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There hasnt been much good news for Toronto FCs beleaguered backline in recent times. Trent Richardson Black Friday Jersey . But the sight of Adrian Cann on the bench the last three games is cause for celebration. With 45 minutes in a reserve match last weekend under his belt, the six-foot-three defender is on the verge of returning to first-team action. Its just the latest step in a soccer journey that has taken the 31-year-old with the perpetual smile from Toronto to Louisville, Colorado, Montreal, Vancouver, Denmark, England and finally back to his home-town team. "My whole career, its been a battle, man," said Cann. "Ive been fighting, inching my way up to the top, trying to make an impact -- not only for myself. (Trying to) leave an imprint of my work ethic and everything that Ive put forth. "And Im still trying to do that. Im not going to stop now." After having had to make do without him for almost 11 months already, Toronto isnt rushing him. The Canadian international expects his immediate future to include limited MLS minutes off the bench and more time with the reserve team. "The knees fine," Cann said. "Im just getting prepared mentally to, any day now, step on the field." Toronto (0-3-0) could use him. Saturdays game in Montreal against the 0-4-1 Impact is the fifth in 14 days for Toronto FC, which took a charter from Torreon, Mexico, immediately after Wednesday nights 6-2 loss to Santos Laguna in CONCACAF Champions league play. Despite coming within one win of reaching the tournament semifinal, Torontos record in combined MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play this season is 1-4-2 and Aron Winters side has been outscored 17-8. In the absence of injured captain Torsten Frings, Torontos central defensive pairing of Ty Harden and Miguel Aceval has struggled. Like Cann, Jamaican international defender Dicoy Williams has been a long-term injury casualty. Add that to a league-worst 59 goals conceded last season, when Cann saw action in just 12 games before tearing up his knee in practice. It was the first serious injury of Canns career and he acknowledges the months since have sometimes been hard. "Not only the surgery, but after the surgery I was immobile," he said. "My whole life Ive been running around and doing things, being active. And all of a sudden, I was hit with something like this. It kind of took away my freedom." While Cann injured his knee in late May, he didnt undergo surgery until July. His surgeon wanted him to strengthen his leg muscles first so the rehab would be quicker. Canns patella tendon was used to repair his anterior cruciate ligament. Then the hard work really started. "It was intense," he said. Cann, who pays tribute to the TFC trainers for nursing him back, believes he has come out of the injury tunnel much stronger mentally. "Once you go through something like this, it just kind of makes you more rounded as an individual. ... Just the ups and downs of getting better and feeling sore. And the next day feeling better." The injury was cruel timing for Cann. After being named TFCs player of the year in 2010, last season started with a salary dispute and ended prematurely as teammates carried him off the training pitch. From the sidelines, he has watched Torontos recent tribulations, feeling for fellow defenders like Aceval when they are left twisting in the wind. "Ive been there and Ive made mistakes in my career," Cann said. "I think every defender out there has." His MLS career kicked off in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, when he was taken by Colorado Rapids after a successful career at the University of Louisville. He only saw 11 minutes of regular season action, spread across two games, with the Rapids but counts it as an enjoyable, valuable learning experience. Pluses included visiting Spain with the team. But after playing regularly in college, there was also the harsh reality of going up against more experienced players. "It opened up my eyes to the professional game. Its tough. You have to compete every single training session and fight for your spot." "It was a great experience to go through," he added. "And at the same time it was difficult." An injury cost him a chance to remain with the Rapids, who had brought in other players. He then spent a couple of seasons in North American soccers second tier with the Impact, before moving to Vancouver. "I was playing regularly but not starting every game and I wanted to be a consistent player. I wanted to be starter," he said of his time in Montreal. "I needed a change, I felt." He got the chance to showcase his skills with the Whitecaps, seeing plenty of action in three years on the West Coast. In 2008, he went on trial to Denmarks Esbjerg. They said they liked him, but he wasnt so sure after they also signed Swedish defender Fredrik Bjorck. He returned to Vancouver and was called up by the Canadian national team. Then he got a call from his agent with news that Esbjerg wanted to buy out his contract with the Whitecaps and give him a four-year deal. So he returned to Denmark, having achieved a career goal to play in Europe. He liked the training and the atmosphere and did well in the games he played. But he was frustrated that didnt translate into getting the start next time out. The city itself was on the ocean and "quite quaint," he recalled. But after the hustle and bustle of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, living in a city of 250,000 a continent away from home was a different experience for a player who describes himself as "very sociable." "It was nice, but it was kind of lonely," he said. After being released from his contract, friends led him to tryouts in England with Carlisle United and Burton Albion. But he ended up back home in Toronto, earning a contract with TFC. "When I left for university, soccer in Toronto wasnt that big. We had the Toronto Lynx and teams like that but it wasnt that big of a deal. But when I got back, there was this nice stadium, great atmosphere. The fans were amazing." In 2010, he