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TORONTO - Many wonder why the Raptors would even bother celebrating their modest 20-year history. DaeSean Hamilton Broncos Jersey . Its a reasonable thing to ponder. Certainly, there hasnt been much to get excited about after two decades of basketball in Canada. In many ways the manufactured nostalgia has served as a reminder. Paying homage to glorified role players of the past, former staffers, as theyve done and will continue to do throughout their anniversary campaign - the bar has been set low. But to fully appreciate what makes the Raptors existence worth commending consider their most recent opponents, the league-leading Memphis Grizzlies - a franchise that shares an origin story with Toronto, one that barely made it a half decade in Vancouver before relocating to US. And then theres their eldest player, Vince Carter - the single most important figure in Raptors history and one of the primary reasons why Canadas lone basketball club is even around to celebrate its 20th birthday. Midway through Wednesdays first quarter, nearly 10 years after their messy breakup played out, the Raptors took the first step in repairing a fractured relationship with their greatest player, making the controversial decision to publicly express their gratitude on the way to an emotional 96-92 comeback win. Sure enough, most in attendance would follow suit. During the games first timeout, a video tribute with Carters Raptor highlights played on the big screen hanging above centre court at the ACC. Carter had said he learned of the Raptors intentions to honour him the day prior and, like the rest of us, he had no idea what to expect. Im going to enjoy the moment regardless, Carter had said before the game - he had been greeted with boos in each of his first 16 visits to the ACC (including playoffs) since being traded. [Im going to] block that out, because its just a special moment that you probably wont get again. Im going to enjoy it. Moments after the montage began, the sellout crowd - still filing in at the time - rose to their feet. If there were boos they were drowned out by an overwhelmingly positive ovation. Carter stood and watched from the visiting bench. He used his warm-up shirt to wipe the tears running down his face as he pointed to his heart and waved to the fans in appreciation. It was a great feeling, said the 37-year-old, who played in 403 games over six and a half seasons with the Raptors. I couldnt write it any better. Im extremely thankful for it. They asked me earlier how you would feel, how you would react and you cant prepare for that, whether that was a surprise or you knew it was coming. Its just an amazing feeling, amazing just to be in the moment and to see it, and to kind of relive it as it was happening. You see all the stuff and you see all the people that you played with and as each play was happening, I can remember all that stuff as if it was yesterday. It was awesome. Torontos current players were among those standing for Carter. It was dope, DeMar DeRozan said. It was definitely amazing because all of us here watched everything Vince did here in Toronto, especially myself with Vince being one of my favourite players of all-time. He deserved it, the Raptors guard continued. He deserves everything, honestly, because he was the one who I think pioneered the whole thing with the Toronto Raptors. So you have to give him credit for everything he brought to the city. He made me a fan at an early age. DeRozan was not blowing smoke. He, like many of his teammates and the leagues young players - both from Canada and the United States - grew up watching Carter, and by extension, the Raptors. At the most crucial point in their existence, with both Canadian franchises reaching a crossroads, Carter hit the NBA by storm and became the hottest ticket in the association. The Raptors were coming off a 16-win season and, like the team in Vancouver - winners of 19 games that same year - their future was hardly stable. Isiah Thomas, the clubs first general manager and chief ambassador, had left and Damon Stoudamire, their first star, was next out the door. Then Carter was acquired on draft night and their fortunes turned in a hurry. He was as marketable as he was good. The team began to win and suddenly the NBA was paying attention. The Maple Leafs would buy the Raptors and open the Air Canada Centre, their shared home, on Feb. 21, 1999. Theres a banner hanging in the rafters of the building to commemorate that night. Its the first thing Carter looks for as he steps onto the court as a visitor. Its weird, he said Wednesday morning. They move this flag every time, so I struggle finding it. But when I walk in here and see February 20th, 1999 (the night the Leafs opened the building), thats the first thing I think of, is when this building opened. I just remember getting the opportunity to make history, making the first shot. So thats one of the things I think of and you cant take that away. Fittingly, they played the Grizzlies that night. Carter, just eight games into his NBA career, scored 27 points on just 16 shots, grabbing six rebounds and adding five assists with four steals. Toronto won by 15. