In the moments before a Toronto FC supporters event with Jermain Defoe and
Michael Bradley kicked off on Monday afternoon, MLSE President Tim Leiweke
wandered onto the stage.
Dexter Fowler Jersey . His plan was to
announce to the fans that the club would be buying the first drink for everyone
in the building as a thank you for their support. But before Leiweke could say
anything, the 500 fans in the room burst into spontaneous song. He couldnt shut
them up. Leiweke sat on a stool on the corner of the stage soaking it all in as
Toronto FCs supporters showered him with plaudits. At that moment, it appeared
as if the magic was back. For seven years, Toronto FCs fans have had the life
squeezed out of them as they witnessed failure after failure, but there was a
buzz of excitement in the room Ive not seen associated with the club for a long
time - and the fans knew exactly who was responsible. Its amazing to see the
impact that one man can have on an organization. Leiweke would be the first to
acknowledge that hes had incredible support from the MLSE board and the staff he
has around him - including general manager Tim Bezbatchenko - but Monday was a
result of one mans vision and his ability to get things done. Earlier in the
day, Toronto FC made one of the biggest splashes in Major League Soccer history,
introducing not one, but two Designated Players arriving in the league from
Europe. The signings of Jermain Defoe from Tottenham and Michael Bradley from
Roma marked a day in the clubs history that can only be matched in importance by
the day the franchise was launched. "A very simple saying we will steal from the
Kennedys is appropriate today," Leiweke said when opening the press conference
on Monday morning in downtown Toronto. "Some people see things as they are and
say why. Others dream of what can be and they say why not. Today is why not. Why
cant we be great?" It was a day that made a big impact within the city of
Toronto, but also potentially changed the landscape across Major League Soccer.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl tweeted on Monday evening: "Some MLS
execs telling me they think Toronto overpaid for Bradley/Defoe and will cause
other teams to have to overpay in new market." Its fair to say that these deals
have set a new standard, and that will likely be taken into account when future
contracts are negotiated for these types of players in MLS, but in my opinion
Toronto FC did not overpay. These moves have saved the club from obscurity and
for that reason these two players are worth every last cent. Yes, Toronto had to
commit what Leiweke called "financial suicide" to make the signings, but it was
the only option. In Leiwekes own words, "the patient was dying." The club was on
"life support." You cant put a price on saving a club. Having Defoe and Bradley
available will not be the only benefits for Toronto FC from the recent
transactions. The Reds have also formed two partnerships with big clubs in
Europe. A four year sales and marketing deal between MLSE and Tottenham was part
of Defoes transfer, while the Roma deal for Bradley includes a player
development program for Toronto FC players at Romas training facility. More
shrewd business by Leiweke who, since bringing David Beckham to LA from Real
Madrid in 2007, has shown he has the ability to operate superbly in the global
football environment. Monday was a feel-good day for soccer in Toronto, but
Leiweke was clear in his message that they have achieved nothing yet. All they
have done is to give themselves "an opportunity to be successful." He also told
me on more than one occasion: "were not finished yet. There is more to come." He
wants to build a super-club - and with what Leiweke has already achieved in a
short space of time in Toronto, its hard to bet against him.
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looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with
the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional
fifth-round pick.
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jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after
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major league seasons.
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. The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the
Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first
workout at spring training in Arizona.CALGARY -- First the Calgary Stampeders
lost quarterback Kevin Glenn. Then they almost lost the Labour Day Classic.
Glenn was sidelined in the second quarter by a bruised knee and replaced by
backup Bo Levi Mitchell, then the Edmonton Eskimos exploded for four unanswered
touchdowns in the final quarter as Calgary held on for a 37-34 victory on
Monday. The Stamps built a 37-7 cushion with 10 minutes remaining in the game
when Edmonton exploded for four touchdowns. "I thought our team played hard,
they played fast, they played physical," Calgary head coach John Hufnagel said.
"We need to play smarter and I say that to my football team all the time. "We
knew Edmonton was a good fourth-quarter team. We knew there was no quit in that
football team. Life is a lesson, so is a football game. Fortunately the mistakes
we made didnt cost us the game." Cary Koch, Kerry Joseph, John White, Matt
Carter and Fred Stamps had touchdowns for Edmonton (1-8), whose 27 points in the
fourth quarter made for a wild finish and a tense one for Stampeder fans at
McMahon Stadium. But Calgary (7-2) held on for the win and continues to chase
the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-1) atop the Canadian Football League. The
Eskimos lost their seventh in a row and reside West Division basement. The
Stampeders led 17-0 after the opening quarter, but their momentum stalled
momentarily when Glenn left the game in the second. His leg buckled after a snap
and while he managed to complete the pass, Glenn immediately limped off
favouring his left leg. He completed eight of 11 pass attempts for 108 yards and
a touchdown pass before leaving the game. "He could have played, but he wouldnt
have the mobility I thought we needed at the position because of the pressure
their front four was getting on us," Hufnagel said Glenn, 34, was also unable to
finish Calgarys previous game against Toronto, when a fourth-quarter head injury
forced him to the sidelines to comply with the CFLs concussion protocol. Maurice
Price led Calgary with a three touchdowns in the receivers first game since
injuring his hamstring in Week 3. He finished with 165 receiving yards on five
receptions. "Ive been so hungry for one of these so-to-sspeak, breakout games
and it finally feels good to kind of get one," Price said.
Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey. . Mitchell was
11-for-18 in passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns passes in relief of Glenn.
Mitchell ran for a short-yardage touchdown before replacing Glenn in the second
quarter. Calgary kicker Rene Paredes made three field goals from 41, 14 and 24
yards for the hosts in front of 32,217 at McMahon. It was a miserable three
quarters for the Eskimos and quarterback Mike Reilly, who managed just 86 yards
of offence before the fourth. Among Edmontons momentum-killing mistakes, Calgary
recovered the Eskimos second-half kickoff and produced a field goal out of that
turnover. But Edmonton is highest-scoring team in the CFL in fourth quarters.
Reilly threw touchdown passes of 35, 18, 33 and seven yards to Carter, White,
Koch and Stamps respectively starting at 6:52. Reilly was 16-for-35 in passing
with a pair of interceptions and four touchdown throws. Calgary sacked him seven
times, led by Charleston Hughes with three. "If youre going to score four
touchdowns in the fourth quarter and its not enough to win, you didnt do much
right in the first three," Reilly said. "Our offence let us down today. Our
defence I thought played a great game. Its hard for them to keep points off the
field when we cant stay on the field." Edmonton lost a fifth straight game by
five points or less. "Sooner or later the football gods are going to have to
smile on us and give us a couple breaks," Edmonton head coach Kavis Reed said.
"We created a lot late in the fourth quarter, but early on were just digging
ourselves holes." Price had 66- and 42-yard touchdown receptions in the second
half. The 27-year-old slowed down at the goal-line to celebrate them, which
didnt impress Hufnagel. "He had an excellent night, got himself ready to play
and demonstrated the speed he does possess," the coach said. "Obviously I need
to coach him to make sure he gets in the end zone before he celebrates." Calgary
running back Jon Cornish, the No. 2 rusher in the league behind Saskatchewans
Kory Sheets, had 60 yards on 17 carries. The Labour Day rematch is Friday in
Edmonton.
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