"We, The People, In Order To Form A More Perfect Union.
San Diego Padres Shirts ..." Disregard the fact that the phrase is from an American political document or that there can be nothing "more perfect". Instead, review how the Toronto Raptors began their perfectly imperfect quest and whats next for the squad. October 31, 2013: Start of the 2013-14 NBA season. Fresh off a solid training camp with a full complement of players and outwardly optimistic, questions about the future of the franchise under president and general manager Masai Ujiri remained. With a highly publicized and strongly projected 2014 Draft Class, uncertainty about roster stability, quality and identity of the team and what appeared to be a lame duck head coach in Dwane Casey, RaptorNation and TankNation seemed to be in accord. Not having sniffed playoff pay dirt since a 2008 first round ouster at the hands of the then-Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic, an uneasy relationship with multiple monikers on what lay ahead for Canadas Team abounded: Mishandle For Randle, Concede For Embiid, Be Sorry For Jabari, Stop Caring For Aaron and of course Riggin For Wiggins. A shrewd and savvy front office executive, Ujiri has proven to be in just a few short months north of the border, jettisoning the personages and albatross-like contracts of Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay for more than just flotsam and salary cap relief. The deft moves brought in team players and quality, unselfish veterans in Steve Novak, Greveis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and the gritty, gutty Chuck Hayes, all fully aware of their roles and willing to lend to an ever-developing chemistry under head coach Dwane Casey. Now leading the Atlantic Division at 24-21 and in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Raps begin a week-long West Coast swing on Friday and a short homestand before the All-Star break. The energy around this team, despite recent injuries to Amir Johnson and the newly-minted All-Star DeMar DeRozan, has been at a fever pitch. Despite bucking for home court advantage in the playoffs, there is an overwhelming consensus that Ujiri will move Kyle Lowry by the NBAs trade deadline instead of losing the unrestricted free agent in the offseason. But dont be so sure. Any day between now and February 20 may well be The Tomorrow You Should Have Feared Yesterday as the Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri in particular, face a dilemma of potentially franchise-changing dimension. At the crossroad to this predicament, the twisted fates of Lowry and Casey stand. The Question is: Are they all headed in the same direction? "Where our team is, I dont know if, as a team, were where we can get two guys (on the All-Star team). Thats the truth, but were getting there," Ujiri said. "Well see how we continue to grow as a team." Is Masai Ujiri willing to roll the dice on Lowry, not move him and hope that he can make a cap friendly and competitively respectful offer in July for his starting point guard to stay in Toronto? All-Star snub aside, Lowry is averaging career highs in points and assists at 16.8 and 7.6 respectively. Arguably one of the Top 10 point guards in The Association, his real growth may be in areas that dont show in the box score, however. "Im going to keep grinding no matter what, All-Star or not," said Lowry. "Im always going to work hard and continue to be the best player I can be to help my team win. So for me, hey I didnt make it, it didnt happen, youve got a game, youve got to worry about the rest of the season and you go on." Does Ujiri have confidence that Casey is the right man for the job to lead the Raptors to heights unseen by the franchise? "My wish, my hope and my desire is to not let this be a one year flash in the pan," said Casey. "We want to develop something and thats why I keep talking about the process." With the Raptors at well beyond tanking level, the delicate ballet of managing expectation, fruitful return on any trade and current chemistry on this team falls in the apt hands of Masai Ujiri. As the exhaustive hype over the strength of the 2014 Draft Class continues to dissipate, Raptor fans might wish to envision the success of Ujiris "No Superstar" team in Denver of 2013. Or look to the steady build of a solidly great team in Oklahoma City by their GM, Sam Presti, who has effectively retained his very best players while building through the Draft, key veteran acquisitions and stability on the bench. Then again, RaptorNation might rest well on the notion of Ujiri standing pat with Casey, Lowry and the rest of the team for this season by thinking about the 2004 Detroit Pistons. It was that unit, led by a highly motivated and well-travelled point guard in former Raptor Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups, a tough, veteran guard, an athletic young wing, two workhorses down low doing the dirty work, a solid bench and a very good coach, who defeated the seemingly invincible Los Angeles Lakers, fronted by Phil Jackson, Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Reaching? Perhaps... But dreams have to start somewhere... What "more perfect" place than Toronto with these perfectly imperfected Raptors?
