Toronto

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen any wacky antics from Toronto Blue Jays fans. So maybe you thought all the heat they were taking encouraged them to reform their ways and dial it down a notch. But no. They’ve just been regrouping. Last night, with the Orioles in town for the Battle of the Birds, they were back at it. And this time somebody did something dangerously stupid. In the bottom of the 6th, Baltimore left fielder Nate McLouth made a nice running grab on a pop fly off the bat of Colby Rasmus. McClouth’s momentum took him up and over the wall and into the first row of seats, but he managed to escape without injury. That’s not where it ended, however. The fans in that section seemed to believe that McLouth had dropped the ball as he was going over the wall, and were signaling as much to the umps. Then, when the umps ruled it was a catch anyway, one angry Jays fan in the upper deck decided to take revenge on McLouth by throwing a beer at him. And I’m not talking a half full cup of beer. I’m talking a mostly full can, which came screaming down toward the turf like a rocket. Take a look: And for a better look at the impact of the brewsky, here’s an animated GIF: Now that is some scary sh*t. If that can had hit anybody it would have done some serious damage. Hopefully the idiot who threw that beer got ratted out by the more level-headed fans in his section. Hat Tip – [Gamereax]

Avec ses rives grandioses, son secteur des affaires animé et son quartier des théâtres de renommée mondiale, Toronto brille à son apogée en été. Si vous planifiez un voyage vers la plus grande ville du Canada, nous vous proposons cinq lieux à visiter afin de rendre vos vacances mémorables.1. Leslie Street Spit : Le Leslie Street Spit est souvent décrit comme l'un des secrets les mieux gardés de Toronto. Il s'agit d'une péninsule, d'une zone protégée et d'une réserve ornithologique créée par l'homme - située directement dans la grande métropole. À partir de pittoresques postes d'observation, parsemés le long de ses nombreux sentiers de randonnée pédestre et de vélo, elle offre aux promeneurs une vue sans égale de la ville, tout en les entourant de vastes champs de fleurs sauvages, de forêts de peupliers, de marais maritimes, de plages de galets et de dunes. Vos sens refuseront de croire que vous êtes toujours à Toronto.More...

TORONTO - Toronto's deputy mayor says city government is still functioning despite the raging scandal engulfing Mayor Rob Ford over an alleged crack cocaine video.At the same time, Doug Holyday says it's urgent for Ford to deal with the allegations that gained attention around the world.More than a week ago, the American website Gawker and the Toronto Star reported viewing a cellphone video they said appeared to show Ford smoking crack cocaine.Ford's own executive is drafting a letter urging the mayor to address the allegations as soon as possible.Last Friday, the mayor called the allegations "ridiculous" but has said little else about them.On Thursday, Ford fired his chief of staff but again evaded reporters.Holyday says he will talk to the former aide to see if he can find out why Ford has been unavailable for the past week.More...

What a week! What's on your mind?

