Inland Waterways » to Brandon London

When the final whistle blew on Toronto FCs season against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, the ball came down from the night sky and, fittingly, landed on the head of head coach Ryan Nelsen. The former central defender calmly nodded it down and quietly went about celebrating a win with his staff. For a man who has had a lot on his shoulders this season, it was an appropriate moment. The rookie head coach now fully admits that he underestimated the task he took on when he came to Toronto after retiring as a player from QPR in the Premier League in January. He inherited a side in shambles on and off the pitch. He went on to use 35 different players in 34 league games and watch the GM who brought him to the club get fired, yet as season number seven for the franchise officially finishes, Nelsen has never been happier as a head coach. In a sit-down interview with TSN.ca on Monday, he talked about how he sleeps a lot better now, believing the team is heading in the right direction. He rolls his eyes thinking back to the state the team was in "salary cap [shape] and competitively" when he took over, but there is no anger or frustration in his voice. Nelsen is not an easy man to shake away from calmness; his voice rarely changes its pitch as he talks about the highs and lows of his first year in charge. It is only when I ask him about Christchurch, his beloved home city in New Zealand, ravaged by an earthquake back in 2011, does his expression change as his mind reflects on a scary moment for his family. "They were right in the middle of it. I felt completely helpless. During the earthquake, my sister went into labour – she has a brittle bone disease, so if she doesnt have a c-section shes going to die, so she is in labour, all cell phone communication is gone, the emergency services are all occupied and nobody could get hold of her. I get hold of my parents, they dont know if she made it, so it was about a five, six, seven-hour period where we didnt know if she was okay. Thankfully, eventually, everything worked out good." The 36-year-old openly says he is forever thinking about the club, but as a man it is clear he never gets to the point of worry that he did that day. "Thats real world stress," he admitted and remains saddened by what happened back home. "Since then I have gone back and half the city is completely destroyed. Its a beautiful little city. It takes the soul out of it, but the last time I went back was the first time I saw a real sign of recovery. I cant wait to go back for Christmas to see the rebuild." The subject turns to Major League Soccer and its complicated rules. Nelsen admits they are difficult to understand and shows small signs of frustration when talking about them as he slips back into his laidback delivery after the Christchurch chat. "Some of the rules are incredibly frustrating, when you are a club that has the resources that we have, you get held back," he said. "Its communism, really, trying to make everyone even when we are a democracy and we are like Canada, very progressive, but we get held back by the league rules designed for parity. Some of them are just incredible. I still dont believe some of them, but thats the world we live in and its done with the best intentions for the league." Staying in his calm and collected mode, he talks about "learning over a thousand different things" since he arrived on the job and close to the top of that list is how to, and how not to, lead a club going forward. "I think I have learned more about the organization than anything. If certain things arent right, its amazing how it trickles down and makes it very hard to move in the right direction," the coach explained. "Decisions were being made before I came back that people didnt know about. It caused a mess, but the year has been about clearing up mistakes. Its not the players fault. Its on the administration and I underestimated how debilitating that is towards a team - really underestimated it." Having played under big name managers such as Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Sam Allardyce, it is the current West Ham manager, Allardyce, who Nelsen singles out as giving him the best piece of advice. "I have learned that the club has to come 100 per cent before anything else," said Nelsen. "I know that might frustrate the fans and media, who arent in the epicentre of it, but you have to keep doing what is best for the club and cannot appease certain areas. Thats what I have stuck to all season." Part of those on the end of that have been high-priced players such as Stefan Frei, Richard Eckersley and Danny Koevermans, three big personalities, rarely playing, who didnt hide their feelings on Monday when talking about Nelsen and a lack of communication towards them. Nelsen said his door is always open, something backed up by players such as Steven Caldwell and Robert Earnshaw, and, still remaining in his calm manner, seemed disappointed that the trio ended their time in such a manner. "Its ironic that theyre the guys that havent played much," explained Nelsen. "They will complain, but I mean, wow. One is on [a] $1.6 mill.[deal.] To me, they should be really happy for what Toronto has provided them." Those departing open doors for new players, which include potential star Designated Players, Nelsen switches gears and talks about how essential it is to find lower-salaried players who will consistently outperform their contracts, something Toronto FC have struggled to find since it began. "I cannot stress how important that is," said Nelsen. "Its so key - its the foundation. DPs are the icing on the cake. Its like putting a Picasso in a dump of a house. It makes no sense. You need a good house before you think of that. If you asked me in June about DPs, I said we wouldnt be ready. We didnt have the foundation to handle it." Now, things have changed, the coach says. "We have enough players now [who] are starting to get hardened that know the league. We are in a salary cap and allocation situation where we could handle it. If you ask me, if Messi and Ronaldo are coming, can we handle it? I would say yes." Messi and Ronaldo still dont raise his tone, so I tried one more attempt by dropping another name. "You played with Jermain Defoe, would he make a good DP in this league?" I asked. "Thats not a serious question, is it?" he responded. Before I explained how I wanted him to tell me how good Defoe is, Nelsen interrupted with his eyes wide open. Now he was as passionate as the All Blacks doing the Haka. "Jermain Defoe in this league? Look what Di Vaio has