Anderson Espinoza Jersey . The CFL unveiled its 2014 schedule Wednesday and the Redblacks will play their first-ever regular-season game in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers on July 3.
Ozzie Smith Jersey . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth.ATLANTA - Mike Smiths status as the winningest coach in Falcons history wasnt enough to save his job.Owner Arthur Blank said he fired Smith on Monday because in his heart of hearts he didnt believe Smith could take the Falcons to the Super Bowl.Smiths firing came one day after the end of his second straight losing season, capped by Sundays ugly 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers before booing fans at the Georgia Dome.Smiths 66 wins in seven seasons are the most for any Falcons coach. He reeled off five straight winning seasons for a franchise which previously had not finished above .500 in back-to-back years.For an owner looking to the future, those accomplishments were overshadowed by the Falcons 10-22 combined mark the past two seasons, including 6-10 in 2014. Blank acknowledged his confidence in Smith was shaken despite his affection for the coach.Can that individual take you to the next level? Blank said of his appraisal of Smith. If your answer is no in your heart or hearts, you have to put away your personal feelings.Blank said more changes could come. He said general manager Thomas Dimitroff will be part of the search for a new coach, but then could have his status reviewed.Hiring the coach is the first move, but may not be the only move, Blank said, adding he has told Dimitroff every part of our football organization will be under scrutiny. This may stop. It may finish today. It may not finish today. I dont know where were going to end up with this.Dimitroff, who was hired with Smith before the 2008 season, and team president Rich McKay attended Mondays news conference with Blank.Dimitroff said he and Smith are very proud of five straight losing seasons from 2008-12.The last two years obviously have not been what we wanted, Dimitroff said. I take a great deal of responsibility for what happens with this organization and the team building that has taken place. We think we have some good football players on this team.I know that I have made mistakes and Im going to be scrutinized for it. ... I am responsible as much as Smitty is for this organization, the success of this organization and the downfall of this organization.Atlanta had a 66-46 regular-season record with Smith and won two NFC South titles, but it was 1-4 in the post-season..
Dinelson Lamet Jersey. Its a fact Smitty was the most successful coach in the history of the Falcons franchise, Blank said.Despite their losing record, the Falcons would have won the NFC South and hosted a wild-card playoff game by beating Carolina on Sunday.Blank said the decision to fire Smith was not based on one game. He left open the possibility a playoff berth might have saved Smiths job.I had not made a decision if we had won what our next step was going to be, Blank said.Blank said firing Smith was the most difficult decision Ive had to make. Blank said he met with Smith on Monday, and the meeting ended with an exchange of warm emotions.The last thing he said was I love you and I said the same thing, Blank said.Blank said he will be in the middle of the search for a new coach, with the assistance of the Korn Ferry search firm. The Falcons also have hired former Chiefs and Eagles executive Joe Banner as a consultant.Potential candidates include Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles and former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan.Blank said the search team on Monday would begin submitting formal requests to interview candidates currently coaching other teams. He said he had no timetable for hiring a new coach.NFL rules allow interviews to be held this week with coaches — including Gase and McDaniels — whose teams are in a bye in the first week of the playoffs.Blank credited Smith with bringing stability to a franchise rocked by quarterback Michael Vicks arrest on animal cruelty charges and coach Bobby Petrinos unexpected departure for Arkansas during the 2007 season.Smith immediately raised expectations with an 11-5 finish in his first season, and he was the NFL coach of the year. The Falcons won 10 or more games in four seasons under Smith, including 13-3 finishes in 2010 and 2012. Smith reached 50 wins in only 71 games, the third-fastest pace since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.Smith was the defensive co-ordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-07. He was a defensive assistant with Baltimore from 1999-2002.___Online: AP NFL website:
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