Funkerstation » The switch-hitter, who batted leadoff in Ga

Not sure if growing up in Rosario is similar to wet and windy Manchester, but Hernán Bernardello did not put a foot wrong in what was an imposing debut in an Impact shirt for the 27-year old Argentine. His performance (with almighty weather for the Stade Saputo backdrop Wednesday evening) was one that anyone would associate with the rainforest. It was a virtuoso man of the match performance if ever there was one - as 2008-2009s Cinderella team kicked off its 2013-14 tilt in the Champions League. A passing and checking clinic from Bernardello that the likes of Lou Lamoriello could only dream of. However, it was the shade over 15,000 fans –sitting through the rain-lashed uncovered Impact terraces - I was most impressed with. A raucous atmosphere it was, their sole and most united response as the rain made its appearance in sheets for an extended period. On a far smaller scale, I defy anyone not to compare that extraordinary Stade Saputo atmosphere to a rain-sodden Barclays Premier League evening at Old Trafford. Ive been blessed to witness first-hand the might and majesty of Liverpool supporters celebrating victorious at a European Cup Final. Take a bow, UM02. Ultras Montréal, formed in 2002 are the Impacts original supporter group. Not always on the same page with the club, they are still the most loyal, standing by through thick and thin. On Wednesday, with each and every member seemingly soaked through to the skin, they reached a new higher ground. "The rain has never stopped us before and it certainly would not stop us for such an important game," UM02s apokesperson told TSN.ca the morning after. "The rain always brings a special feeling in the kop, it seems to energize people when they see that the ultras will not give up and keep going 100 per cent." The Ultras have wonderfully spawned superb new supporter groups at Saputo. Whats that they say about imitation and flattery? With the absence of significant travelling supporters making the journey to Montreal - save for Toronto FC - the combined banter that the Impact supporter groups provided added terrific value to the overall Stade Saputo experience on a given match day. The proof of this was in the startled reaction of the casual Saputo visitors Wednesday night. That, alongside the supporter groups in the West and South stand terraces or tucked away in a corporate loge (The Prawn Sandwich Brigade, as legendary Manchester United captain Roy Keane so eloquently described them once).As events on the terraces unfolded Wednesday, I couldnt help but think back and affectionately reminisce about the Impacts previous Champions League campaign. Specifically, the final group stage home game against CD Olimpia played in late October 2008. The 1-1 draw ensured the Impact safely emerged from the group with a game to spare but it was the weather that I wont forget. Nor the fantastic atmosphere generated on what should have been an invigorating fall evening. Now growing up in England, Ive witnessed some shocking blustery-type weather. But this was all together on a completely different level. Goal kicks into the wind seemed to cough up negative yardage and fool you for any attempted back passes. This, though, was the calm after the storm that was the inaugural game played at Saputo back on Victoria Day of 2008. The Whitecaps were the opponent that particular Monday afternoon, and with the Impact provoking for the move into MLS, commissioner Garber was in attendance. For the Ultras, this is all part of the legacy they have carved out over their time. "Weve had memorable rain episodes in the past," said their spokesperson. "Most notably in the playoffs at Centre Claude-Robillard in 2006 I think, where it was just us and a few brave souls that decided to stay and join us, which made the kop instantly grow to over 125 people, which was huge and never seen at the time. "Then the opening game at Saputo in 2008, which was the worst and something we hope to never have to go through ever again. We still have nightmares about that one. For sure, the rain is much more fun in July or August than in April or October but whatever the weather, we keep on giving our all." Anyone who has witnessed it can certainly testify - UM02 most certainly do - it did in buckets Wednesday. Someone who was there for that maiden Impact voyage in the Champions League - and now finds himself on the bench as Schällibaums right hand man - is Mauro Biello. Wednesdays atmosphere was not lost on the only player in the Impacts 20-year history to have his shirt retired. "It was a great atmosphere last night," he said. "I remember back in 2008 during the qualifying rounds of Champions League, even though the crowds were smaller, they were loud and supportive. But last night was extra special because despite the pouring rain, no one left their seats and they were in the game." Biello aptly concluding, "Thats a sign of some passionate supporters. They are starting to get into the CONCACAF Champions League a little more and their support definitely helped us win the game." Earlier this season, MLS Commissioner Don Garber was on the record as stating MLS will be amongst the top 10 leagues in world football within the decade. To make this a reality, not only do we need to see vast improvements on the pitch, a greater consistency with our officials and an erosion of the single entity structure, but our football culture needs an injection along the same vein as the financial doping (thanks, Arsene) that permeates certain parts of European club football. An international brand and pedigree attached to the CONCACAF Champions League (and if we factor in that back in 1955 UEFA created the European Cup for one sole purpose) and staging an annual continental club competition that would be played in midweek under floodlights. Following Wednesdays spectacle at Saputo, we might finally be onto something. Hopefully, as the Impact look to break out of their current single MLS victory in seven-deepening malaise, long-time Impact equipment manager Aldo Ricci arranged for his staff to bottle Wednesday evenings atmosphere and pack it on board the their charter. Destination Chicago for Saturday evenings rather critical Eastern Conference encounter. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Charlie Culberson Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Brian McCann Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-bob-uecker-jersey-large-167z.html . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Chipper Jones Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Wholesale Custom Braves Shirts . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. CLEVELAND -- Josh Tomlin baffled Blue Jays batters for nearly six innings and Andrew Miller blew them away as the Cleveland Indians edged Toronto 2-1 on Saturday to take 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.Carlos Santana homered off 20-game winner J.A. Happ and Francisco Lindor had an RBI single for the Indians, who have won five straight postseason games for the first time in their 116-year history.An afterthought in August, Tomlin has emerged as an unlikely October star for the Indians. He allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings before Cleveland manager Terry Francona called on his bullpen led by the magnificent Miller, who is making the Blue Jays look like Little Leaguers.The lanky left-hander struck out the side in the seventh, two more in the eighth and has 10 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in the series. He has not allowed a run in 16 career postseason innings.Cody Allen struck out Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista in a perfect ninth for the save, finishing a three-hitter. The Indians had never been up 2-0 in four previous ALCS trips.After bludgeoning Texas in the AL Division Series by hitting eight homers and scoring 22 runs, Toronto has one run and 10 hits -- eight singles and a pair of doubles -- in two games against the Indians.Bautista is 0 for 6 in the series with five strikeouts and in a 0-for-14 postseason tailspin. The only bat flipping Joey Bats has done is back into the rack.The series heads north to Torontos raucous Rogers Centre for Game 3 on Monday with Clevelands Trevor Bauer slated to face Marcus Stroman.Tomlin originally was scheduled to pitch Game 3, but the right-hander was pushed up after Trevor cut his right pinkie while repairing one of the drones he enjoys flying as a hobby. The 31-year-old Tomlin pitched himself out of the rotation by going 0-5 with a 11.48 ERA in August, but injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar gave him another chance and hes made the most of it.Tomlin, who ignored taunting Boston fans to close out the Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS, relied on his curveball to keep the Blue jays guessing.With some help from Happ, the Indians took a 2-1 lead in the third on Lindors RBI single.Rajai Davis reached on a fielders choice, stole second and took third when Happs pitch bounced in the dirt and rolled a few feet away froom catcher Russell Martin.dddddddddddd One out later, Lindor lined his single to center for this third RBI in two games, another clutch moment by a 22-year-old with the presence of a 10-year veteran.Tomlin had the Blue Jays off-balance and guessing with an assortment of breaking pitches -- nothing harder than 75 mph -- before Toronto finally pushed across its first run of the series to tie it 1-1 in the third.Darwin Barney, starting at second in place of the injured Devon Travis, singled with one out, moved up on a groundout and scored on Josh Donaldsons opposite-field double, his sixth of the postseason.Tomlin walked Encarnacion, and with reliever Jeff Manship up in Clevelands bullpen just in case, he struck out Bautista, who remains in a funk.Santana gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the second with a lined homer that barely cleared the 19-foot-high wall in left. The switch-hitter, who batted leadoff in Game 1, yanked a 1-1 pitch for his first postseason homer and the first allowed by Happ in five starts.TRAINERS ROOMTravis is done for the postseason with a right knee injury he aggravated during Game 1. After missing two games in the ALDS with a bruised knee, the Blue Jays put him on the roster but he jarred his knee while covering first base in the fifth inning and left in pain. Toronto was granted a roster substitution by Major League Baseball and replaced Travis with first baseman Justin Smoak. Travis would not be eligible for the World Series if the Blue jays advance.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Stroman allowed one run in both of regular-season starts -- no decisions- against Cleveland, posting a 1.29 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings. He struck out six over 6 2/3 innings at Rogers Centre on July 1, and had nine Ks in 7 1/3 innings on Aug. 21 in Cleveland.Indians: Bauer was superb in two outings against Toronto, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Scheduled to start the following day, he came on in relief and pitched five scoreless innings in Clevelands 2-1, 19-inning win July 1, the last win in the Indians franchise-record 14-game streak. Bauer struck out a career-high 13 in an eight-inning no-decision at home against the Blue Jays on Aug. 19. ' ' '