done! My goodness - incredible player," Nelsen raved. "One of the most natural goal-scorers I have ever come across. Always out training, always trying to score, a great guy. To get a guy like Defoe for the MLS, I cannot think of many that are more suited. I think if you ask most Premier League teams, they would take Defoe." He pauses, as if he imagines Defoe one day playing for him. "It would be incredible. I call him and text him all the time," he said. "Him playing in Toronto would be phenomenal. If you look around the world and try and think of a realistic player – and I am not sure how realistic he is - that complements a league like ours, never gets injured, doesnt drink, can play high, low, scores all sorts of goals – do you know something I dont? Can you go over and sell it to him?" Through comedy, Nelsen refuses to tip his hand one way or another on whether Defoe was one of the players the club spoke to on a recent trip to London, but now that the club is ready for star designated players, I propose a scenario to him that could see Defoe or another target not arriving until next August, once the World Cup is over. It is not one that Nelsen is too comfortable with. "We want them in as soon as possible," Nelsen explained. "If we have to pick [from] A and B and A is coming in January and B is coming in August, its January. [TFC would take] a good DP thats going to score x amount of goals over a great DP who will come in August. Look, the team wants to get to the playoffs." And what if such a January signing would go to Brazil 2014? Nelsen doesnt see a problem. "Look, if we have World Cup stars, just missing for a few weeks, that would be pretty good!" Calmness restored. Spend some time with Nelsen and its not difficult to see why he sleeps well at night. Tonight, it is quite possible that hell be dreaming of a Tottenham striker playing for him in the near future. Nike Air Max Skor Billigt . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win. Nike Air Max Billigt Online . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. http://www.sverigeairmax.com/ . - Benched Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman said he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and voluntarily entered the NFL substance abuse program more than a year ago after mistakenly taking a medication to treat the condition. Nike Air Max Billigt Sverige . The Miami Heat star tops the leagues global list of top-selling jerseys for the 2012-13 season, edging Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Heat teammate Dwyane Wade for the No. Billiga Skor Nike Air Max . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring.The Tambellini name is well known in the hockey world. Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. Hes had years of experience and knows how to handle any situation with ease. But when it comes to asserting himself into his son Adams hockey career with the Western Hockey Leagues Calgary Hitmen, the Tambellini patriarch has been silent. "Adam being an older guy and coming from a hockey family, I havent had any interaction with the family other than saying hello," said Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson. "Steve and his family know our organization (and) feel comfortable with Adam coming here. "Hes very quiet. Lets us do our business. Hes more of a fan than a dad, more so than people think." Adam is the youngest child to bear the Tambellini name. Drafted 65th overall by the New York Rangers last year, he went the collegiate route and started his rookie season with the University of North Dakota last September. But 16 games into the campaign, Adam had a change of heart. He turned to his most trusted advisors - his father and brother Jeff - for some guidance. As a family, they made the decision that Adams future was best served in the Canadian Hockey League, with its heavier schedule and more opportunity to play. The Portland Winterhawks owned Adams rights, but Adam made it known his preference was to go to Calgary. The Hitmen jumped at the chance to acquire him, trading their 2014 first-round bantam pick to get him. And it was a decision that Williamson says has already paid off. "The reason he came is because he wanted to play more hockey," he said. "To develop his consistency and play a tougher schedule and get used to that day-to-day grind. Hes come in and fit in really well. Hes given us some depth in the middle on the ice, hes given us a scoring threat, he puts the puck in the net or can set somebody else up." And Adams actions have spoke volumes. On the day he was traded to Calgaryy, he drove to Winnipeg and then flew to Saskatoon for his first game with the Hitmen - and finished the night with four points.dddddddddddd Whats more impressive is that in 19 games so far, he already has 27 points. "I want to get stronger and develop my game as much as possible," said Tambellini. "Playing this pro-style level, its going to lead onto the AHL and one day hopefully the NHL. Again I will be playing against men in those leagues, so getting stronger is the number one thing." At 63 and 185 pounds, Adams been told by the Rangers that he has to get stronger. Hes a known playmaker - a skilled centre who can play a two-way game and also carries a great shot. But Williamson says he has to grow into his frame and like most other junior players, he has to become more consistent. Adams also spent some time in the offseason working out with his older brother Jeff. The elder Tambellini, who played six seasons in National Hockey League before heading to MoDo of the Swedish Elite League, runs Factory Hockey, a business that helps develop hockey players from the minors up to the NHL. And while father Steve remains close to Adam, its Jeff that has been his biggest role model. "We are different players," said Adam. "He always tells me theres says theres no right or wrong way to get to the NHL. Obviously with him he didnt have the longest career but six long seasons is quite the accomplishment and I look up to him more than anyone." As for his father, Adam wants to make his own name in hockey without the help of his father. He doesnt name drop or use it to get ahead. But he does always take to heart his fathers best piece of advice, which is simply to be a pro every day on the ice and off the ice. "To me, hes just my dad, just another father who has helped me along in my hockey career," he explained. "Obviously with his background hes got ties to the hockey world. Hes been a great supporter but has been a quiet impact on my life and around the rink." 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