After seven years of failure, it finally seems as though Toronto FC is moving in the right direction. With Major League Soccers youngest general manager Tim Bezbatchenko at the helm and the vastly experienced Tim Leiweke heading up the organization, we are starting to see encouraging signs as the foundation is laid for a much improved roster in 2014. Of course, there have been many false dawns before at a club that has changed direction far too many times in its short history, but this time it feels different. There actually seems to be a plan being carried out by people who have the ability, knowledge and relationships to get the job done. The signing of24-year-old Brazilian forward Gilberto as a Designated Player on Friday could be a major piece of the puzzle, but other moves made this week also give an indication that progress is being made. Jacksons arrival from FC Dallas provides the club with some MLS experience as well as someone who can play in a number of different positions. The trade of Stefan Frei along with re-signing of Joe Bendik ensured the goalkeeping situation was dealt with in a timely manner. The fact that these moves are being made in early December instead of March is a welcome change. At Toronto FCs Downsview Park training facility, “the war room” as Bezbatchenko likes to call it has a board with long lists of players they are chasing. The moves the club is making are calculated. There are top targets, and many back-up plans as the GM and his team work through a process paying great attention to detail, determined to get the best fit possible for their club in both a football and financial sense. They have made no secret of their intention to sign a big-name Designated Player. Jermain Defoe is set to join the club in January from Tottenham Hotspur, but he is just one of four or five top level DPs the club has targeted. Plan B, C and D are all on stand-by in case there is a last minute hitch with the England forward, although I understand the deal has already been agreed to to bring Defoe to Toronto for a transfer fee that could rise as high as $13 million. Beyond the DP signings there are also two or three other key players Bezbatchenko expects to bring in. Dwayne De Rosario is a potential target, but only if the deal is right. TFC certainly wont overpay to bring the veteran home. Bezbatchenko is taking a methodical approach that will hopefully ensure the club isnt left scrambling in preseason looking to sign players as has been the case on so many previous occasions. This year, there should be no need for 10 players to turn up for a preseason trial in Orlando, or for multiple players to be rushed to the border to activate work permits on the afternoon before the season opener. There was even an occasion a few years ago where a deal was done so late that a player had to sign his contract in the taxi on the way from the airport to the stadium for the first game of the season! I sense those days are over. When talking with Tim Bezbatchenko it is easy to see he has a plan. He also has the relationships within the league to assist in making that plan work. In the tight knit community of Major League Soccer, the importance of having relationships with other clubs, agents and players cannot be underestimated, and having worked at league office, Bezbatchenko has earned respect across MLS. Toronto FC fans have the right to be skeptical - they have seen failure too many times before. But with three months until the new season begins, the club is finally starting to deliver on its promises, and that is an extremely big step forward for a franchise that cannot afford to fail again. Abraham Almonte Jersey .com) - Mike Miller scored a season-high 21 points in a rare start and the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a 95-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Melky Cabrera Jersey .C. - Canadian ice dancing, it seems, is in good hands. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-Danny-Duffy-Kids-Jersey/ . Globo TV and other news outlets said early Monday that Scolari will not remain as coach after the national teams failure to win the World Cup at home. Justin Grimm Jersey .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Drew Butera Jersey . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs needed a pick me up after a disappointing loss and a series of injuries, and they got it Sunday night by stepping all over the Milwaukee Bucks. Patty Mills had 20 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 13 rebounds in limited action, and San Antonio rolled to a 110-82 victory over Milwaukee that kept the Bucks winless in the new year. Marco Belinelli scored 14 points, Jeff Ayres and Nando De Colo had 13 points apiece, and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points in 21 minutes for San Antonio. After hanging their heads following a 109-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, the Spurs were feeling pretty good after trouncing the Bucks. "(My confidence is) going through the roof, man" Ayres said. "You dont see me out there? Im having fun, dunking on people and stuff. Its awesome. Life is good." Even San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was in a light-hearted mood, joking about the season debut of athletic, 6-foot-9 forward Malcolm Thomas. "I thought he was real active," Popovich said. "He blocked (two) shots. You know we dont block shots; thats not part of our program . thats a joke." The merriment came at the expense of adding to Milwaukees misery. The Bucks have lost nine straight, dropping those games by an average of 15 points. Making matters worse for Milwaukee, starting off guard Luke Ridnour left the game after spraining his right wrist late in the first quarter. The wrist bent back after it was sandwiched between Mills and Ekpe Udoh as Ridnour attempted to roll off a screen. He still attempted a 19-foot jumper, but feverishly signalled for a sub as he clutched his wrist in pain. "The X-rays were negative, which is a good sign," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Right now it looks like hes in a splint and I dont know how long he will be out." It swelled right away, as soon as he did it and that was a big concern. I guess well go back and I believe hell get an MRI." Brandon Knight scored 21 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and John Henson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which trailed by double digits the entire second half. San Antonio played without starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter, former starter Danny Green and 3-point specialist Matt Bonner. Parker missed the game with a bruised right shin that stiffened in the second half of the Spurs loss to the Trail Blazers. "We were missing a lot of guys so thatt was a little worrying, but overall I think we did a good job," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said.dddddddddddd "Everybody got to play and everybody played well. Guys made shots and its a good feeling." The Spurs bench scored 58 points, with only one coming from Ginobili. Duncan played only 27 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter as San Antonio built its lead to as many as 28 points in the second half after breaking the game open early. The Spurs went on a 15-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, taking a 29-16 lead that essentially put the game out the Bucks reach. Milwaukee went scoreless for five minutes, missing six shots, committing two turnovers and an offensive foul. Hensons 20-foot jump hook with 11:18 remaining in the first half ended the drought. Mills opened the run with the first of his four 3-pointers, sinking a 25-footer with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. "They move the ball, they make the right play and they get the open shot," former Spurs guard Gary Neal said. "Patty was the recipient of good ball movement today and he was able to knock the shots down. You have to give credit where credit is due, that system has been in effect for a long time and its been successful for a long time." Even the notoriously tough Popovich was able to give his team a figurative pat on the back afterward. "Coaches are sick puppies," Popovich said. "Theres always things you can improve and do better. You look at the film, try to keep your standard and get ready for playoffs, but overall it was a good performance." NOTES: Parker received the La Gazzetta Dello Sports European Player of the Year award before the tipoff. Parker led France to its first European Championship in the off-season. . Neal was greeted by apathy when he entered the game, receiving little reaction in his first game in San Antonio since leaving in the off-season as a free agent. . Bonner missed the game with a broken nose he sustained after taking an elbow from the Trail Blazers Thomas Robinson in the first quarter Friday night. . Spurs analyst Sean Elliott quickly grabbed his notebook and paperwork during the first half when Duncan walked toward the scorers table with a mischievous grin. Earlier this month, Duncan playfully tossed Elliotts things during a timeout. Duncan laughed as he stood over Elliott, failing to find anything to toss at his former teammate. . San Antonios mascot, the Coyote, made a behind-back, three-quarter-court shot during a timeout. 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