Neuigkeiten » swings — the steep version from Sean Foley

TORONTO -- After digging deep into its roster for a midweek friendly against Tottenham, Toronto FC gets back to business Saturday when it hosts defending MLS champion Sporting Kansas City. Four days later, Toronto wraps up a busy July with a visit to D.C. United (10-5-4), which trails Eastern Conference leader Kansas City (10-5-5) by one point. It speaks volumes about the turnaround in Toronto FC that midfielder Michael Bradley sees the two games against elite opposition as an opportunity rather than just a chance to see how his team measures against the best in the East. For Bradley, the K.C. and D.C. contests are a chance to move up the standings. Toronto (7-5-5) has two games in hand on D.C. United and three on Kansas City. "When you play the teams right around you these are six-point games and so if we can now, over this next week, come out with some good results, then still it gives us a chance to keep the games in hand but move right up the table," said Bradley. "Thats our goal. "Seventeen games gone, 17 to go. We feel like its been a good first half of the season for us but we still hold the bar high for ourselves and want to continue to move on up." Manager Ryan Nelsen says his team continues to be a work in progress. "Even now, were still learning about each other.," said Nelsen. "Im still learning about (designated players) Michael and Jermain (Defoe) and Gil(berto). And theyre still learning about us. Are we the finished product? Of course not. Were nowhere near that. But are we getting better? I think so. Were evolving quite nicely." This year has already been a success compared to previous seasons. Nelsens team is headed to a first-ever playoff campaign and has already exceeded the number of wins posted each of the 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2103 seasons. Three more victories and it will match the club single-season record of 10, set in 2009. With 13 leagues wins in his 1 1/2 seasons, Nelson is already the club leader for managerial victories. Toronto will have to face Kansas City without Defoe, the star striker who is suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards. Brazils Gilberto is expected to start up front with Englands Luke Moore. Defoe has 11 of Torontos 26 league goals. Next on the list is Moore with three. Gilberto has two, although he has shown signs recently that he is finding his feet in the league after a lengthy scoring drought. Gilberto attributed to his slow start to the layoff since the Brazilian season ended in December. "It was tough getting used to the MLS because Id been off for so long," the 25-year-old said through an interpreter. "So the road was a little bumpy but now things are starting to progress." Is he having fun, he was asked. "Its good," he said in English with a smile. Bradley says the team is rooting for the likable Brazilian to succeed. "Sure. Hes a good guy. Hes somebody that has come in and shown such a willingness to work and run and fight and really do everything he can to help the team," he said. "We have total confidence in him," he added. Bradley did not figure in Torontos 3-2 midweek loss to Tottenham as Nelsen looked to give his midfield star time to rest. Kansas City also played a midweek friendly, losing 4-1 to Manchester City. Unlike Toronto, K.C. played its first team against the English side. Captain Matt Besler seemed unfazed by the defeat, telling local reporters that the focus was on Toronto -- "which is a huge, huge match, probably our biggest of the season so far." Nelsen said Brazilian winger Jackson is fit after an Achilles knock and is available for selection. Captain and centre back Steven Caldwell (quad) and right back Mark Bloom (knee) remain out. Kansas City has not lost in the league since dropping a 1-0 decision to D.C. United on May 13. The champions arrive on a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1). "Theyre a team that grinds out results," said Nelsen, before delivering one of his biggest compliments. "Theyre very good at not playing well and winning." Nelsen sees Kansas City as one of the leagues model franchises and values how they got there. "Theyve done a really good job there," he said. "I think they went through two or three years of really tough times. "Its really easy to see the beacon that they are now but to actually get there, they went through some really hard times. And you kind of have to live that when youre in the situation that they were and potentially where we were. But theyre an example of a team, like Real Salt Lake, that built it right, built it well. And that gave it longevity. Theyve got a foundation now where they can just spit out these good players because the clubs got such a good, stable foundation. NOTES: Toronto tied 2-2 at Kansas City earlier in the season in the strength of a stoppage-time goal by Bradley Orr. Torontos career record against K.C. is 4-10-5, but it is 3-3-3 at BMO Field. Pierre Turgeon Jersey .com) - Patrik Elias registered the winner in the shootout as New Jersey nipped Toronto 2-1 at Prudential Center on Wednesday. Larry Robinson Jersey . JOHNS, N. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-h...nadiens-jersey/. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. Patrick Roy Jersey . Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg were each convicted on four charges of aggravated rape, one of attempted aggravated rape and two for aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge. Ken Dryden Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Three previous trips were enough for Tiger Woods to leave quite an impression at the Phoenix Open. The hole-in-one on the most raucous hole in golf. Fans moving a half-ton boulder. A kid tossing an orange onto the green when he was putting.The most recent memory might have topped them all.He shot 82.Five hours Friday that were a blend of sadness and shock produced his highest score ever.We all have days like this, Woods said after a day he had never experienced in nearly two decades as a pro.He flubbed one chip about 5 feet. He tried to hit a flop shot 35 feet from the pin and hit it 47 yards into a bunker. He hit one bunker shot woefully short. Another sailed over the green and nearly into the water. He made two double bogeys and a triple bogey.He had no answers for a game that never looked to be in more disarray.Did he feel lost?Woods quickly reverted to a familiar explanation that he was caught between swings — the steep version from Sean Foley and a more shallow swing under Chris Como, with whom he just began working two months ago.He missed the cut by 12 shots with his highest 36-hole score at 155. He missed back-to-back cuts on the PGA Tour for the first time in his career, though it should be noted that those two tournaments were six months apart.Nothing summed up his week like the message from the fans.Welcome back! they yelled at him Thursday. It was his first time in the Phoenix Open in 14 years.Thanks for coming! they shouted him to Friday after Woods trudged off the ninth green.The only record-keeping left for Woods Saturday morning was whether he would finish last for the first time in his career. He was at 13-over 155 when play was suspended by darkness. Of the 15 players still to finish, one of them was at 12-over par with two holes to play. That was Michael Hopper, a club pro in Arizona.Not everything goes according to script when the Super Bowl is in town.The plan was for a record crowd in the Phoenix Open for Saturday, the biggest and loudest day of the most rowdy event on the PGA Tour. Woods was back at the TPC Scottsdale for the first time since 2001. He planned to go to the Super Bowl when the tournament ended on Sunday.ddddddddddddExcept that Woods wont be around for the weekend, and it wasnt even close.And if that wasnt bad enough, Phil Mickelson wont be around either. He shot a 76 on Friday and missed the cut by two shots. The two biggest names in golf decided to go home — Woods to Florida, Mickelson to San Diego.Both are playing at Torrey Pines next week.Hopefully, we will be able to get it turned around for next week, Mickelson said.For star power, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is lacking. For golf fans, it might be a chance to see the future of golf.Martin Laird ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch when the rain finally subsided, and not even his first bogey of the tournament on his last hole of the second round could dampen his spirits. He had another 5-under 66 and was at 10-under 132, two shots ahead of Daniel Berger.More intriguing was the peach fuzz behind him.Berger is 21, the son of an Olympic tennis coach, a rookie on the PGA Tour who received a sponsors exemption. A big hitter — most kids are, these days — he birdied his last two holes for a 69.Another shot back is Justin Thomas. He is 21, the son of a club pro in Kentucky, a rookie who also got an exemption. Only a week ago, Thomas was in position to win the Humana Challenge until he drove an iron into a fairway bunker, hit the next shot in the water and made double bogey on the 16th hole.Skip past a trio of Masters champions — Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera — and former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy to find yet another 21-year-old. This one has some star power. Jordan Spieth already is in his third year, has three wins worldwide and is No. 9 in the world ranking.Berger, Thomas and Spieth are proudly past of the class of 2011 — thats high school, not college.Our graduating class, 2011, has probably eight or nine tour players that will come out of it, Spieth said. Theres what? Three or four on the PGA Tour, another couple of the Web.com already? And we should still be in school. Its cool to see peers we grew up with for a while all making the transition pretty easily. ' ' '