started 26 games and spent 2,340 minutes in the pitch. It was all good. "I had a great time," he said of his soccer. He even captained the team in Mexico against Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League play. "Off the field, I was really happy because my friends and family were around and I was back in a great city." For the last seven or eight years of his soccer journey, Cann was accompanied by girlfriend Ashiko Westguard. She has since moved to Los Angeles to pursue modelling and acting opportunities as both tend to their careers. "My love, right now, is for football. My dedication, my devotion is my career," said Cann, adding the two remain friends. But as good as 2010 was, 2011 would be a different story on and off the pitch for Cann. He says the business side of his career had always been "a scramble ... never sorted out completely." "I thought that after having a good year, there might be some sort of way we could work things out so that I dont have to be thinking about my financial matters and just focus on playing well ... Instead of budgeting my money to survive properly." When he signed his original deal, he says the team told him verbally: "Have a good year, theres room for renegotiation." So he put his head down -- "just worked my ass off, and tried to prove to the fans as well as the organization that Im worth more." After a good showing at pre-season in Turkey, the club offered him a new deal. "They put a new figure on the table," he said. "It just took me some time to think it through." He didnt meet the team window to respond and they took the new deal off the table. Cann was away from the team for two weeks before returning under his existing deal. The club welcomed him back -- as long as he came with an apology. "At the end of the day, Ive got to be playing soccer," he said. "Because thats what I enjoy doing. In the long run, regardless of the contract situation, it will sort itself out just so long as I perform on the field and produce." Plus he likes the club, its coaching staff and their style of play. Nothing has changed on the contract front. Cann made US$132,746 last season, sixth best on the team. In 2010, it was $65,342, 17th best on the club according to figures provided by the players union. "To be honest with you. Im just trying to get myself better ... just perform, do what I can do, show the people what Im about," he said. "And then hopefully that will speak for itself." Just dont expect goals. Ask Cann when he last scored and he pauses before offering up a reserve match in Denmark. Perhaps he is holding his goals in reserve? "I would say so," he said warmly. "When it rains, it pours, I think. Hopefully I get my one sooner than later and we can have another interview after that." Brandon LaFell Black Friday Jersey . The Phillies got him seven. Lee sparkled in eight strong innings, striking out seven, and Chase Utley knocked in four runs to lead Philadelphia to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Ondrej Pavelec Black Friday Jersey . And in typical Federer fashion, he did it in the most dramatic way possible. After four hours of exhilarating, record-setting tennis, Federer finally put away del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (7), 19-17 on Friday to advance to the gold medal match for the first time in his storied career, securing Switzerlands first medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. http://www.thebuccaneersofficialshop.com/black-fri...pp-jers ey/ .C. Lions won a Grey Cup, Andrew Harris watched shivering in the stands. James Van Riemsdyk Black Friday Jersey . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Jordan Cameron Womens Jersey . Go back into the history of any full contact sport and youll find all kinds of things used to be tolerated which arent any more. NEW YORK -- With the 55th and last swing on the longest of many long points in the U.S. Open final, Rafael Nadal pushed a backhand into the net to get broken by Novak Djokovic. It could have been the beginning of the end for many players. Not for Nadal, who is as resilient as they come. A year after watching the Flushing Meadows title match on TV at home with a bad left knee, he is fit as can be -- and, just maybe, better than ever. The No. 2-ranked Nadal emerged with his 13th Grand Slam title, and second at the U.S. Open, by withstanding No. 1 Djokovics similar brand of hustle-to-every-ball style and pulling away Monday to a tense, taut 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. "This season is probably the most emotional one in my career. I felt that I did everything right to have my chance here," said Nadal, who dropped to the court and rolled over on his stomach, crying, after the last point. "I have to be almost perfect to win." Hard to believe this is the same Nadal who missed seven months with a knee injury, but was able to cover every inch of the court, tracking down shot after shot from Djokovic. Hard to believe this is the guy who used to be considered a clay-court specialist, but is 22-0 on hard courts in 2013. "I never thought something like this could happen," Nadal said. "I feel very lucky about what happened since I came (back). Its true that I worked, but even like this you need luck to be where I am today." He and Djokovic started in sunlight and finished at night, a 3-hour, 21-minute miniseries of cliffhangers and plot twists with a pair of protagonists who inspired standing ovations in the middle of games. There was no quit in either of them, during points that lasted 15, 25, even more than 50 strokes. Those rallies went so long, rarely over when they appeared to be, and spectators often shouted out during the course of play, prompting Nadal to complain to the chair umpire. "Its what we do when we play against each other, always pushing each other to the limit," Djokovic said. "Thats the beauty of our matches and our rivalry, I guess, in the end." This was their 37th match against each other, the most between any two men in the Open era, and Nadal has won 22. It also was their third head-to-head U.S. Open final in