May 13th, 1994

 Toronto ONT -- BY JAMES CHRISTIE Sport Reporter TORONTO

 When Toronto's National Basketball Association team comes out from under wraps, it will be the Raptors.

Three sources close to Sunday's gala unveiling of the team's name, logo and colours yesterday revealed and confirmed that was the name selected on May 5 for the NBA's 29th franchise.

Raptors are a class of dinosaurs, most recently made famous by the hit movie Jurassic Park. They are described in team promotional material as fast-moving, jumping predators. They stood six to seven feet in height - not unlike basketball players - moved in pairs or in groups and were alleged to be intelligent.

Sharp-toothed velociraptors were fierce, quick runners. Oviraptors preyed upon the eggs of other dinosaurs. One raptor known as deinonychus was known for its leaping attack, using a large, spur-like claw.

Earlier this week, the Professional Basketball Franchise (Canada) Inc., which obtained the NBA franchise for an expansion fee of $125-million (U.S.) said the top three names from a nation-wide name-the-team contest were Bobcats, Dragons and Raptors.

Team spokesman Tom Mayenknecht said last night the team would go ahead with the official unveiling of the name as planned.

He wouldn't deny or confirm the Raptors name, but said, "if you feel strong enough about your sources, you have to go with it. We remain committed to going with a very visual unveiling in Sunday."

There will be a strong initial run on Raptor merchandise, which will involve up to five colours including three earth-tones for the basic design and two accent colours. Mayenknecht said earlier in the week that Sears had an initial order of between $750,000 and $1-million in merchandise. The official gear is being supplied by Starter.

"Some of us will be backing our trucks up to the warehouse for Raptor products at 5 p.m. Sunday," said one dealer. "The name will be released at 4:35 and it will be on the shelves Monday morning."

Initially, hats and T-shirts will be available. High-end goods such as team jackets will follow in a few weeks.