RAPTORS DITCH AIR CANADA FOR A NEW PTERODACTYL

     Air Canada, which may be the Raptors "most important
corporate sponsor," and title sponsor of the team's new arena,
will step aside for a team-preferred charter service for the rest
of the season.  Craig Daniels reports in this morning's TORONTO
SUN that the team abandoned the airline after it was "unable to
reliably deliver on its most basic service -- getting the NBA
team to and from its games in comfort and in timely fashion."
Daniels reports Air Canada will "step aside" in a split that is a
"mutual parting of the ways."  However, officials from both sides
stressed that the airline will remain a "major sponsor."  Players
have complained about late flights, bad food and poor service.
Daniels notes "the irony" of Air Canada being title sponsor and
partner in the new arena, but that they also painted one of its
aircraft in Raptors' colors (TORONTO SUN, 1/10).