the last four years. Nadal beat Djokovic for the 2010 title, and Djokovic won their rematch in 2011. They know each others games so well, but in the end, it was Nadal who was superior. "He was too good. He definitely deserved to win this match today and this trophy," Djokovic said. "Obviously disappointing to lose a match like this." Djokovic, who won the Australian Open in January, will hold onto his No. 1 ranking for the time being. But its clear to everyone who the top player in tennis is at the moment. Nadal is 60-3 in 2013 with 10 titles, including at the French Open, which made him the first man with at least one Grand Slam trophy in nine consecutive seasons. The 27-year-old Spaniards total of 13 major championships ranks third in the history of mens tennis, behind only Roger Federers 17 and Pete Sampras 14. Nadal has won a record eight titles at the French Open, two each at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, and one at the Australian Open. "Thirteen Grand Slams for a guy who is 27 years old is incredible," said Djokovic, who owns six himself. "Whatever he achieved so far in his career, everybody should respect, no question about it." Nadal no longer wears the strips of white tape he once used to bolster his left knee, and the way he covered the court against Djokovic -- switching from defence to offence in a blink -- proved that while he says he still feels pain in that leg, he definitely does not have problems moving around. "The hardest part is the pain, always," Toni Nadal, Rafaels uncle and coach, told The Associated Press. "You have pain, and you play. But the problem is you never know if you can run so fast, like before, or if you can play against the best players. From one day to (the next), its difficult, always." Nadal sure has managed to hide it well. He improved to 8-3 against Djokovic in Grand Slam matches, including a thriller of a semifinal at the French Open, wwhich Nadal won 9-7 in the fifth set after trailing. Brandon McManus Broncos Jersey. These two also played the longest Grand Slam final in history, a nearly six-hour struggle that left both needing to sit in chairs during the ceremony after Djokovics victory at the 2012 Australian Open. This time, Nadal was relentless from shot to shot, yes, and from point to point, too, but what might have been most impressive was the way he stayed steady when Djokovic recovered from a rough start and began asserting himself. At the outset, Djokovic was his own worst enemy on many points, a touch or two off the mark. Nadal claimed 12 of the last 14 points in the first set, with Djokovic looking almost bored. The world saw this sort of listless, lacklustre Djokovic two months ago in the final at Wimbledon, where Nadal had exited a Grand Slam tournament in the opening round for the only time in his career. That time, Djokovic went through a difficult semifinal -- at 4:43, the longest in Wimbledon history -- and barely put up much resistance in a straight-set loss to Andy Murray two days later. In New York, Djokovic was coming off another four-hour semifinal victory, and the key stat in the first set Monday was that he made 14 unforced errors, 10 more than Nadal. There were no surprising or innovative tactics from Nadal. In the simplest of terms, he reached nearly every ball Djokovic delivered, and Nadals replies nearly never missed the intended spot, accented by his huge uppercut of a swing and loud grunts of "Aaaah!" By matchs end, Djokovic had made 53 unforced errors, Nadal only 20. "Credit to my opponent. He was making me run," Djokovic said. "I had my ups and downs." The Serbs biggest ups came in the second set. Nadal was broken a grand total of once through his first six matches in the tournament -- a string that reached 88 games by early in the finals second set. But with Djokovic raising his level, and gaining control of more of the many extended exchanges, he broke Nadal three times in a row. "Novak was playing just amazing," Nadal said. "When Novak plays (at) that level, I am not sure if (anybody) can stop him." The initial break came for a 4-2 lead in the second set, thanks to the crescendo of that 55-swing exchange. Djokovic used superb defence to elongate the point, tossing his body around to bail himself out repeatedly by blunting Nadals violent strokes. When the memorable point ended, Djokovic bellowed and raised both arms, and thousands of fans rose to their feet, chanting his nickname, "No-le! No-le!" Now Djokovic was energized, and Nadal was suddenly in a tad of trouble. "I felt really tired after that point," Nadal said. "But my thinking was positive." As Toni Nadal put it: "Rafael was always there, there, there. ... He was so strong in his mind. That was the difference." The final momentum shift came with Nadal serving at 4-all in the third set. Djokovic earned three break points, thanks in part to a tremendous lob-volley and another point when Nadal slipped and tumbled to his backside. But a quick forehand winner by Nadal, a forehand into the net by Djokovic on a 22-stroke point, and a 125 mph ace -- Nadals only one of the evening, it drew shouts of "Vamos!" from Uncle Toni -- helped avoid another break. "I didnt do anything I felt (was) wrong in these few points," Djokovic said. "He didnt make a mistake." In the very next game, Nadal broke Djokovics serve and, apparently, his will. When that set ended with Djokovic pushing a forehand long on a 19-shot point, Nadal screamed as he knelt down at the baseline, his racket on the court and his left fist pumping over and over and over. "A really important set," Nadal called it later, "and a really special one." Djokovic made one last serious stand, holding break points in the fourth sets first game, but Nadal saved those, then immediately broke to go ahead 2-0. Once again, Nadal withstood Djokovics best and was on his way to another Grand Slam celebration. Afterward, his newest silver trophy at arms reach, Nadal was asked about catching the only two men whove won more. Nadal smiled and replied: "Let me enjoy today." ' ' '
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