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. Taijuan Walker Diamondbacks Jersey . 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. Robbie Ray Jersey . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. A. J. Pollock Jersey . 1 Pete Sampras. Speaking ahead of an exhibition match against Andre Agassi in London on March 3, Sampras said on a conference call Wednesday that he is impressed by Federers longevity. http://www.diamondbacksteamproshop.com/diamondbacks-chris-owings-jersey/ . Saskatchewans Darian Durant is expected to miss the rest of the Roughriders season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery in the next couple days to repair the injury, was added to the teams six-game injury list Tuesday.MIAMI -- Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Gregory Polanco had five hits Friday night, and the last one was the biggest -- and the longest. Playing in his fourth major league game, Polanco broke a tie in the 13th inning with his first homer, helping Pittsburgh to an 8-6 victory over the Miami Marlins after the Pirates had a ninth-inning meltdown. Polanco went 5 for 7, scored three times and made a run-saving catch in right field. "That could have been a coming-out party for him," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Very exciting to watch. I hope we get to watch for a long time." Clint Barmes singled off Mike Dunn (5-4) to start the 13th and advanced on a sacrifice. Polanco homered on a hanging 2-2 slider and smacked his hands as he circled the bases, mindful his mother was in the stands watching him for the first time since he played winter league in his native Dominican Republic. "For sure this is my best game ever -- the first time shes here watching me play," Polanco said. "I was excited and a little emotional. Shes so proud of me, and I know shes feeling excited right now." Jeanmar Gomez (1-2) pitched four scoreless innings after the Pirates blew a 6-2 lead in the ninth when three relievers combined to issue six walks. The Pirates Jeff Locke pitched a career-high eight innings, and the bullpens wildness cost him his first victory since Sept. 12. Miami trailed 6-5 and had runners at first and third with two out in the ninth when Hurdle ordered NL home run and RBI leader Giancarlo Stanton intentionally walked. The strategy backfired when Casey McGehee fell behind 0-2, and then walked against Mark Melancon to tie the game. Melancon struck out Marcell Ozuna to send the game to the 10th. "You rip off the rearview mirror and keep playing," Hurdle said. The Marlins stranded three in the ninth and two in the 12th. "The game was there for the taking at the end," McGehee said. "It was unfortunate we couldnt quite finish it off." Pittsburghs Sterling Marte homered and tied a career high with four hits. Ike Davis added a two-run double, and the top four hitters in the Pirates order went 13 for 27. Alex Avila Diamondbacks Jersey. The Pirates have won seven consecutive series openers, and on Saturday they have a chance to reach .500 for the first time since mid-April. Miamis Nathan Eovaldi pitched as though he was more worried about his wifes delivery than his own, which was understandable. Their first child is due, which left Eovaldis status in doubt until game time, and he allowed 10 hits and six runs in 4 2-3 innings. Stanton hit his 18th home run. Rafael Furcal, making his season debut after being sidelined by injuries since 2012, turned two double plays at second base but went 0 for 6. Locke, making his second start since right-hander Gerrit Cole went on the disabled list, allowed two runs, seven hits and no walks. The left-hander said he was encouraged by his performance. "Its huge," he said. "Anytime you give this team a chance to win, it makes you feel good. Thats what Ive always tried to do through the struggles and the successes. It builds a lot of confidence moving forward." Locke made the NL All-Star team last year but pitched poorly the second half of the season and has spent most of this season in Triple-A. NOTES: Marlins LF Christian Yelich left the game in the second inning with a strained lower back. His status is day to day. ... 2B Michael Martinez made his first start with the Pirates and went 0 for 3. ... Pirates OF Josh Harrison (ankle) was held out of the lineup. ... Former Pirate Garrett Jones pinch-hit in the ninth for Miami and struck out. ... The Pirates Russell Martin was safe at second when the Marlins botched a rundown in the fourth, but the call was reversed following a replay review and he was ruled out. ... Martin made his 1,000th career start at catcher, which ranks fifth among active players. ... RHP Stolmy Pimentel and RHP Vance Worley are candidates to start Sunday for the Pirates in place of LHP Francisco Liriano (left oblique strain). ... LHP Randy Wolf (1-2, 4.15 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday for Miami against RHP Charlie Morton (3-7, 3.14 ERA). NFL Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Jerseys NFL China NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '