Alles Andere » Tirico even got in on the action, busting

Randy Carlyle could only speak for the moment when asked about his future as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, addressing the media on Tuesday for the first time after his teams season ended short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “Im here today,” he said when asked whether he would be back with the club for the 2014-15 season. “In this business you take on the responsibility of wins and losses, he continued. “You put your best foot forward and try to be honest and forthright with people and thats what were trying to do as a hockey club.” Carlyles future has been the subject of great speculation in the wake of a disappointing season for the Leafs. A March free-fall saw the team plummet from third in the Eastern Conference to a 38-36-8 finish, good for the eighth-worst record in the League. The teams first order of business once the off-season began was to appoint former NHL Director of Player of Safety and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Brendan Shanahan as the teams new president. While Carlyle could not comment on any impending changes under Shanahan – he is yet to formally meet with his new boss – he summed up the free-fall as a symptom of how the team played throughout the year. “The last 30 days of the season was the tell-tale story for our group,” Carlyle said. “The things that we were doing in the beginning and winning came to fruition in the final 30 days.” He pointed specifically to the teams inability to capitalize on a strong road trip to California in early March as a detrimental turning point in the season. After winning two of three road games against the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings in early March, the Leafs returned to the east coast, losing three games in four nights and kicking off what would become an eight-game stretch without earning a single point in the standings. “It seemed we played well enough to earn some respect,” Carlyle said of the California trip. “Then we seemed to have lost our mojo.” From then on, the teams confidence seemed to drop every time they conceded an early goal or did not perform up to expectations. “The first goal would go in and the shoulders would slump, that was the tell-tale sign,” he said. “Our response was very minimal.” The 57-year-old Carlyle has spent parts of three seasons with the team, taking over from previous Leafs head coach Ron Wilson with 18 games remaining in the 2011-12 season. Carlyle would lead the team to a 6-9-3 finish in his first year. His most successful year at the helm would be the following season when he led the Leafs to a 26-17-5 mark in strike shortened 2012-13 and, more importantly, the franchises first playoff berth since 2003-04. They would ultimately suffer a shocking defeat in Game 7 of their opening round series, surrendering a 4-1, third period lead in the final 11 minutes of regulation and falling in overtime to the Boston Bruins. Speaking to the teams 2012-13 success, Carlyle stated that he and the teams management were confident going into the season, but that they may have misjudged the teams strength. “We had been a competitive group the year previous and we felt this group was ready to take the next step,” Carlyle said Tuesday. “It didnt materialize.” Speaking to the teams defensive posture, Carlyle didnt see a consistent effort. “You have to play and you have to compete on the defensive side of the puck with will and commitment,” Carlyle said. “We didnt do that consistently.” “Were not asking players to do something they havent done before,” he added when asked about players molding to his coaching strategy. Carlyle currently has one year remaining on the three-year deal he signed after taking over for Wilson in 2012. He stopped short of offering up explanations for how to turn the Leafs fortunes around, capitulating with: "For now, we dont have the ultimate answer to give you and were embarassed by what just went down." Byron Buxton Jersey .And although FIFAs investigators are preparing to release the findings of a World Cup corruption probe, Hassan Al Thawadi dismissed any chance of Qatar losing the showpiece event. Nelson Cruz Jersey . Kansas City became the first team in baseball history to win four extra-inning games in a single postseason on Friday, as Alex Gordon crushed a leadoff homer in the 10th and Mike Moustakas added the deciding two-run blast in the Royals 8-6 win. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-kirby-puckett-jersey/ . In the Brewers six games this season, no starter has allowed more than three runs. "We see the guy in front of us do a great job and we want to do even better," Gallardo said after the Brewers beat the Red Sox 4-0 on Sunday, his second straight scoreless start. Willians Astudillo Twins Jersey . So he and his Toronto FC teammates say they will have no problem getting up for their Amway Canadian Championship final against rival Montreal Impact, even if the result doesnt count toward Major League Soccer standings. Jason Castro Jersey . A wide-eyed 18-year-old visiting North America for only the second time in his young life, Caboclo immediately noticed the "big tower" his new home is best known for.If you thought the atmosphere was amazing inside the building, it was even more impressive on the outside. This series marked the debut for "Jurassic Park" (or "Maple Leafs Square"), where fans would watch the game on the big screen outside of the ACC. If youre not already at Maple Leaf Square, dont come. Theyre cutting off the line. So more than 10,000 on hand. #raptors — cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) May 4, 2014Incredible.ESPNs Mike Tirico even got in on the action, busting out his own verse in honour of the Raptors Global Ambassador Drake.Jay-Z even gave Toronto some props. Congrats Toronto on a hard fought series. #spreadloveitsthebrooklynway — Mr. Carter (@S_C_) May 4, 2014So hats off to all the fans that showed the NBA what a great basketball city Toronto can be, and dont think for a second that the players diidnt notice.dddddddddddd Thank you Toronto! #BestFansInTheNBA — DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) May 4, 2014 TORONTO, you are the BEST fans in this league. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, for an incredible season! #Raptors #JurassicPark #TDot — Landry Fields (@landryfields) May 5, 2014 Big love to the city of Toronto and all Raptor fans! For being there all season and proving we are a basketball city! pic.twitter.com/QPGKOobWwv — STEVE NOVAK (@stevenovak16) May 4, 2014 Tough lost but Proud to have been part of this @Raptors team! Thanks to all fans ;-) #RTZ #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/BJEB0diDm1 — Nando De Colo (@NandoDeColo) May 4, 2014 Thank you Toronto for the support all year since day 1.. #BestFansInTheNBA pic.twitter.com/KdON5WiOkL — Dwight Buycks (@BuycksWorld13) May 5, 2014#WeTheNorth ' ' '