Hallensaison 2011/12 » questionable for Game 6

The Toronto Argonauts are North Americas oldest professional football franchise. But theyre also homeless and nomadic - a description that isnt new for the team over the last few decades. With building time, pressure and ownership uncertainty, its a challenge that members of the organization can no longer ignore. The Argos are first in the East Division (albeit with a 3-7 record), but the team has used three different practice facilities across the Greater Toronto Area over the last month. Theyve been at York University, the Hershey Centre in Mississauga and the Rogers Centre for meetings and locker rooms, while occasionally practising on different high school and community fields in North and West Toronto. Several veteran players and team staffers - who wish to remain anonymous - approached TSN in recent weeks to their concern and frustration over the negative affect the Argos constant changing of facilities and cloudy ownership situation continue to have on the club. Players have also sent in photos of equipment stuffed in narrow hallways and around players trying to get treatment for injuries from the training staff. "This whole thing is a joke," one veteran player told TSN. While the team moved into a new, permanent facility at Downsview Park in North Toronto (shared with Toronto FC) last week, there was still unhappiness with the situation. "Does it affect how we prepare (for games)? Yes," said another veteran player. "Do I think about it while Im on the field, between plays? No. But its always in the back of your mind." The situation seems comparable to two years ago when a fire destroyed the Argonauts facility at the University of Torontos Mississauga campus and the team was forced to work in the schools classrooms along with neighbouring high school football fields. And that team went on to win the 100th Grey Cup that season. "In 2012, we used our facilities - or lack of - as motivation to win a championship," added another player. "Now? Many of us are tired and frustrated. But what can we do?" While the players say that trying to work around unpredictable locations and schedules without violating the 4 1/2 hour workday rule mandated in the leagues collective bargaining agreement is tough, the CFL Players Association told TSN that no complaints have been filed over excessive workdays or unfit working conditions. The reason players have chosen to stay quiet appears to be the efforts of head coach Scott Milanovich and his coaching staff to maintain calm inside the locker rooms. And those efforts have not gone unnoticed. Players say that Milanovich never complains about the teams situation, but simply brings a detailed plan to every practice and demands that his players perform. "I cant imagine what Coach Scott is going through," said defensive back Jalil Carter prior to the Labour Day Classic in Hamilton. "He takes all that frustration onto himself. And we never see it. He just allows us to compete." Milanovich declined to comment on Torontos practice facilities or ownership situation. "Im just trying to prepare our guys to win the East," he said flatly. "Our goal is to be one game away from the Grey Cup. Thats it." But not knowing the franchises future is a disheartening distraction for the players. And off the field, team staffers are concerned about diminishing budgets and a diminishing workforce. The team has been without a head of ticket sales and corporate partnerships this season. And after the Argonauts director of marketing resigned in August, team staff have said the team will effectively have no marketing department later this month. By comparison, other CFL franchises have no fewer than two marketing directors - and in some cases, as many as six full-time marketing staffers. On top of that, the teams lease at the Rogers Centre expires Dec. 31, 2017 and the Argos have not yet drawn more than 20,000 spectators to any of their four home games. "I have no idea what is going on (with the ownership situation)," a veteran said. "I dont know who to blame." One prominent Argo whos considering a contract extension says that while his connection with the current roster and coaching staff is important, he cant help but factor in the stress caused by the unpredictability with their practice facilities. And that dithering has already hurt the Argos. CFL sources tell TSN that Toronto made a contract offer to re-sign free agent defensive back Pat Watkins in the off-season, but Eskimos head coach (and former Argos defensive coordinator) Chris Jones brought the CFL All-Star to Edmonton to show him the teams state-of-the-art fieldhouse near Commonwealth Stadium. After that, Watkins never returned the Argos calls. Jones also made sure that his new acquisition shared his Toronto experience with his new teammates. "Coach Jones brought Pat and I up (in front of the team) to tell everyone where we had come from and the challenges we faced (with facilities) in Toronto," said Eskimos offensive lineman and former Argo Tony Washington. "He wanted the team to be thankful for what we have." Even after the Argos move to Downsview Park, its still difficult for some in the organization to feel pleased. After the first week at the new facility, a team staffer told TSN that the new challenge is managing the Argos work schedule - particularly washing equipment - around that of