TORONTO -- Theres a new hip face of the franchise, a new look in the works, and in 2016 theyll host basketballs biggest party. 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." jerseys from china . Rautins was acquired along with a 2012 second-round draft pick from Washington, while New York got Chandler and the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis from Dallas. cheap jerseys . A US$20-million renewal project launched in 1998 was officially completed Friday with the opening of the Esso Great Hall. http://www.cheapnfljerseyschinaplay.com/ . For a player that was looked upon derisively by Raptors fans only 11 weeks ago, his turnaround (as a result of his strong play all summer) has been as swift as has been thorough. Its hard to encounter anyone who has watched Valanciunas this summer who has not come away impressed by the ultra-aggressive seven-footer. wholesale nfl jerseys . Zbik made the better start but appeared to tire midway through the bout, with the defending champion looking fresher despite taking some heavy blows. Sturm had Zbik clearly troubled at the end of the ninth round, with American referee Raul Caiz Sr. wholesale jerseys . One teams chase of that crown will take a hit tonight when the Coyotes visit the Sharks with an eye on returning to first place.WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals know they own the most effective power play in the NHL this season. They also know its vital to convert chances against their first-round playoff opponent, the New York Rangers, who were whistled for the fewest penalties in the league. So after starting 0 for 3 in extra-man situations in Game 1 on Thursday night and trailing -- "We feel, like, a little bit maybe nervous," Ovechkin explained afterward -- the Capitals got a big boost when their captain put the puck in the net on their fourth power play. Ovechkins franchise-record 31st career playoff goal got Washington started before less-heralded teammates Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera scored 46 seconds apart, Braden Holtby made 35 saves, and the Capitals came back to beat the Rangers 3-1 to begin the series. When Washington defenceman Mike Green sent the puck past the net nearly seven minutes into the second period, it ricocheted off the boards and right to a charging Ovechkin, who flipped the puck past Henrik Lundqvist to make it 1-1. "Kind of a lucky bounce," Ovechkin acknowledged, "but Ill take it." Carl Hagelin had put sixth-seeded New York ahead 1-0 in the first period -- the only puck that made it past Holtby. "We kind of hung him out to dry once or twice," Capitals forward Troy Brouwer said about the second-year goalie, "and he helped us out with some huge stops." Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Washington. Its the third consecutive season these two teams are facing each other in the playoffs and the fourth time in five years. The Rangers eliminated the Capitals in seven games in the second round last season. But Washington is playing a livelier brand of hockey under first-time NHL head coach Adam Oates, a Hockey Hall of Fame forward who shifted Ovechkin from left wing to right wing and helped design the Capitals league-best power play. Oates also is not as apt to demand that his players sit back and protect a lead, the way his predecessor, Dale Hunter, did. "We play more well-rounded now," defenceman Karl Alzner said. "We have guys that can score goals and are allowed to go up there and do their thing. Theres really no reins on anybody. At the same time, they know what their defensive responsibilities are." The Rangers drew six minor penalties, matching their regular-season high. "Against a power play like that, if youre killing that much, eventually theyre going to capitalize," Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said.dddddddddddd "Theyve got enough talent out there to do that, and weve just got to stay out of the box." Coach John Tortorella agreed, saying: "We cant take that many penalties. ... Hopefully well discipline ourselves in the next game." Only 33 seconds after New Yorks Arron Asham was whistled for an illegal check to the head, Ovechkin broke his tie with Peter Bondra for most post-season goals by a Washington player. Ovechkin slammed his shoulder into the glass to celebrate, and chants of "M-V-P!" cascaded from the red-clad fans in the stands. Ovechkin put his name in that conversation by scoring 22 times in the last 21 games to collect his third Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy -- first since 2009 -- and propel Washington to the Southeast Division title. That goal energized the Capitals. So did wiping away a 5-on-3 chance the Rangers had for nearly a minute in the second period. Shortly after that power play ended, Capitals rookie defenceman Steve Oleksy -- who got hit in the face by a puck later in the second period -- sent a pass about 80 feet down the middle of the ice and between Rangers defencemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh to set up Johansson. The Swede collected the puck at the blue line and beat Lundqvist at the 14:21 mark to make it 2-1. "Weve got to know the guys behind us," Girardi said. "Thats not really acceptable." It was Chimeras turn less than a minute later, when he took a pass from Mathieu Perreault, spun around near the boards and put the hosts ahead 3-1. That led to mocking choruses of "Luuuundqvist" from spectators. "Anytime you kill a 5-on-3, especially in playoffs, the momentum goes the other way, for sure," said Chimera, whos scored six of his eight career playoff goals against the Rangers. "If they get a goal, theyre feeling it. If we get a kill, obviously the crowd gets into it or we get into it. Everyones pumped up." Notes: The Rangers were 13-0-1 when leading after the first period during the regular season. ... Capitals RW Joel Ward returned to action after missing the last nine regular-season games with a bruised left knee. ... The Rangers were without injured LW Ryane Clowe, C Brian Boyle and D Marc Staal. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '