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The Toronto Raptors are sold out. China Jerseys For Sale . For the first time since the 2000-01 season, Canadas lone National Basketball Association team has sold out of season tickets. Thanks to the Raptors fast start, interest among fans and corporate Canada alike has been strong. Though the Cavaliers have set the season-ticket sales benchmark this year -- they sold out more than 12,000 season tickets within eight hours of announcing LeBron James had signed with Cleveland - the Raptors have boosted season ticket sales this season by 50 per cent over last year. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chief commercial officer Dave Hopkinson said the Raptors have sold 12,500 season seats, up from about 8,000 a year ago. The team on Saturday began informing fans it was sold out of season tickets. The Raptors strong play on the court has been the talk of the NBA and also offers a reminder that in professional sports, there is no tonic to bolster a teams bottom line like winning. Its unprecedented, Hopkinson told TSN in an interview, adding that the Raptors have never before experienced a 50 per cent year-over-year season ticket increase. Its a testament to the commitment our fans and the marketplace are making to the Raptors. Season tickets is a commitment. This means we will be able to sell out every game this season, Hopkinson said. That means a louder, more energetic environment for the fans and a major home court advantage for the team. He said the Raptors success puts us in elite company in the NBA. Our business has surged. Record TV ratings, sponsorships, ticket sales and consumer product sales. We are setting high water marks across the board. The Raptors plan to announce the sell-out with ads in the Toronto market that could debut as soon as Monday. New corporate sponsors also include Sun Life Insurance, Sentry Investments, Unilever and China-based car tire maker Aeolus Tires. MLSE charges about $700 to $7,500 for season tickets. The only time the team has sold out previously was during the 2000-01 season, during Vince Carters heyday. China Jerseys NFL Authentic . "That was a great lift for the staff," Padres manager Bud Black said. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Chase Headley drove in three runs, as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday night. China Jerseys Outlet . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. http://www.chinajerseyspaypal.com/ . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules.LOS ANGELES - As practice wrapped up at the Lakers facility in L.A. on Thursday, Terrence Ross hung around to work on his aerial acrobatics with the assistance of teammate DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan threw the Raptors sophomore and reigning NBA Slam Dunk champion lobs off the side of the backboard, he tossed bounce passes and threw alley-oops. Ross experimented with a variation of finishes. As it turns out, they could both use the practice. The Raptors duo will take part in State Farm All-Star Saturday Night - taking place in New Orleans on Feb. 15 - as Ross returns to defend his title in the Sprite Slam Dunk competition and DeRozan will make an unexpected appearance in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. After edging out Jeremy Evans to win last years contest in Houston, Ross will have his work cut out for him this time around. For the first time since 1988, three all-stars - Pacers forward Paul George, Wizards guard John Wall and Blazers guard Damian Lillard - will compete in the event. Rounding out the field is Warriors forward Harrison Barnes and Kings rookie guard Ben McLemore. "Everybodys kind of a threat," Ross said of this years competition. "Its going to be fun, everybody wants to win." What will Ross do for an encore? The 23-year-old says hes still searching for ideas, scouring YouTube, Twitter and even using video games to brainstorm. "Everybodys done everything," he continued. "I dont know, its like how many times can you do the same dunk before people get tired of it? So its hard to find new dunks but at the same time you always find something a little different." The one thing he could say with certainty is he will not be using props. While Ross has expected to defend his crown since last season, DeRozans debut in the Skills Challenge comes as a surprise, even to him. "I kind of got peer pressure into doing it," said the first-time all-star, who will also be assisting Ross in the dunk-off. DeRozan initially declined the invitation but his agent twisted his arm and eventually he came around. "I changed my mind. I said Ill try it, why not." "I thought it would be fun," he said of the event, which is usually exclusive for point guardss but DeRozan hopes to start a new era of shooting guards entering and conquering the ball handling/passing obstacle course. China Jerseys Wholesale. "Everybody doesnt get a chance to be a part of All-Star Weekend and the big thing for me is to go out there and have fun. I think it will be cool to go out there and represent my team as much as I can and you never know, I might mess around and win it." Along with DeRozan, the participants will consists of Lillard, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and rookies Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke. DeRozan, who has previously competed in the Slam Dunk contest on two separate occasions, will be the first Raptor to appear in the Skills Challenge. Although he wouldnt tip his hand, his strategy centres on speed over precision. "I look at it like, a lot of players go out there and try to do it cool," said the fifth-year guard. "I always used to say, you can go a little faster. So Ive got my whole mindset to try and win it." The format in both events will be tweaked this season. The Skills Challenge will feature four teams of two players each competing in a two-round timed relay-style course. The fastest team from each conference will advance to the second and final round, where the winning pair will be crowned. The Dunk Contest participants will also compete in teams, divided by conference. The competition will tip off with a "freestyle round" where the dunkers for each the East and the West will have 90 seconds to showcase as many dunks as they choose. At the conclusion of the opening round, the panel of judges will vote for a winning conference. The winning conference will decide whether its competitors will dunk first or second in the following round, a head-to-head "battle round". In the battle round dunkers from opposing conferences will face off against each other, with the judges choosing a winner in each battle. The first team to win three battles will win the competition. Fans will then vote on the "Dunker of the Night" from the winning team. Ross is the fifth Raptor to participate in the event, joining DeRozan, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Jamario Moon. ' ' '