TORONTO -- Dwane Casey has been carrying around a contract in his briefcase for the past few months, signed by all the Toronto Raptors and the teams staff. The contract, just two or three lines long and something that "wouldnt hold up in court," Casey said laughing, was a pledge of commitment. Its headline: "Im all in." Perhaps no one was more committed than Casey to the Raptors success this season, and on Tuesday, the 57-year-old coach was rewarded with a new three-year contract. The announcement came two days after Torontos season ended, but a couple of months after GM Masai Ujiri first approached the coach to get a new deal done. "Coach Casey was really classy because he said to me and he said to the players, Lets leave this and concentrate on the season, this is our chance to prove ourselves," Ujiri said, recounting his initial contract talks with Casey back in March. "He said, If Ive preached that to the players, then I owe it to them to continue this and well talk about (contract negotiations) after the season. I really give him credit for that." Casey led a young Raptors team to a remarkable and unexpected season that included a franchise-record 48 wins, an Atlantic Division title, and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Toronto pushed the vastly experienced Brooklyn Nets to seven games in the opening round of the playoffs, losing Game 7 by just a point. Casey said he drew up his "Im all in" pledge right after the February all-star break. In their next game, the Raptors recorded a big 103-93 win at Washington. "(It was about) committing to the process. Leaving their egos at the door," said Casey, who said he might have the contract framed. "Each player dedicated themselves, gave themselves to the season, and also as far as Im concerned to the future. Because this year was just a start of what we want to grow and develop with Masai as our leader and also the guys that are coming back here." Kyle Lowry was the first player to jump up and sign the pledge, said Casey. Retaining Lowry, the point guard whose teammates say was their heart and soul this season, will be one of the Raptors top priorities in the coming weeks -- the 28-year-old becomes a free agent on July 1. Lowry spoke glowingly in exit interviews a day earlier about his love for his teammates and the city, and Ujiri sounded, on Tuesday, as if the feeling was mutual. "Its very important (to re-sign Lowry) in terms of continuity," Ujiri said. "Kyle has had a phenomenal year. I thought Kyle was a huge, huge key to our season. For me, negotiating is easy if we want Kyle to be here and Kyle wants to be here. "Hes grown tremendously, to be coached and to work with," Ujiri continued. "His teammates, everybody has said that. Were proud of him. And so well go through that process, but were optimistic stuff will happen." Lowry and his teammates praised Casey in season-ending media interviews, noting the consistency of his message. For his part, Casey said he never considered testing the market. Ujiri made a commitment to the coach when the season began, and Casey said it was only fair he reciprocate. Caseys job status was uncertain when the season began. He was hired by Bryan Colangelo, and Ujiri had just replaced Colangelo as GM. "Masai could have made any decision when he first took over the job last spring." Casey said. "He was true to his word, he gave all of us a platform to go out and prove and show, even the players, what you can do. And he was true to his word. Thats all you can ask for in this business is an opportunity. "It would be so disingenuous to even go out and put your foot in the market and think that was a possibility, so I didnt even give it a second thought. My heart is here, my mind is here." The Raptors thrived after the seven-player deal last December that sent Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings. Casey, who is almost fatherly in the way he communicates with his team, worked four new players into the roster, and from that point forward Toronto had the best mark in the Eastern Conference at 41-22. Casey and Ujiri were proud of the teams performance in the playoffs. They squared off against a Nets team that was built for success right now, whereas the Raptors are very much a work in progress. Casey was named head coach in June 2011, shortly after he helped guide the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA title. When asked which season -- the championship in Dallas, or this Raptors campaign -- was more satisfying, he said this one. "Its far more gratifying watching kids grow, watching development ... watching guys go through Game 6, when our compete level in the first half was probably one of the lowest we had all year, and then turn it around and put ourselves in a position to win the game," Casey said. Casey said the biggest mistake the team can make now is be complacent, so improvement is the focus of the off-season. He pointed out how sophomore centre Jonas Valanciunas will work with NBA legend and former Raptor Hakeem Olajuwon over the summer. The coach said, for his part, hell do what he does every off-season and examine tape of every game, looking for what they did wrong, what they could have done better. Both Casey and Ujiri spoke again about the incredible fan support in Toronto, noting that support helps when theyre trying to sell the city to free agents. Casey called it easily the best in the NBA and compared it to the 1996 NBA finals. He was with the Seattle SuperSonics that year, bowing in the final series to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. "KeyArena was rocking, loud. The Finals in 96, I thought that was loud," Casey said. "That didnt compare to the Air Canada Centre on Sunday when Deron Williams was shooting his free throws (in the dying seconds). You could just hear it vibrating. The official had to lean over to me and whisper in my ear, which I felt kinda creepy ... but you couldnt hear yourself talk. Thats a home-court advantage, its second to none in the league." Ujiri mentioned his predecessor at the end of Tuesdays 45-minute news conference at Air Canada Centre. "I think Bryan Colangelo did an unbelievable job here," he said. "He hired Dwane Casey. The starting five were picked by Bryan Colangelo as young players. I think the guy did an unbelievable job. He was a boss here, my boss and a mentor. He needs to be given some credit." Casey was named NBA Eastern Conference coach of the month in December. 