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PHILADELPHIA - With his young son sitting on his lap, surrounded by teammates, coaches and family at his home in Philadelphia, Kyle Lowry learned the news. He didnt see it coming. Shocking, the Raptors point guard said, asked what it might feel like to be named an all-star starter on Thursday afternoon, hours before the official announcement was made. It would be humbling to even be put in the category of the top 10, half-season players. Its kind of mind-boggling. I dont know what to say because I never expected it could happen in my career. Later that evening, it became a reality. Voted in by the fans, Lowry will make his first all-star appearance in next months NBA showcase as a starter for the Eastern Conference. A year ago at this time, Lowry was widely recognized as the most deserving player to be left off the team, with the leagues coaches awarding the final reserve slots to Nets veteran Joe Johnson and teammate DeMar DeRozan. This season, the voting public didnt give the coaches a chance to right their wrong. The nine-year guard gets the well-deserved nod, averaging career-highs in points (19.8), rebounds (4.9), assists (7.5) and steals (1.6), while leading the Raptors to a 27-15 record, good for third in the East. Lowry trailed Miamis Dwyane Wade, a 10-time all-star, by over 100,000 votes at the final balloting update on Jan. 8. Since then, the online support for Lowrys bid skyrocketed, primarily north of the border. The Raptors ramped up their promotion over Twitter and on team broadcasts while Canadian celebrities and politicians publicly endorsed the campaign. In the end, Lowry beat out Wade for the second and final starting spot in the Easts backcourt by just over 15,000 votes, easily the smallest margin at any position in either conference this season. Over half of that differential can be attributed to Prime Minister Stephen Harpers pair of Twitter votes - retweeted over 8,000 times. Lowrys late push to overtake Wade is a testament to the power of social media and the benefit of playing in Toronto, something that had been overlooked or devalued for many years as the Raptors carried a negative stigma around the NBA. The 28-year-old chose to stick around and play in Canada, re-signing with the Raptors over the summer, and the countrys basketball fans showed their appreciation this past month. Thank you to the wonderful Raptors fans across the NBA, especially in Canada, Lowry said in a press release Thursday night. I am amazed by your passion for our team and the support you have given me. When I re-signed here this summer, I said one of the great things is being able to play for an entire country. This is further proof how really special that is. Lowry has felt slighted, under-appreciated and overlooked for most his playing career, even before the Grizzlies selected him with the 24th overall pick back in 2006. Only recently has he channeled that passion into becoming the player, person and leader he is today. Hes relentless, hes gritty, DeRozan said of his teammate and good friend. Thats one thing he brings every single day and it shows in his play every time hes out on the court. Thats his personality. The same way he plays, thats how he approaches working out, film, every single thing. It all carries over. I mean its definitely amazing, he continued. I know the feeling firsthand, from last year. Just to see how hard he worked. I think every player in this league has the goal to be an all-star. Thats a great accomplishment. Its just a credit to the hard work he put in last summer. He carried the team while I was out and proved his worth. Its been great to see. A modest and soft-spoken person by nature, Lowry often defers to his teammates and the importance of winning when discussing individual accomplishments, most recently his Eastern Conference Player of the Month award for December. But even hes had a hard time hiding what this honour would mean to him if and when it came to fruition. I think every pro athlete, they always have doubt at some point and for me, it was a couple years ago, he said after practice on Thursday. But at the end of the day, I work hard and I know what I can do. The hard work that I do in the summertime, I go extremely hard because Im preparing for the season, for the long haul. I dont want to sit out games, I want to play every single night. These guys pay me to play basketball and do a job I love and I have no problem with doing that. Lowry will become the fourth Raptor to start in an All-Star Game, joining Vince Carter, Antonio Davis and Chris Bosh, the third to be elected (Davis was an injury replacement in 2001). Despite their record and standing in the East, Lowry is likely to be the teams lone representative in this years contest, which will be played in New York on Feb. 15. DeRozan, who missed 21 games with a groin injury, understands the chances of him joining his backcourt partner are slim but he and the rest of his teammates have rallied around Lowry, knowing theyve all had a hand in his success. Last year, I thought he was snubbed and there was an opportunity for both of us to be there, DeRozan said. But it definitely means a lot, especially for us. I remember being here and watching [Bosh] be an all-star, then me being an all-star next. So just to start to see that recognition that weve been fighting for ever since weve been here in a Raptors uniform definitely means a lot. I know how Kyle is, he continued. If he makes it, we all make it. That was the same with me last year; when I made it, we all made it. I couldnt go there without shouting out my teammates, every single guy, because if it wasnt for them, I wouldnt have made it. Its not just an individual thing. You can easily score 40 points a night but if youre losing, that doesnt make you an all-star. It takes a group effort. If one makes it, we all make it. Thats how we feel. I give them all the credit, Lowry said of his teammates. Because at the end of the day, they believe in me, they do things to get me the ball and make plays and finish shots. If it wasnt for them and the coaches and the organization, I wouldnt be in this position. Fake Jerseys For Sale . The German has taken the pole for three straight races -- winning the first two. Hes aiming for a third consecutive win at the Yeongam circuit and, most importantly, a fourth consecutive F1 championship. 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Zimmermann became the National Leagues first 16-game winner, pitching seven solid innings to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Wednesday night.NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Yankees have re-signed Brian Cashman to a three-year contract following one of their most disappointing seasons since he became general manager.Cashman has been New Yorks GM since 1998, when the Yankees won the World Series in his first season. He has built three more championship teams, most recently in 2009.Cashman said during a conference call that he wants to find a way to get our fan base back to enjoying October sooner rather than later.The 47-year-old Cashman has been in his job longer than every GM in baseball except San Franciscos Brian Sabean and Oaklands Billy Beane.The Yankees have missed the post-season the last two seasons, the first time theyve done that since 1992-93. Now he has to turn around a roster that was one of the lightest hitting in the AL annd fix a rotation that had four of five members spend time on the disabled list.ddddddddddddAlex Rodriguez will return from a yearlong suspension and turn 40 next season. Finding a way to get him to contribute in a lineup with no shortage of DH candidates will be one of his challenges.As will be finding a shortstop to replace the retired Derek Jeter.Were always looking to be better at every spot, Cashman said. We will be looking at Brendan Ryan and (asking) are there obtainable shortstops above Ryan.Cashman also addressed the departures of hitting coach Kevin Long and first base coach Mick Kelleher. Long had been the hitting coach since 2007.I think he tried everything in his power, Cashman said. I think Kevin can sleep at night knowing he tried every tool in the toolbox. ' ' '