Termine » is not a racist

Leading up to SportsCentres Year In Review on Christmas Eve, TSN and TSN.ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at the rapid rise of basketball in our country. In Canada, hockey has always been - and will most likely always be - the sport that produces the most professional talent. Yet over the past year it seems basketball north of the border is turning a corner. Most expected it wouldnt truly start until 2014. Andrew Wiggins, the freshman forward from Vaughan, Ont., is dominating in college ball with the Kansas Jayhawks and should go first overall in next Junes NBA draft. Well that all might still happen, but Wiggins wont be the first Canadian to ever be selected No. 1. That title went to Torontos Anthony Bennett of the University of Nevada, taken first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6-8 forward hasnt had a stellar year – already getting unfairly booed by the Cleveland faithful - but the 20-year-old was never chosen with the expectation hed coast to a Rookie of the Year award. Bennetts potential and raw athleticism was what caught the Cavaliers eye. Regardless, it made history and it was a proud moment for Canadian sports fans. With Wiggins playing well in Kansas and being compared to a superstar-type player, the future is looking pretty decent. And Wiggins and Bennett are just the tip of the iceberg. On both the college and pro stage, Canucks are popping up at a rapid rate - and Canada could have the chance to not only qualify, but compete for a medal in the 2016 Olympics and beyond. The Cavaliers Tristan Thompson (Toronto), the Magics Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga), the Celtics Kelly Olynyk (Toronto), the Spurs Cory Joseph (Toronto) and the Lakers Robert Sacre (North Vancouver) are all young, talented and ready to put Canada on the map of basketball relevance. Dont forget about two-time NBA champion Joel Anthony (Montreal) of the Miami Heat. When it comes to NCAA ball – besides Wiggins – theres Kevin Pangos (Holland Landing, Ont.) of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Nik Stauskas (Etobicoke, Ont.) of the Michigan Wolverines. Both teams are ranked in the Top 25 and will look to continue the trend when March Madness rolls around. The days of looking up to Victoria, B.C.s Steve Nash as the lone productive Canadian in the Association are long gone. Whether its better coaching at the grassroots level, more interest in the sport or just sheer luck, Canada is improving on the hardwood. This is the golden age of Canadian basketball and its only getting started. James Naismith would be proud. Wholesale Raptors Jerseys . It all would have been for naught, however, had it not been for some clutch shooting in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and a couple of equally critical hustle plays by Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol in the final minutes. Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. https://www.cheapraptors.com/. TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. Stitched Raptors Jerseys . The Leafs were back on the ice Wednesday following an 10-day break. It apparently wasnt long enough, as Team Canadas 2-1 win over Latvia didnt conclude before the Leafs began practice. "I was thinking we might get a little delay, but it was nice to get out there," said Tyler Bozak of watching Wednesdays game. Raptors Jerseys China . In this space, I will be writing new and unique pieces about the team that you wont be able to find anywhere else. So naturally, in an attempt to come up with a fresh topic about the Ottawa Senators, I am going to start with a piece about their goaltending.Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling may go down without a fight after all. Earlier this week, the NBA initiated a formal charge to end Sterlings ownership of the team he bought in 1981 and reports Friday indicate that the embattled owner will allow his wife, Shelly, to negotiate a sale. ESPN said Shelly Sterling and her lawyers have already begun talks with the NBA about a sale, and celebrity gossip website TMZ.com cited sources as saying Donald Sterling made the decision because he believes the NBA will eventually force him to sell. NBA spokesman, Mike Bass, made the following statement in regards to the Sterling news. "We continue to follow the process set forth in the NBA Constitution regarding termination of the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers and are proceeding toward a hearing on this matter on June 3." NBA commissioner Adam Silver last month banned Donald Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million over racist comments the Clippers owner made that were recorded by his girlfriend and posted online. Silver also said April 29 he would urge the other owners to force Sterling to sell the team. The NBA says its constitution provides grounds to termiinate Sterlings ownership.dddddddddddd On the heels of the NBAs decision earlier this week, Sterling has until May 27 to respond to the charge. Under the NBA constitution, he also has the right to make a presentation at a special meeting of the Board of Governors planned for June 3. Sterling had reportedly threatened to sue the NBA and said he would not pay the fine, claiming through a lawyer that he has done nothing wrong and his punishment is unwarranted. Audio of Sterling urging his girlfriend not to bring African-Americans to Clippers games and disparaging Magic Johnson was first published by TMZ. Deadspin.com later posted a longer clip. The comments sent shockwaves through the league, leading to a protest from Clippers players, who dropped warmup jackets at midcourt before a playoff game and practiced with their shirts turned inside-out to hide the teams logo. Sterling told CNNs Anderson Cooper he "is not a racist" and "made a terrible, terrible mistake," but also took further shots at Johnson, saying the Hall-of- Fame former Lakers star doesnt do enough for the black community. The Clippers lost to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals. ' ' '