Toronto FC. In July, the team announced a partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to build training facilities. Some in the organization call them "modular buildings" - structures built off-site and then set down in Downsview Park. For others, theyre simply called "trailers." Nevertheless, Milanovich and his coaching staff are maintaining a constructive outlook, focused on holding their lead in the East Division. But with mounting questions about David Braleys ownership of the team and how the CFL should handle the situation, Toronto players and staff are wondering aloud how the situation will continue to affect their performance. "Sometimes you have to remind yourself: This is a professional franchise," said one player. "Its frustrating." Michael Conforto Jersey . Dont miss a single shot, live on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Winners of their last eight games, the Heat return to Toronto for the second time in the month of November. After beginning the season 4-3, allowing 100.9 points on 47 per cent shooting, Miamis resurgent defence has vaulted them back to the top of a weak Eastern Conference. Paul Sewald Jersey .com) - Manu Ginobili capped off a 26-point night with a go-ahead layup with 24 seconds left in overtime, with the basket giving the San Antonio Spurs a much-needed 95-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/810l-joh...ersey-mets.html. 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The Wild entered this best-of-seven series as heavy underdogs against the defending Stanley Cup champions and fell behind 2-0 in Games 1 and 2 in Chicago before evening the set at 2-2 on home ice. The Blackhawks, however, regained the upper hand in the series with a victory in Sundays Game 5 and will try to punch another ticket to the Western Conference finals tonight. You can catch all the action live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. A victory tonight would give the Blackhawks, who also won the Cup in 2010, their fourth trip to the third round in six seasons. Chicago, of course, is trying to become the first team to win consecutive Stanley Cup titles since Detroit pulled off the repeat in 1997 and 98. Chicago posted a 2-1 decision in the Windy City to grab a 3-2 lead. Jonathan Toews registered the winning goal early in the third period and Corey Crawford stopped 27 shots to put the Blackhawks one win away from the West finals. Bryan Bickell also scored and Patrick Sharp contributed a pair of assists for the Blackhawks. "The whole game, the whole series has been very tight," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we showed more determination in the puck area tonight." In order to end the series in six games, the Blackhawks will have to become the first road team in this postseason to win at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota is 5-0 in St. Paul in the 2014 playoffs and last lost a postseason game on home ice when Chicago won Game 4 of last springs opening-round series. The Blackhawks went on to win that set with a Game 5 victory on home ice. "We definitely would like to finish it there," Chicago forward Marian Hossa said of Game 6. "We know how hard it is to play in their building and we know we have to be better than we were in the last three games." If Minnesota is able to stay perfect at home on Tuesdday, the clubs will meet Thursday at the United Center for a decisive Game 7.dddddddddddd Erik Haula picked up the lone tally for the Wild on Sunday, while Ilya Bryzgalov made 26 saves in defeat. "We had a pretty good start, first period, but then I thought we got soft in our game," Wild head coach Mike Yeo said. Minnesota grabbed a 1-0 lead on Haulas goal with 3:27 left in the first, but Bickell tied it with a power-play goal around the midway point of the second period. The score stayed 1-1 until Chicagos captain delivered the eventual game-winner early in the third period. Chicago took a 2-1 lead with 4:33 played in the third. Hossa kept control of the puck behind the Minnesota cage and drifted from the right side back to the left before dishing into the circle for Sharp. His try to the net was furthered by Hossa, then Toews fended off a Wild checker at the right post and backhanded the rebound home. Crawford backed up the tally by stopping all 14 Minnesota shots in the final 20 minutes. Bryzgalov was called to the bench with 1:47 on the clock, and Crawford endured some close calls on crease rushes by the visitors before the buzzer. "It (stinks) to lose a game like this, and obviously when you lose, youre frustrated, youre mad," Yeo said. "But I think theres been enough in this series where we should feel confident still. That said, we also recognize that wed better be ready." Minnesota dressed defenseman Skip Prosser in place of Keith Ballard, who departed Game 4 with an upper-body injury after being checked from behind by Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig. Ballard is questionable for Game 6, as is forward Matt Moulson, who sat out the last two games due to an unspecified lower-body injury. Bollig sat out the first of his two-game suspension levied on Saturday and will complete the ban tonight. Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw missed a fourth straight game Sunday with a lower-body injury he suffered in the series opener. He expects to sit out again on Tuesday. ' ' '