Liebe, Lust und Leben » there and changing some of that up

TORONTO - While Toronto FC has spent the year scouring the globe for talent, its surprise player of the season is a local product acquired before the new management regime took over. Rookie midfielder Jonathan Osorio, identified as a player to watch early in training camp by first-year manager Ryan Nelsen, has shown an opportune scoring touch in grabbing the spotlight. Osorio, who turned 21 in June, has started eight games and seen action in 10 more with Nelsen playing him both in centre midfield and on the flank. "Hes one of the absolutely top young talents in this league," said Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne. "I put him at the same level as (Gyasi) Zardes and the other forward (Jose Villarreal) from Los Angeles that everybodys making a big deal about. "I think Johnnys actually probably got a better all-round game than either one of them." Nelsen believes Osorio is a legitimate rookie of the year candidate. "For a guy who you could kind of say is coming out of nowhere in a way, its been an absolutely fantastic year," said the former New Zealand international. "But what I love about Jon is that he only wants to get better and wants to improve every day." Thanks in part to Osorio, Toronto snapped a six-game winless streak last weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Osorio scored in the 87th minute to pull Toronto into a 1-1 tie that set the stage for Andrew Wiedemans 94th-minute winner in a torrential downpour at BMO Field. While he had been shifted to the wing recently, the arrival of Spanish winger Alvaro Rey is likely to return Osorio to the middle. Osorios four goals are second only to Robert Earnshaws six on a team where goals have been hard to come by. Toronto has just 19 in 21 games. Top strikers Danny Koevermans (calf) and Earnshaw (hamstring) have both been sidelined of late. Osorio says hes always had "a nose for the (penalty) area." "Im one to always attack the box and I think I do it pretty well. So as long as I keep doing that — thats where more than 50 per cent of the goals happen in football." Osorios goals have all come late. And would have meant more had it not been for defensive lapses. Osorio scored in the 78th minute against Los Angeles (the Galaxy replied in stoppage time for a 2-2 tie), in the 66th minute against Philadelphia (the Union scored in stoppage time for a 1-1 tie) and the 83rd minute against New York (the Red Bulls scored in the 89th minute for a 2-1 win). "Its a great story for our other academy kids," said Payne. "When they see kids actually transition from the academy to the first team and get games and have the opportunities to make impacts, that really helps their confidence. They now believe that Wow if I work hard, there really is a pathway. "That kid is very talented. Johnny Osorio. Hes a tough kid ... He looks like a cool, detached sort of player on the field but he actually has a great deal of emotion within him. He plays with a lot of passion." Osorio didnt spent much time with the Toronto academy. He signed in September after impressing with SC Toronto in the Canadian Soccer League. In February, he was at Toronto FCs camp in Florida and was included in Nelsens his first starting 11, against the Columbus Crew. "You knew it right there, he had confidence in me to play and to be ready to play at a professional level," Osorio said. The young Canadian says he is growing in confidence every week. "I feel really good out there," he said. "Im always hungry to score goals or assists or help the team in any way." Said Nelsen: "Nothing fazes him. Not even bad moments in games. He always tries to do things positively. Instead of going into his shell, he tries to keep doing stuff. And I love that because the game and life in general rewards those people." Osorio took the long road to his home-town club, spending two years at Club Nacional in Montevideo, Uruguay, thanks to his talent and the connections of coach Jorge Amura at the Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club in suburban Mississauga. He spent two years there, starting in the under-19 ranks before making his way into the reserves before deciding to return home at the end of 2011. Stitched Celtics Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Wholesale Celtics Jerseys . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapceltics.com/ .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Celtics Jerseys 2020 . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. MINNEAPOLIS -- Tickets to see the Minnesota Vikings in their new home this season have been expensive. On Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts make their first visit to U.S. Bank Stadium, ticket buyers will be treated to a bunch of desperate playoff scenarios for free.Both the Vikings (7-6) and the Colts (6-7) are clinging to hopes that they will be playing after Jan. 1, and both are going to need a win on Sunday -- and plenty of help -- to get it done.Its also billed as a meeting between two No. 1 overall NFL draft picks with Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (the top pick in 2010) facing Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (the top pick in 2012).The injury bug seems determined to take a bit of the shine off that showdown. Luck missed practice on Wednesday with a sore shoulder and elbow on his throwing arm -- leftover ailments from the Colts loss to the Houston Texans last weekend in which he was sacked just once but hit on more than a dozen occasions.I didnt feel as good after that game as you would like, Luck said Wednesday. December football. Nobody feels like they want to at this point. You just make sure you are ready to go on Sunday. However, Luck was not listed on the injury report Friday, so he will definitely play.Bradford will also be ready to go on Sunday and practiced Wednesday but was limited by a sore shoulder. However, he also was not on Fridays injury report. However, for the Vikings, Wednesday was more about one player that was back at practice and less about those that are missing.Star running back Adrian Peterson, who has been out with a knee injury since the third quarter of Minnesotas Week 2 win over Green Bay, practiced with the team and offered an immediate emotional lift.Then, in an interview with Dash radio on Friday afternoon, Peterson insisted he would play against the Colts.Im gonna give you the inside (scoop), Peterson told interviewer DJ Skee. Im gonna go ahead and go this week. Im getting back out there this week.The Vikings did not activate Peterson Friday, but they can do that Saturday. Coach Mike Zimmer said earlier Friday that no decision had been made.It was great to see him out here in the walk-through today, Bradford said after Peterson returned to practice. I think hes just one of thoose guys, he has been a leader on this team.dddddddddddd Obviously, hes one of the best players in this league, and he has been for quite some time. So I think just having him back out at practice in the huddle, I think its a definite lift to our guys.The possible re-emergence of Minnesotas running game could hardly come at a better time for the Vikings, who won in Jacksonville last weekend despite getting stuffed on the goal line twice and ending up with zero points in two trips to the 1-yard line.The defensive-minded Zimmer said hes just as focused on stopping the Colts running game and speed at receiver.They have the eighth-best rusher in NFL history. So thats kind of a challenge. Frank Gore is a terrific back, Zimmer said. Theyve got tremendous skill, speed with (Donte) Moncrief and (T.Y.) Hilton obviously. Theyve got great speed.Theyve got two decent tight ends. Ones a second-leading receiver (Jack Doyle) and defensively the 3-4 stuff. Weve been in a little bit of a 4-3 mode the last couple of weeks. So weve got to get back to the 3-4 and the things we do there and changing some of that up.However, Moncrief was declared out Friday becasue of a hamstring injury.Sitting third in the AFC South behind Houston and Tennessee, Indianapolis is in must-win mode and could be eliminated Sunday if it loses and the Texans and Titans both win. The Colts have won their last three road games but know a unique challenge awaits inside Minnesotas new stadium, which is notoriously noisy.Weve got to go on the road in a hostile environment, in a new venue, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said. We understand the elements and the noise and all that other stuff that we have to deal with, that our offense has to deal with. Were trying to do the best we can to replicate that and put them under as much duress as we can.The Vikings, who started 5-0 and have gone just 2-6 since then, cannot be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday but would face long, long odds with a loss. They close the season with divisional games at Green Bay on Christmas Eve and at home against Chicago on New Years Day. ' ' '