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies continued to lose. Plagued by poor management, the NBAs restrictive rules for new franchises and, most importantly, the lack of a true star, they played out their final years in Vancouver before leaving for Memphis. If not for Carter, could the Raptors have shared a similar fate? Well never know, hence the cause for celebration. 20 years after entering the league together, both franchises are finally on solid footing, though they have taken different paths to get there. Attendance in Memphis has been rising in recent years as the Grizzlies have qualified for the playoffs in four straight seasons. Theyre off to their best start ever, sitting atop the Western Conference with the leagues best record. On Wednesday, Toronto handed them their second loss of the campaign. With a 9-2 record, the Raptors lead the East and finally, their fans have a semblance of closure. Finally, theres legitimate cause for optimism and excitement in a city that has been haunted by the past. Carter was still booed every time he touched the ball as if to say, well forgive, but we dont forget. But for just a minute, the first since he turned his back on the franchise he once saved, the past didnt seem so bad. Without it, the future wouldnt look so bright. Bradley Chubb Broncos 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. Royce Freeman Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) – He had good saves on Giroux, Akeson, and Hartnell tonight.Afghanistan progressed to the Super 10s stage of the World T20 after Mohammad Nabi’s maiden half-century inspired them to a 59-run victory over Zimbabwe in a winner-takes-all showdown in Nagpur. Nabi (52 from 32) and Samiullah Shenwari (43 from 37) added 98 for the fifth wicket - Afghanistans second highest stand in T20Is, behind the 110 Mohammad Shahzad and Asghar Stanikzai put on against Scotland in Edinburgh last July - as the Asian side recovered from 63-4 to post 186-6.Seventeen-year-old spinner Rashid Khan (3-11) then impressed with the ball as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 127 in 19.4 overs to lose a fifth straight Twenty20 international against Afghanistan and exit the tournament.Afghanistan, though, now head into a Super 10s pool featuring England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka, with their opening match, against Sri Lanka, on Thursday.Shahzads 23-ball 40 helped Afghanistan race to 49-0 in the fifth over after winning the toss but the Associate nation began to wobble once Shahzad - who plundered 61 and 41 in the wins over Scotland and Hong Kong respectively - reverse swept straight to point.Stanikzai was caught at midwicket for a two-ball duck as Tinashe Panyangaras three-wicket burst ensured Afghanistan lost four for 14 in 20 deliveries, before Nabi and Shenwari firstly rebuilt and then accelerated as Stanikzais men amassed 88 from the last six overs.Shenwari was given a reprieve on 14 when his mow to deeep midwicket was adjudged by the third umpire to have bounced before it was caught by Malcolm Waller but he eventually holed out in the same region, with Nabi run out from the penultimate ball. Jared Veldheer Jersey. Zimbabwes hopes of overhauling the highest total in this years first round were dented when captain Hamilton Masakadza (11) was bowled in the fourth over and Vusi Sibanda (13) was caught off a top-edge in the seventh.None of the African teams batsmen got to grips with the Afghanistan attack, emphasised by No 10 Panyangara top scoring with 17no from seven balls after hitting two huge - but ultimately futile - sixes over long-on.Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai: This was very important as the Afghanistan people are crazy about cricket. Shahzad started very well and then Nabi and Senwari had a very good partnership, which is important ahead of the next round.Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza: Afghanistan played a lot better than us, outplaying us in every facet. From the moment they started going in the powerplay we were always struggling but we didnt carry out our plans.Sky Sports Nick Knight: Afghanistan have been very impressive. They have talent, pace and spin but from 63-4 they also showed they have the ability to assess the game situation. Their bowling could really test the big nations.Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all 35 games in 27 days of the 2016 ICC World T20. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Cheap Saints Hoodies Cheap Lions Hoodies Cheap Eagles Hoodies Cheap Raiders Hoodies Cheap Vikings Hoodies Cheap Dolphins Hoodies Cheap Bears Hoodies Cheap 49ers Hoodies Cheap Giants Hoodies Cheap Seahawks Hoodies Cheap Broncos Hoodies Cheap Packers Hoodies Cheap Patriots Hoodies Cheap Cowboys Hoodies Cheap Steelers Hoodies Cheap Redskins Hoodies ' ' '