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After a year away from the game, former Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann is ready to resume his career as a San Antonio Scorpion in the North American Soccer League. Mithch Moreland Jersey . The 10-team, second-tier NASL, which includes FC Edmonton and the expansion Ottawa Fury FC, kicks off its spring season this weekend. The Scorpions host Minnesota United in one of four games Saturday. Released by Toronto following the 2012 season after an injury-plagued stint with the MLS team, the 33-year-old Cann elected to take some time off "to see where I am with the game, reassess my life." "Because Ive been playing for so long. It was a time in my life where I had to just step away for a bit to see where Im at." He kept Toronto as his base but he and his girlfriend used some of the time to travel, spending time in Europe and the U.S. "It was good to finally get some down time, maybe catch up on life," he said. "Sometimes you get caught up in the game so much, you kind of overlook important things in your life such as family and friends. "It was nice to kind of catch up with everyone." After reflection, he concluded he still had the "urgency to compete and win something." Scorpions coach Alan Hankinson had reached out to Cann previously but he wasnt ready. Canadian Alen Marcina, an assistant under Hankinson who is now head coach, tried Cann again and got a positive response. Marcina and Cann have some history together having played in Vancouver. So far Cann has enjoyed his time in the Texas heat. The San Antonio roster includes fellow Toronto FC alumni Eric Hassli and Julius James. Hassli, a former designated player with Toronto, Vancouver and FC Dallas, owns a ranch in Frisco, Texas. Canadian midfielder Shaun Saiko, a former Middlesbrough youth player and FC Edmonton player, is also a Scorpion. Also on the roster is midfielder Walter Restrepo, traded to San Antonio from Fort Lauderdale last year in a deal that reportedly included hotel and transportation arrangements for the Florida clubs trip to Texas. Other Scorpions of note include American-born El Salvador international Richard Menjivar. San Antonio finished the pre-season undefeated (4-0-3). Cann, who played 48 games for Toronto from 2010 to 2012, says he holds no hard feelings toward his former club. "At the same time a little disappointed," he said of how it all ended. "Its my home city and a great organization to be a part of." After being named TFCs player of the year in 2010 when he played 26 games, Canns 2011 season started with a salary dispute and ended prematurely when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training. The injury hampered him for much of the 2012 season as well. He saw action in 12 games in 2011 and just 10 in 2012. The six-foot-three defender was originally drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the second round -- 16th overall -- of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Louisville. He saw limited action in just two games for the Rapids before joining the pre-MLS Montreal Impact in 2004 and the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2006. Cann spent two seasons in Denmark with Esberg FB before signing in Toronto. While Cann had a roller-coaster ride with Toronto FC, he usually had a smile on his face. "Thats just part of the whole story," he said philosophically. "If you didnt have the ups and downs, then I guess you wouldnt know when you experience good times. "I take the good with the bad." Matt Harrison Texas Rangers Jersey . -- Quinn OBrien scored three times in the third period as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies beat the host Chicoutimi Sagueneens 7-3 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Nolan Ryan Authentic Jersey . Brandon Triche added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Orange (17-0, 4-0 Big East), who started 18-0 last season before dropping their first game. C.J. Fair donated 13 points and eight boards for Syracuse, which got 12 points and seven assists from Dion Waiters.BARCELONA, Spain -- Coach Gerardo Martino said he was leaving Barcelona after a disappointing first season that ended with his team losing its Spanish league title on the seasons final day. The Argentine manager said he had reached "an agreement to cease being the coach" after Barcelona was held to 1-1 by new champion Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Martino was hired last summer and tasked with continuing Barcelonas winning era started by predecessor Pep Guardiola in 2008, but Barcelona finished the season without a major trophy for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Former Barcelona player Luis Enrique is expected to replace Martino, who left with one year left on his contract. "I am deeply sorry that I couldnt help my players reach the clubs goals that it has been reaching year after year," said Martino, who refused to take questions from the press after the match. "I am sure (my players) will have more successes (in the future). I dont have anything else to say except to thank them. We admired these players from afar, we admired them from up close, and I am sure I will continue admiring them because they will get back to winning again." Martiino alluded for weeks to a possible exit, saying his future had already been decided regardless of how the league ended after Barcelonas exit from the Champions League to Atletico, and loss in the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid. Derek Holland Authentic Jersey. On Saturday, he said the decision was taken "independently of the game" that limited him to a Spanish Supercup as his only trophy in one season in charge of the Catalan club. "We thank Tata because he took over during a difficult season," Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta said. "Even so, we made the final of the Copa del Rey and were within five minutes of winning the league title." Speculation has grown that Enrique will be named to take Martinos place after he stepped down as Celta Vigo coach following a meeting with Barcelona last week. Barcelona needed to win the match at Camp Nou to win the league, but Diego Simeones Atletico emerged undefeated from its sixth meeting with Barcelona this season. Martinos goodbye came after goalkeeper Victor Valdes and captain Carles Puyol said their farewells this week. Other players will likely join them with the club set to overhaul its squad. cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
