the second period and a dominant quarter saw Ryans team open up a 32-21 lead.With Player of the Match Ellie Cardwell lethal under the posts for Thunder the home side continued to pull away with Jets tiring after their exertions in Wales on Saturday and the 11-point half-time lead became 20 for the league leaders. Grand Final Tickets Get tickets for Superleague Grand Final with Sky Tickets Manchester took a 52-32 lead into the final quarter and with Ryan continuing to urge his team forward, the fourth quarter followed the same pattern with Thunder taking the chance to use their full squaad and lay down a marker for the Superleague semi-finals on April 30.ddddddddddddThunder won in Round Seven by just five points but there was to be no close finish at the Thunderdome and they wrapped up a Roses double with a clinical final quarter to seal a 24-goal win.Maybe a few too many errors and turnovers particularly in the first quarter, we could have been up by a lot more with the opportunities that we had, Ryan told Sky Sports.But across the board we have to be happy - particularly to get 12 players out there considering a lot of the girls havent seen much court time over the past couple of weeks in the big games.To get everyone out on a big stage and on a big night is something we are really happy about.We were very particular in the first half of the year that we wanted to rotate the line-up, gave players opportunities. We feel players we need to win the competition have had the taste they need to and we are confident in our depth and we are confident we can call on anyone required for any role on any day. Thunder completed a season double over the Jets Jets head coach Anna Carter admitted that after last seasons top four finish Yorkshires rebuilding job has made for a tough campaign.[Thunder] are at the other end of the table to us and they are a well put together squad with lots of experience, Carter told Sky Sports.We are at a different point and are rebuilding, bringing together a young group so it was always going to be a challenge tonight.Some of the girls have really improved. We got a win on Saturday against Celtic and showed characteristics weve not shown this season but it is about putting it out consistently. Also See: Vote for Player of the Season Get Grand Final tickets with Sky Sports Vitality Superleague fixtures Table ' ' '