• Speculation over Chivas USA's ownership• Johan Cruyff's grandson has trial at DC United• Impact's Jeb Brovsky has nose broken in six places• Bakary Soumare is back at Chicago FireIn case anyone missed the week's really big news, it looks like HOUSTON MAY BE HEADING BACK TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE! Yes, struck by the debilitating dynastic prospect of more Dynamo vs Galaxy finals, MLS has acted resolutely by accepting $100 million of outside investment to start a new New York team and presumably shunt Houston back to the West in 2015. It's a bold move, that everybody nobody saw coming, but arguably no more leftfield a move than bringing the Yankees in as partners...The existing New York/New Jersey team, the Red Bulls, greeted the news from the top of the Supporters Shield standings, with the chance to emulate an unbeaten streak they last achieved some ten years ago (when Kevin Keegan was Manchester City manager). The Red Bulls face Columbus this weekend at the start of a three game home stand on the field and a possible 18 month one off it. Meanwhile, as the rest of the league feasts themselves on the Red Bulls discarded games in hand, Montreal edge back into action, having apparently been determined not to run out of games as they did on last year's run-in. The Garbo-esque Impact make a rare public appearance against a Philadelphia side who are beginning to show more than just McInerney's goals.Houston won't be in the West just yet, but it'll be a shame to miss their regular ongoing tussles with Sporting KC if and when they do go. After Sporting ended their record-breaking unbeaten home run a couple of weeks ago, the Dynamo will be out for revenge, though Kei Kamara will be looking for a definitive performance to show he's back home. That's this week's NBCSN game on Sunday afternoon.New England added insult to injury for the Dynamo when they added a second straight home defeat for them last week, and now they go home themselves to welcome Toronto, who might need a quick reminder of the long term nature of the revival project they're working on, as the immediate pressures of poor league form pile up. Also feeling the pressure, the redoubtable Chelis at Chivas, who are slumping alarmingly after their bright start, and who face a tough trip to the quietly achieving Colorado side, who are finally getting their first choice players back, but who've done just fine with their so-called second stringers.Colorado can't rest up in that last play-off spot though, as a surging Seattle team are just behind them and going to LA looking to extract some revenge for last year's semi-final elimination and prove that they are indeed, back. Seattle come into the game with the confidence of having beaten erstwhile frontrunners Dallas last week. Dallas are back home, yet again, to face San Jose. The Earthquakes are still scoring late goals, but they're tending to get them single points rather than three points in recent games. They have one win in nine games.Chicago meanwhile, have two wins in ten games, and the second worst goal difference in the league. They've just lost successive games to the Union and seem to think they might have the blueprint. That may explain why they're rumored to be moving to bring Bakary Soumare back to where he started, and may further explain his "shop window displays" in those two recent games. The Fire go to RSL this weekend, who are back home themselves for the next four games — they're tucked in nicely in second spot in the West and will hope to put a little bit of pressure in Dallas with that run.Our regular cast of team reps join us this week, to begin ratcheting up the hype about what Dom Kinnear might wear for his first game back in the West, and also mention in passing the main stories for their teams heading into the games this weekend. See what they have to say below and add your own take on the weekend's action, then join us on Monday to see if we're any the wiser.All kick off times are listed as ETDC Unite

The Jays are easily one of the most GIFable teams, whether on the field or off. If you frequent out blogs, Scott Lewis usually does a Friday GIF post from around the league, but this post will focus only on the Jays. So here we go: The Aaron Loup ball caress is simply mesmerizing. And maybe even a little creepy. Even more when it’s x2: There’s no love for DeRosa, as he gets shut down TWICE. First by Morrow: Then by Brett Cecil: This was a strike 3 call to end the game against Tampa on Tuesday: Brett Lawrie hears the news that the CityPlace Sobeys stopped carrying Red Bull #BellLetsTalk: Brandon Morrow spazzing out in the dugout: Lawrie and Abraham Cibia change emotions in a second: Gibby is tired of your shit: Kawasaki and his pre-game stretches are always entertaining: This might be my last post after Stoeten sees this, so it’s been fun:

In what was a good night for bad fans, a spectacular play by Nate McLouth resulted in retribution from a Blue Jays fan who chucked what appears to be a full can of beer from the Rogers Centre upper deck at the Orioles outfielder. While the beer missed its target, it's an impressive heave nonetheless given the distance it appears the fan (who was quickly identified and ejected) had to throw it. Blue Jays fans, of course, have a reputation for brew-based projectiles; in fact, it's a bit of a Toronto sports tradition in general. [MASN]

