In the moments before a Toronto FC supporters event with Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley kicked off on Monday afternoon, MLSE President Tim Leiweke wandered onto the stage. Kris Versteeg Jersey . His plan was to announce to the fans that the club would be buying the first drink for everyone in the building as a thank you for their support. But before Leiweke could say anything, the 500 fans in the room burst into spontaneous song. He couldnt shut them up. Leiweke sat on a stool on the corner of the stage soaking it all in as Toronto FCs supporters showered him with plaudits. At that moment, it appeared as if the magic was back. For seven years, Toronto FCs fans have had the life squeezed out of them as they witnessed failure after failure, but there was a buzz of excitement in the room Ive not seen associated with the club for a long time - and the fans knew exactly who was responsible. Its amazing to see the impact that one man can have on an organization. Leiweke would be the first to acknowledge that hes had incredible support from the MLSE board and the staff he has around him - including general manager Tim Bezbatchenko - but Monday was a result of one mans vision and his ability to get things done. Earlier in the day, Toronto FC made one of the biggest splashes in Major League Soccer history, introducing not one, but two Designated Players arriving in the league from Europe. The signings of Jermain Defoe from Tottenham and Michael Bradley from Roma marked a day in the clubs history that can only be matched in importance by the day the franchise was launched. "A very simple saying we will steal from the Kennedys is appropriate today," Leiweke said when opening the press conference on Monday morning in downtown Toronto. "Some people see things as they are and say why. Others dream of what can be and they say why not. Today is why not. Why cant we be great?" It was a day that made a big impact within the city of Toronto, but also potentially changed the landscape across Major League Soccer. Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl tweeted on Monday evening: "Some MLS execs telling me they think Toronto overpaid for Bradley/Defoe and will cause other teams to have to overpay in new market." Its fair to say that these deals have set a new standard, and that will likely be taken into account when future contracts are negotiated for these types of players in MLS, but in my opinion Toronto FC did not overpay. These moves have saved the club from obscurity and for that reason these two players are worth every last cent. Yes, Toronto had to commit what Leiweke called "financial suicide" to make the signings, but it was the only option. In Leiwekes own words, "the patient was dying." The club was on "life support." You cant put a price on saving a club. Having Defoe and Bradley available will not be the only benefits for Toronto FC from the recent transactions. The Reds have also formed two partnerships with big clubs in Europe. A four year sales and marketing deal between MLSE and Tottenham was part of Defoes transfer, while the Roma deal for Bradley includes a player development program for Toronto FC players at Romas training facility. More shrewd business by Leiweke who, since bringing David Beckham to LA from Real Madrid in 2007, has shown he has the ability to operate superbly in the global football environment. Monday was a feel-good day for soccer in Toronto, but Leiweke was clear in his message that they have achieved nothing yet. All they have done is to give themselves "an opportunity to be successful." He also told me on more than one occasion: "were not finished yet. There is more to come." He wants to build a super-club - and with what Leiweke has already achieved in a short space of time in Toronto, its hard to bet against him. Frederik Andersen Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Felix Potvin Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. http://www.leafsauthority.com/ . Vonn punctuated her near-perfect season in perfect fashion Friday, earning her fourth overall World Cup title with a dominating giant slalom victory. SOCHI — Carey Price will play in goal for Team Canada in its Olympic opener against Norway on Thursday, while Roberto Luongo will get the call against Austria on Friday. Its up the two of them to determine which goalie will start against Finland on Sunday. Canadian mens head coach Mike Babcock said there was no reason for his decision. Babcock informed his goalies, including the teams third goalie, Mike Smith, of the decision in face-to-face meetings on Wednesday morning. "Im really thrilled and ready to go," Price said. "Our preparations have been really good so far. All three of knew that if we were called upon, wed be ready to get in there." Price enters the Olympics on a roll. He won his final three starts with the Montreal Canadiens before the break, stopping 100 of 103 shots, including a 5-2 victory over Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks in Montreal on Feb. 6. Luongo and the Canucks, meanwhile, have struggled with seven straight losses. Luongo has been in goal for five of those defeats and has won only three of his last 10 starts. The Canucks netminder was in goal when Canada won gold in Vancouver four years ago. "Oh, it didnt matter," said Luongo, when asked about the decision to start with Price. "I think right now its just focusing on Norway, thats the first challenge for our team. Ive got to be ready, you never know what can happen in the gaame. Grant Fuhr Jersey. I dont want to look too far ahead right now. I just want to focus on tomorrow, making sure that as a group, not only myself, that were ready to play." Price was asked to look down the road to possibly getting the start against Finland "All Im concerned about is our game tomorrow," he said. "Thats all that matters." Because of Canadas roster size, Smith will be joined on the sidelines by a defenceman and forward. But Babcock would not divulge who the two scratches will be. Canada practiced for the third time and once again kept their lines the same as they prepare to open the competition on Thursday. Here are Wednesdays practice lines with extra players in parenthesis: FORWARDS Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Jeff CarterPatrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Rick NashPatrick Marleau - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey PerryJamie Benn - John Tavares - Patrice Bergeron(Martin St. Louis, Matt Duchene) DEFENCE Duncan Keith - Shea WeberJay Bouwmeester - Alex PietrangeloMarc-Edouard Vlasic - Drew Doughty(P.K. Subban, Dan Hamhuis) Team Canada also practiced 5-on-3 on Wednesday with Crosby, Kunitz and Perry up front with Getzlaf and Weber on the point of the first unit and Carter, Tavares and Marleau up front with Keith and Doughty on the point of the second unit. 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