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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. 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. Cheap Jerseys . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Jerseys From China .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. http://www.buycheapjerseysauthentic.com/ . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. 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By following Vogels plan, the Pacers continued to add to an already strong resume. While some try to discount Indianas quick start because theyre playing in the struggling Eastern Conference, the Pacers still have a firm grip on the conferences best record (21-5) and have already beaten three of the Western Conferences top teams -- the Clippers, Spurs and now the Rockets. The way Indiana has been winning is just as impressive. Despite taking Dwight Howards best shot Friday -- Houstons centre had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks -- Indiana still managed to manhandle the usually potent Rockets offence. Houston (17-10) entered the game second in scoring average and third in field goal percentage. It left Indianapolis having shot 38.1 per cent in the game, compiling a season-low in points and losing to Indiana for the fourth straight time. Even James Harden, the leagues No. 6 scorer, couldnt get started. He was just 3 of 14 from the field and scored only 12 points, primarily against George. It was a disturbing twist for Houston, which had won three of its previous five, had beaten Chicago by 25 points on Wednesday and was trying to keep pace with division-leading San Antonio. Heck, it couldnt even figure out how to beat the Pacers stout defence. "We had no answers for them. They played way better than we did," coach Kevin McHale said. "We werent moving, we werent attacking, they had us on our heels all night." But Indiana also had something else -- motivation. The Pacers were determined to make someone pay for this weeks earlier stumbles, and they didnt care much about who showed up Friday. Not only did the Pacers finish with a season high 12 3-pointers, but they also had a season high point total, their laargest victory margin (33) of the season and their second best field goal percentage of the season (53.dddddddddddd.1). Six players scored in double figures and they did all that on a night Roy Hibbert finished with nine points, six rebounds and one block. How did they do it? The same way the Pacers usually win -- with a balanced and a relentless defence. "Its a good feeling because when were at our best, we feel like were unstoppable," George said. "It was good to come out and play with high energy against a high-energy team." The Rockets never had a chance on a celebratory night for the Pacers. Indiana fans gave former All-Star Danny Granger a standing ovation when he made his season debut in the first quarter and chanted his name when he finally made his first basket, a 3-pointer, early in the fourth. Granger missed all but five games last season because of a left knee injury and he was sidelined all of this season by a strained left calf. If he is healthy, and he looked rusty on offence in his first game back, he would give the Pacers even more scoring punch as they try to dethrone two-time defending champion Miami. But by the time Granger made his entrance, Indiana was already taking control. Indiana went ahead 12-11 early in the first and spent the rest of the night pulling away. It led 25-20 after one, made it 41-29 early in the second and then fended off Houstons only real challenge, a 10-0 run that made it 41-39, by closing the half on a 17-6 burst to make it 56-45. Indiana quickly made it 64-49 in the third, sealed the game with a 17-4 spurt. "They played harder than we did," Howard said. "They brought a lot of extra energy at the beginning of the third quarter and thats what set us apart." And before it ended, the Pacers led by as many as 36. "We always say that good teams will bounce back," said George Hill, who had 12 points. "That showed were a good team." NOTES: Reserve Luis Scola finished with 13 points and made his first 3-pointer since joining the Pacers during the off-season. ... Houston played without guard Jeremy Lin (back) and Omar Asik (thigh). Asik, who has been the subject of trade rumours, did not make the trip. ... The Rockets were just 13 of 24 from the free throw line. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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