Rob Ford’s own executive committee is this morning drafting a statement urging the Toronto mayor to directly address explosive crack cocaine allegations in what could be a defining moment in the week-long scandal. Councillor Jaye Robinson, a member of the executive, told CBC’s Metro Morning that it was “a call to action,” saying that “every day that this issue isn’t addressed it escalates. So there’s now mounting pressure at City Hall around the mayor and the mayor’s office. It simply needs to be addressed by the mayor himself.” Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday is reportedly hoping to meet with Mr. Ford on Friday morning. Robinson told the CBC the goal is to release the statement later in the day. While it’s unclear whether the executive committee is preparing to run City Hall if Mr. Ford stands aside, the statement from councillors considered key allies of the mayor further weakens his hold on power. Related‘Crackstarter’ hits snag: Gawker admits they can’t get ahold of drug dealers with alleged Rob Ford videoGiven all the publicity, alleged Rob Ford crack video may be too hot to trade without getting caught The news came the day after the mayor’s chief of staff was fired for confronting the mayor over the drug allegations. Mr. Towhey gave the mayor three options last Friday, a source told the Post: fight the accusations — and lose, resign or go away and get help for his “problem.” Thursday afternoon, a security guard escorted Mr. Towhey out of City Hall following a meeting with Ford and the city manager. In the parking garage, amid a crush of reporters, Mr. Towhey stopped briefly to say goodbye to his “outstanding” colleagues. “I am no longer the chief of staff,” he said. “I did not resign.” Mr. Towhey would not elaborate on what led to his dismissal, except to say that it was not a surprise. He also would not say what his advice has been to Mr. Ford, who is under intense public scrutiny after the U.S. website Gawker and the Toronto Star reported that he had been caught on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. Civic leaders, city councillors and crisis-management experts are urging the mayor to provide a more detailed response beyond his “ridiculous” assertion. “I’ve given the mayor my advice,” said Mr. Towhey. “He can choose to take it or not take it.” Then he shook the hand of the security guard and drove off. Peter J. Thompson / National Post"I certainly know my residents would like to hear from the mayor himself, not his brother," councillor Jaye Robinson told Metro Morning The Post has since learned that Mr. Ford and Mr. Towhey had a disagreement on the phone Wednesday over the mayor’s desire to host a pizza party for the football team he coached up until Wednesday. The mayor wanted his office staff to help coordinate it and Mr. Towhey refused. The source confirmed the two butted heads over the party, but said that was not the reason for Mr. Towhey’s dismissal. The source said that the former chief of staff had settled on only one option for the mayor — “go away and get help for his problem” — and he repeated the advice during that telephone conversation. The mayor responded by telling Mr. Towhey he “might as well just leave,” according to the source, and officially fired him in person the next day. The source suspects the problem is alcohol-related. The mayor had denied a report in March that suggested he has a problem with alcohol as an “outright lie.” When asked to comment on the alleged reasons for Mr. Towhey’s departure, George Christopoulos, the mayor’s press secretary, said the office does not comment on personnel matters. The only official word of the dismissal came through a statement from the mayor’s office, lauding Mr. Towhey’s “valuable contributions.” Meanwhile, Gawker issued an update Thursday evening about its fu

Gawker editor John Cook says he has been unable to make contact with the purported video’s owner since Sunday

Chicago Cubs reliever, Shawn Camp, has been retrospectively punished by the baseball gods for not admitting to an injury, after further damaging a toe sprain on Tuesday night against the Pirates. Camp was checked out on Sunday and given the all clear to pitch two days later, but in hindsight should have gone straight on the 15-day DL. He came in to replace James Russell in the sixth with Pittsburgh’s bases loaded, and although he forced one out, Camp could not stop Travis Snider slugging for a grand slam. Having heard Camp played through the pain on Tuesday, some fans betting MLB World Series blame the 37-year-old for the loss; he certainly lacked the velocity he usually packs and maybe that cost the team. Yet fans cannot blame the pitcher for wanting to play Tuesday, because Camp has not had the best of starts this season. For 20 games this season, he’s gone 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA and clearly had his mind on bettering that record rather than resting his big toe. If you have a poor record, you want to correct it fast, and so you jump at the chance to help the team when called upon in the sixth. Camp knew the strain he would put his toe under trying to see out the inning but did his job anyway. Saving the inning did not work and he’s suffered because of it, but MLB betting news pundits should not blame him for trying. Sadly, it seems we won’t see Camp for a while now. He’s down on the 15-day DL and is likely to return come early June, by which time the Cubs may have climbed closer to the NL Central’s runaway pack.