Hilfestellungen » ight innings in a 3-1 loss on July 7 at Houston.The l

Making it clear that he valued Bryan Colangelos skills running the business side of a basketball team, new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke said the decision to relieve Colangelo of his basketball decisions, but retain him as team president was arrived at in large part because the two men had "a disagreement on the current status of the organization and this roster." Speaking Tuesday on TSN Drive with Dave Naylor, Leiweke pulled no punches in saying he thought the team was not as close to being a contending team as Colangelo and others within MLSE who provided opposition to the decision thought they were. "I guess I dont think that were right there," Leiweke said. "I dont think were a piece away. I think we have work to do. "There was no consensus," he said regarding the decision to begin a search for a new GM. "There were a lot of people with a lot of opinions and a lot of different opinions. Clearly, I had to understand that I was going to make a decision that was not going to please all." Leiweke said creating a management system where both president and GM report to him directly is not ideal, but not totally uncommon in the sports world. He noted his previous structure in Los Angeles with the Kings was similar in that the president of business operations, Luc Robitaille and the president of hockey operations, Dean Lombardi both reported to him. Still, Leiweke admitted it was not the way he would have liked to "draw it up" given a clean slate, but felt like it was the proper way to deal with things considering the situation. He noted Colangelos communication skills and ability to build relationships with sponsors as to why he would be successful in a business operations role. "Hes smart, hes intelligent, hes a good businessman and hes very passionate about the Raptors, very articulate, represents them well and he loves Toronto." In a search for a new general manager, Leiweke said he would welcome Colangelos input given his vast basketball knowledge and background and wouldnt rule out the possibility of having the new hire work with the former GM. Leiweke also made it a point to mention that a "fresh face, with a fresh view of the world, with a fresh view of this roster, with a fresh view of what we need to do to be competitive long term" was something he felt the team was in need of. Not naming any one player directly, he made a point of mentioning he thought Colangelos judgment may have been hindered due to his former ties to his no. 1 overall draft pick in 2006, Andrea Bargnani. "We need someone who is extremely rational when it comes to the roster and reaching conclusions as to who is going to work and who is not going to work," Leiweke said. "Sometimes you have to find a new set of eyes and a new opinion in order to judge a roster. Not be personal about a player because you chose him or you used the first pick in the first round to pick a player. Sometimes its easier for a guy coming in that doesnt have that loyalty and doesnt have that burden of being the guy that made that decision. You reach a better conclusion at times about who needs to stay and who needs to go." He said moving forward the goal is to create a team that is a perennial contender, not one that is simply looking to sneak into a playoff spot. "First and foremost, we have to figure out a way to win, how to win consistently and how to win long term. I referred to it earlier today as being a 7/11 – good enough to maybe be in the seventh or eighth spot and make the playoffs, but never good enough to win." In his search for a new head of basketball operations, Leiweke emphasized the importance of drafting and development and hiring someone who was capable of developing a team identity. "We cannot make bad decisions with draft picks," he said, mentioning teams such as San Antonio and Oklahoma City as the models to strive towards. "The great organizations maximize their draft picks when they get them." Despite the teams struggles, Leiweke said there are candidates that would welcome the chance to come to Toronto given MLSEs resources. Still, besides finding a capable general manager, he thinks the bigger challenge will be changing the league-wide perception of the franchise. "The Raptors reputation is one of people questioning what direction were going in, what brand of basketball we play and what kind of personality are we going to have as an organization and we have to change that." Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Arizona Coyotes Pro Shop . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/828z-jason-demers-jersey-coyotes.html . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Arizona Coyotes Gear . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Teppo Numminen Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. OAKLAND, Calif. -- There should be few secrets when Houston Astros right-hander Doug Fister is on the mound Wednesday afternoon, pitching against the Oakland As in the finale of a three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum.Fister (9-6, 3.64 ERA) will start against Oakland for the fourth time this season, all in a span of 80 days.I dont think it really changes anything, said Fister, who will try to prevent the As from sweeping the three-game series. This games really a game of chess anyway, but no matter what you do prior, it all comes down to execution. I can throw the same pitch three different times, and three different times I get three different results.Im still going to attack with the same game plan, and obviously theres minute changes that happen, but for the most part, everythings going to stay the same. Im just going to attack and let the defense work.Based on Fisters numbers this year against the As, there is no reason for him to make drastic alterations. He is 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA vs. Oakland He allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory on May 1 at the Coliseum and no runs over six innings in a 12-2 win on June 3 in Houston. In his third start against the As, Fister gave up two runs over eight innings in a 3-1 loss on July 7 at Houston.The latter game was Fisters third consecutive defeat, but he snapped his skid Friday at Seattle, allowing three runs over five innings in a 9-6 victory.Ive fellt pretty good for a while now, Fister said.dddddddddddd Ive had a couple hiccups, but at the same time, those guys are pretty good. Ive got to come back and execute every fifth day, and thats the road were trying to get back on.As rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-4, 5.54 ERA) will make his eighth career start and try to get back on track after three straight rough starts. Mengden gave up a combined eight earned runs over his first four starts but allowed 16 earned runs in his past three.Mengden yielded six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and got a no-decision in a 10-9 loss to the Astros on July 8 at Houston. Then in his first start after the All-Star break, he allowed six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at the Coliseum.Last start, my control might have been a little off, Mengden said. I think my arm slot was a little different. Trying to find it a little bit.Mengden acknowledged that he has never experienced such a rough stretch of games in his career.But Im in the big leagues now, and its not as easy as in the minors, Mengden said. Just in a little funk. Im not too worried about it. The past is the past. Im trying to stay looking forward, and Im looking forward to pitching against the Astros again on Wednesday. ' ' '