TORONTO - Between Canadian players making headlines in the NBA and the recent success of the Toronto Raptors, NBA legend Bill Walton said these are heady days for basketball in Canada. Logan Paulsen Jersey .Its truly remarkable how far, in just 30 years, Canadian basketball has come, Walton said.The NBA MVP and basketball Hall of Famer was in Toronto on Thursday to help launch ticket sales for the Canadian university mens Final 8, which will be held at Ryerson University for the first time.What (the Raptors) have been able to do, sell-out crowds every night, currently in first place . . . But more importantly, what (the CIS championship) is all about is developing the homegrown talent in local programs, grassroots, getting the foundation going so everything will rise at the same time, Walton said.Walton addressed a large crowd of student athletes at Ryersons Mattamy Athletic Centre in an engaging presentation that lasted over 30 minutes. He spoke at length about two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, poking fun at the Victoria native while holding him up as an example of what hard work can do.To be a champion in life, like Steve Nash, it makes no difference how big you are if you cant play like a giant, Walton said. Of all the players that Ive had the privilege of watching, no single player has elicited more oohs and aahs than little Stevie, who . . . I was Steves size when I was born. Im faster today, and Im 62 years old, Ive had 37 orthopedic operations. Ive got a new knee, Ive got a new spine, and Im faster today than Steve ever was.The Ryerson Rams mens team, ranked No. 3 in the CIS, earns an automatic berth to the Final 8 tournament, March 12-15, as host. Roy Rana, who took over as Rams head coach six years ago, said hosting the tournament in Toronto has been a long time coming.Ive been a part of the fabric of the sport in this city for a long time, its never happened here, Rana said. When I took this job six years ago. . . I said You know what, I really believe that this university and this program was a jewel in the citys crown, and I wanted to put some shine on it.To be here six years later in this building, speaking about the national championship, about hosting a national championship is incredibly powerful, its an emotional moment for me. This season is going to be a very special season for our guys.Walton credited Canadas success story partly to the globalization of the NBA that former commissioner David Stern launched in the early 1990s. There are 13 Canadians on NBA rosters this season, behind to only the United States.There is no end of Canadian role models in the sport, Walton said.To have witnessed Steve Nash over the course of his brilliant career, I just love Steve and what hes been able to do as a shining star, as a beacon of hope, as a moral compass to us all, Walton said. As I was a young child many years ago, I had my heroes, and people are looking at Steve Nash, theyre looking at these current Raptor players, theyre looking these Ryerson Rams, at these (Canadian) coaches whove given everything for someone else. . .Walton was asked about Nash being forced to skip what would have been his 19th — and likely final — season in the NBA. Nash is sidelined with the nerve damage in his back that has plagued him for the past few seasons.Dont pronounce him dead. Because Steve is just getting started, Walton said. Ultimately Steve will be one of those rare people who will be better in his post-playing life and career than he ever was as a player.As a player, he was unparalleled, he was unmatched, he was just fantastic. Be happy for him, be proud of him, encourage him and support him and thank him for what hes done to make our world a better place on and off the court.Ryersons Mattamy Athletic Centre — the former Maple Leaf Gardens — will host the CIS tournament, and will also be the basketball venue for next summers Pan and Parapan American Games.Its a fitting venue as the building hosted the first Basketball Association of America game in 1946, between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers. The BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA.Forty-seven schools from the four CIS conferences will compete for an eventual spot in the Final 8. Ito Smith Falcons Jersey . The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904. Brandon Fusco Falcons Jersey . 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Farrell has yet to play this season because of the injury sustained during pre-season in a worrying development for England ahead of their autumn campaign, which opens against South Africa on November 12.Place kicking is proving troublesome for the 25-year-old and his absence looks set to continue well beyond Sundays Aviva Premiership showdown with Wasps. Owen trained on Thursday and trained as part of the opposition. Thats a good, encouraging sign, Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said.The scan he had last week came back positively, so thats good. Its really a case of when can Owen do all the things he needs to play. Once he can, hell play. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?￡6.99. No contract. He hasnt placed kicked, but hes kicking out of hands. Im not sure if hell be fit for the Toulon match, but his ability to go straight back in would be a consideration. Justin Bethel Falcons Jersey. England international Farrell has yet to feature for club or country this season Im nervous about saying too much about it because hes just done a 45-minute training session and looked pretty good, but its how he feels over the next 24 hours thats the important thing.England full-back Alex Goode will also sit out the visit of Wasps due to a knee problem.Its not bad, its not an unstable knee, its just badly swollen. Every time he plays it swells up again, so we need to settle it down with Toulon in mind, McCall said.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '