The connection between the Raptors and their global ambassador Drake has, for the most part, never felt more tenuous. Toronto’s team has never been better on the court, and the need for a spokesman, someone off the court, to speak for them has diminished. Gone are the highly publicized Drake Nights, which began as an almost intimate occasion. Gone too are Drake’s regular appearances at games.
In the absence of the culture mogul’s physical presence has come the creation of Sher Club, the premium spot of Scotiabank Arena, and the laudable Welcome Toronto initiative, which goes beyond just a different court and jersey, extending as it does into a city-wide charitable commitment.