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The Philadelphia Eagles acquired running back Darren Sproles from the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round draft pick on Tuesday.A hundred years ago, the small north east town of Sunderland was booming. On the football pitch they were the best team in England, securing the First Division crown for a fifth time in their already illustrious history. One goal was all that separated them from a unique league and cup double in 1913, as they narrowly lost the FA Cup final to Aston Villa 1-0. It would be the closest they would ever come to such a feat, but for the town of less than 40,000 people there was little time to be upset as they watched their beloved boys lift the league championship the following weekend. Off the pitch, more than a third of the towns population worked at the local shipyards, owned by local families, which was known at the time as the largest shipbuilding town in the world. Like any industry, the ship building trade had its ups and downs but thrived in the early 1900s and would go on to produce more than a quarter of the nations total weight of merchant and naval ships for World War II. As the country prepared for war for a second time, Sunderland AFC, playing with a black ship on their crest, found their glory days once again in the thirties, winning the First Division for a sixth (and last) time in 1936 and the FA Cup in 1937. Following the war, the shipyards and the club saw a downturn in fortune and once the 1970s arrived the future of the dockyards, which had significantly raised the towns population and trade in other areas, was in danger. On the field, Sunderland, stuck in the Second Division after being relegated in 1970, gave the locals a release from their worries with an improbable FA Cup in 1973. Forced into replays in rounds 3, 4 and 5, the red and whites defeated Luton Town in the quarter final and the mighty Arsenal in the semis to reach the even mightier Leeds United at Wembley for the final. With no one giving them a chance, Bob Stokoes upstarts beat Don Revies giants by a single goal to nil, shocking the football world. It remains Sunderlands last major trophy. Four years on from that historic day at Wembley, Sunderlands dockyards were no longer run by Sunderland people as the industry was nationalized in an attempt to fight off the fierce competition generated by Japan and Korea. By 1988 they had lost the battle and the final shipyards closed for good. Four years later, as the town was officially granted city status, on the field the club, again back in the second flight, reached Wembley for a date with Liverpool in the FA Cup. They would lose 2-0 but talk to any Sunderland fan who was there that day and theyll tell you just how dominant their team was in the first half. If only John Byrne had taken his volley properly it could have been 1973 all over again. In 1997, the club ended their 99 year run at the famous Roker Park ground and moved to their current home, the Stadium of Light. A new home meant a new club crest, sadly with a ship no longer on it. Now a city thats home to over 170,000 people, many who are incredibly passionate about the club, Sunderland were an ideal model to represent the growing brand of the Premier League. However, things didnt go that smoothly in the last 20 years, as Sunderland have been promoted four times to the top flight and relegated on three different occasions. Last May it was so nearly a fourth time but Paolo Di Canios arrival as manager steered the ship to 8pts in the final seven games to ensure a 17th place finish and survival. The hiring of the Italian was a brave one by club owner Ellis Short, not only because of Di Canios lack of experience as a manager, but also because of how late it came in the season. Di Canios passion and bravado lifted his players to a memorable 3-0 win at hated rivals Newcastle, and as he gathered his players in front of the jubilant away fans that day, it appeared stability had finally been found. However, in a city of change, we should have known better. Di Canio,, who publicly said he felt Sunderland would have been relegated if he hadnt have taken over from Martin ONeill, went about making the team his own, bringing in an incredible fourteen new players during the summer transfer window.dddddddddddd The overall re-structuring of the club continued with the hiring of a former agent, Roberto De Fanti, to be the clubs first Director of Football and former Inter Milan scout Victor Angeloni becoming their new chief scout. The overall new direction of the club is bold, but also extremely risky. With so many new players, the team has struggled to gel at the start of the season, with many experiencing English football for the first time. Eighteen players have already played in the three matches so far, which has resulted in just one point, and the controversial Di Canio has publicly already shown signs of lack of patience. After the loss at home to Fulham he told reporters post match his players need to listen to him more about learning how to defend against set pieces. He echoed these thoughts when they conceded a late equalizer, again from a dead ball situation, at Southampton. Last time out at Crystal Palace, Di Canio was at it again. "I cannot change the heart of my players," he said. Later he gave us all insight into what was on the minds of players heading into an international break, explaining: "Even today, (players are) talking which flight can I get, when can I come back, and they dont focus attention on the game, which is more important because we have to work hard for the club, for the fans who travel and spend a fortune to follow us." He is, of course, right. However, such things happen in the game all the time and no successful manager tells the media about it. Publicly stating such matters will win him no friends inside the dressing room. Already during his time at the club he has told reporters that he threatened to cut short the summer break for players who werent trying hard enough, fined them for not fulfilling contract obligations such as signing shirts, and sold arguably one of their best players, Stephane Sessegnon, after he was arrested and charged for a drink-driving offence. Worryingly, these are all actions from Di Canio at a happy stage, enjoying a honeymoon period as manager. What will come out of his mouth when he isnt happy? He talks about loving his time as a Premier League manager but so far his team has shown very little signs that they will once again not be in a relegation fight this season. Ellis Short has not bankrolled these signings and approved a complete change in direction for this ship to see it sunk come May. And that is what makes the all-in attitude with Di Canio even more of a mystery. He may well turn out to be an excellent manager but publicly calling out your players, and failing to keep such things inside the changing room, usually sends a ship heading towards an iceberg and what becomes of all the new employees then? Sunderlands next seven home games before Christmas week are against Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham. If Di Canio was frustrated in the opening three weeks of the season, what can we expect him to say about his players after these games? He has managed less than a dozen Premier League games, yet captain Di Canio has been allowed to pick those who are onboard with him for this journey through to May 11th, the final day of the season. Between now and then it is clear some will be thrown over board by the leader of the ship. What is far from clear is whether Sunderland will be above water come then, and whether or not Di Canio will still be behind the wheel. The more things change, the more they stay the same in Sunderland. You can watch Sunderand take on Mesut Ozil and Arsenal this Saturday live on TSN. Join me at 9.50am et as we get you set for the match. Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '