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TORONTO -- A tweet from Jermain Defoe. Cheap Old Skool China . A plea from Michael Bradley. The Toronto FC stars may not have been aligned, but they both had something to say Wednesday. Defoe, from his perch in England, took to social media to announce he will be back in Toronto on Monday. Previously the club had told reporters that the 31-year-old with the wonky groin -- and a question mark over his future -- would be back Saturday. "Rehab has gone well! Back to Toronto Monday, and ready for playoff push .goals," said the clubs leading scorer in his second TFC-related tweet since Toronto turned down a club-record transfer bid for its star striker amidst reports that he wanted to go home. Rather than dash out a tweet, Bradley took the unusual step of volunteering to chat with the media after practice Wednesday. Usually the club controls access to its stars like the Prime Ministers Office handles Stephen Harper and Bradley had already been made available to reporters Tuesday. But the stand-in captain, after huddling with a pair of public relations types, was ready for a second go-round in as many days. His message was for Toronto FC fans to get behind the team Sunday when it welcomes hapless Chivas USA (6-16-6) to BMO Field. The game is the first of seven remaining for a 9-11-7 Toronto team struggling to reverse a slide down the standings. "The thing that I cannot stress enough is how much we need our fans to make BMO the best stadium, the best atmosphere that we all know it is and can be in the league," said Bradley. The U.S. international is as intense as they come. Smoke was virtually pouring out of his ears Saturday in the wake of a controversial call in Chicago that cost Toronto a much-needed two points. So Bradleys commitment to the TFC cause is not in doubt. But hes also a company man. And the Toronto FC faithful need a push despite the outlay of millions this season and subsequent culling of manager Ryan Nelsen and five assistant coaches. This weekends game is a rare Sunday outing at BMO Field -- and features the leagues second-worst team in Chivas. And while the last home game -- a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union -- was announced as another sellout of 22,591, more than a few ticket-holders elected to stay at home. And with an announcement expected Tuesday on the plans to expand/renovate BMO Field, empty seats would serve as a poor intro. But fan fervour can be in short supply when a team is winless in six games (0-4-2) and has won just three of its last 16 (3-7-6). TFC has not won at home since July 12 (0-3-2) and has a 5-6-2 record at BMO Field this season. And four of those wins were before June 8. Rookie defender Nick Hagglund enthusiastically lent his voice to Bradleys, talking up the Toronto crowd. "When theyre on fire and theyre holding up their scarves and singing the Canadian national anthem, it transfers from the stadium to the guys on the field," he said. "And we just want to win for them." There were no words of wisdom from journeyman English striker Luke Moore, who had a brief stint with Chivas earlier in the season. He declined to speak to the media. Bradleys message, while clearly well-intentioned, seemed like the latest salvo from an MLS franchise that has started to resemble a reality TV show. Last Thursday it was outgoing MLSE CEO Tim Leiwekes turn for a Big Brother-style confessional when he told a room full of Ryerson MBA students that Bradley and new manager Greg Vanney were the only ones "looking around and going We aint going down unless we go down fighting." The sly words of a master executive looking to take the focus away from his soccer team? Or an honest aside delivered en route to the airport? You choose. But Vanney and Toronto FC players found themselves starting the week by having to answer questions about their CEOs swipe. Leiweke also told the Ryerson crowd he did not expect Defoe to be back next year, saying he expected they would have to bring in new designated player talent. Defoe cannot go anywhere until the January transfer window opens so Toronto is his only available port of call. While Defoe will be back next week ahead of the Sept. 27 game against the visiting Portland Timbers, Vanney suggested that the star striker may not see action until the Oct. 4 game in Los Angeles against the Galaxy. "My concern is Portland would be a quick jump," said Vanney. "He doesnt know 100 per cent how he would respond to a full training session. The key is to get him back and get him in and then well go from there, well see how hes feeling and manage him from there." Vanney was slated to speak to Defoe later Wednesday, his first conversation with the forward since he took over as manager on Aug. 31. "Weve kind of played phone tag in the past weeks," he said. "Hes been in contact with Tim (Leiweke) and the rest of the crew. But now that things are getting closer, he and I are going to sit down and chat." Also Wednesday, Vanney added Dan Calichman to a coaching staff that already included Nick Theslof, Jason Bent, Jon Conway, Michael Rabasca and Jim Liston. Calichman is a former MLS all-star who played with Vanney at the Los Angeles Galaxy. He has been brought in to work with the Toronto defence. Old Skool Clearance . Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Allen Craig on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee contusion on Sunday. Wholesale Old Skool . LeBron James leads the Miami Heat in a quest for three consecutive championship titles, while Tim Duncan looks to add his fifth ring with the San Antonio Spurs when the series tips off with Game 1: Miami @ San Antonio on Thursday, June 5 at 9 p. INDIANAPOLIS -- As one of the NBAs elite teams, the Indiana Pacers have a target on their backs. The Phoenix Suns came out firing in the first half and held the Pacers off in the second to hand Indiana just its second home loss of the season. "This year theyre not the underdogs anymore," Suns forward Channing Frye said. "Teams come out and give it their best shot. For them to expect us to come in and lay down, for any team to lay down, its not going to happen." Goran Dragic had 28 points and seven assists to lead Phoenix to the 102-94 win over the Pacers on Thursday night. Gerald Green and Marcus Morris scored 16 points apiece to help the Suns win their fourth straight game. Markieff Morris, who finished with 15 points, hit a 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining to give the Suns a 98-92 lead and Dragic dunked to give the Suns a 100-94 lead with 44 seconds left to put the game out of reach. The Suns (28-18) seemed to have the game put away by halftime. Dragic scored 21 of the Suns 66 points in the first half -- the most given up by the Pacers (35-10) in a half this season since the Suns scored 62 on Indiana a week ago in a 124-100 win. "We are at our best when we start the game well," Dragic said. "We played an up-tempo game, so I think they were a little bit tired." The Pacers rallied after trailing 66-49 at the break, but never retook the lead. Roy Hibbert had 26 points and David West added 18 for the Pacers, who have lost three of five games. Indiana went on an 8-2 run early in the second half with shots by David West, Paul George, Lance Stephenson and George Hill to get within 70-53. Later, George was fouled on a layup and converted the 3-point play to make it 71-61 with 7:01 left in the third. Miles Plumlee missed a dunk and Hibbert scored on a putback to get Indiana within eight. Frye answered with a basket and then Hibbert scored Indianas neext six points to get the Pacers within 73-69. Cheap Old Skool. "We came out, got ourselves back in it in the second half with defence, but couldnt get up over the hump," Hibbert said. "They outplayed us." The Pacers got within a point when Hill hit two free throws to make it 91-90 with 4:20 remaining, but Green extended the lead with two free throws. Hill made a layup before Green hit a jumper to put the Suns ahead 95-92 and Markieff Morris 3-pointer to give the Suns a five-point lead. "In the end, that third quarter cost us a little bit," Dragic said. "They came really strong. They made some open shots and that made it a little bit of a different game." It was much different from the way Phoenix played in the first half. They took a lead right away in the first quarter. They went on a 9-0 run early in the game when Dragic tied the game on a layup and later hit a jumper to give the Suns a 6-8 lead. Then Green hit a 3-pointer and another basket to make it 13-6 with 6:24 left in the first quarter. The Suns went on a 15-2 run to close out the first quarter with a 36-19 lead. Stephenson, who left the game in the first quarter after getting hit in the right eye, scored 12 second-quarter points. West added 10, but the Pacers were never able to put together a run or cut into the deficit. Even when George hit a jumper falling out of bounds that went over the corner of the backboard and through the hoop, it didnt matter. Dragic hit a 3-pointer to take back the lead and to give the Suns a 62-45 lead. NOTES: In four halves against the Pacers this season, the Suns have scored 62 points or more in three of them. . Stephenson recorded his fourth triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. . Hibbert and George become the first Pacers teammates to earn All-Star honours in the same season since Jermaine ONeal and Ron Artest in 2004. ' ' '
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Activity: Nov 21 '19
Activity: Nov 21 '19