On Tuesday, just as we should be celebrating the kickoff of a third FIFA tournament on Canadian soil in just over a decade (how many have you hosted in this same period, England?), the age-old argument popped up yet again. You know the one. Canada plays a home game and the supporters of our opponent out-sing, out-chant and outright embarrass our soccer humble selves. Or do they? The latest case in point was Tuesday evening and - depending on which newspaper you read or website your frequent - there was either 500 or as many as 1,000 Ghanaians doing their level best to recreate the scenes of the 40,000 seat capacity national soccer stadium in Accra as they cheered on their Black Princesses to the 1-0 victory over the host nation. Lets be clear here - no manner of moaning and laying blame with the Canadian Soccer Association will change this. Football has endured in the hearts, minds and pulsating veins of most, if not all the 200-plus nations which make up planet FIFA, for generations. The beautiful game is a birthright. A lifestyle. Then factor in our splendidly diverse population - comprised of people from these very same FIFA nations. This holds especially true for all our major cities and urban areas, most of which are located by the border. Its why back in 2008, Saputo Stadium was overwhelmed by the unfamiliar blue of Honduras. A country whose citizens flocked in multitudes in support of their nation at no less a football event than a crucial World Cup qualifier. Not so much a travelling support from Tegucigalpa or the murder capital of the world San Pedro Sula. The car parks told the story as you saw license plates from numerous provinces and from as far away as those unfashionable states made famous by the Coen brothers. As some obsessively do the CSA, do we also blame with the Canadian Border Services Agency for this? Personally, I much prefer to take the read of our U-20 head coach Andrew Olivieri who spoke with TSN 690 Thursday evening. Olivieri didnt think there was any issue on Tuesday. "I dont think it was much of a problem at all, I think thats expected," he stated. "Anywhere you go there will always be visiting fans." Olivieri was spot on with his assessment of how things are slowly, but surely, improving soccer culture-wise - as Canadians in higher numbers and increasing decibels become emotionally connected to the worlds game. "You know what a few years ago there may be would have been more Ghanaians than Canadian fans," he added. "The progress our game has made has been fantastic, and the support we have been getting has been fantastic." This was clearly evidenced, in that very same stadium as Tuesdays game versus Ghana, on so many occasions during the Brazil 2014 qualification. It was a watershed moment off the pitch for the sport in Canada. Even the players at times seemed overwhelmed with the support. The scenes and sounds were unprecedented. Fever Pitch indeed. Last springs encounter between the London 2012 semi-final foes was much more memorable for what was happening on the terraces than on the pitch. Irony is a huge force for football supporters. My, how the 22,000 plus who packed into BMO Field let the 2011 World Cup runners up know this was anything but a friendly! Those days have been over since Old Trafford. Long gone are those days the CSA would look to pack the stands with the supporters of our opponents. Or organize half-time entertainment that was more in keeping with the traditions of the visiting nation. If the locals werent rushing to the box office and if having Ziggy Marley scrimmage with the mens national team during a media event 48 hours before 2006s Labour Day friendly versus Jamaica in Montreal would help inflate numbers then so be it. Im no CSA apologist, but what needs to be factored in to those less than halcyon days was the fact the governing body was so utterly dependent on ticket sales. Whilst across the hallways of Soccer House on Metcalfe Street, the phones in the sponsorship and partner departments werent exactly ringing off the hook. Although I would have preferred to have seen ex-pat Canadians in the same number and beer drinking volume as our Australian cousins during last falls MNT game in London we cant deny the fact our soccer culture is maturing. We are a developing soccer nation that will always hit bumps in the road on and off the pitch. And just like when a member of the family, a friend or close work colleague hits experiences adversity our job is simply to support and encourage. The same holds true for our football fandom. Its why were referred to as loyal supporters. None more so in the Canadian national team sense, than that truly inspiring football collective, The Voyageurs. Not sure the American Outlaws or for that matter many other supporter groups across planet FIFA can lay claim that their national domestic cup competition is named for them. My, how much I look forward to a World Cup Finals for Canada, when - just like in 1967 - the travelling Celtic support descended on Lisbon for the European Cup Final. So much did they enjoy their visit many Celtic supporters stayed on to take up residency in the Portuguese capital. Football culture at its most supreme. Makes you wonder how many eight-year old kids are running round the streets of Istanbul with John Lennon accents. In the meantime, our Under 20s are back on the pitch this evening. Heres to a packed and frenzied house as we go in search of a much needed three points. Ill sure to be wearing red and be rather loud in the stands, along with Baby Bear when we play our final group game in Montreal next Tuesday evening. As will most of her club teammates. Not confirmed at this point if North Korea has been given its own supporters section. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Vapormax Flyknit 3 Sale Mens . 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The International Ice Hockey Federation says Pavlovs avoided a two-year sanction because he acted "without significant negligence in failing to verify the safety of the supplements he was taking. WASHINGTON -- Wizards centre Emeka Okafor is out indefinitely with a herniated disc, and Washington forward Chris Singleton will be sidelined approximately six to eight weeks with a broken bone in his left foot. The Wizards said Wednesday that Okafors injury was diagnosed by an MRI after he experienced discomfort in his neck. The team said Okafor will begin rehabilitation to reduce inflammation and correct the injurry, giving no timetable for his return.dddddddddddd. Singleton was hurt during a voluntary workout at Verizon Center on Tuesday. He was scheduled for outpatient surgery to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal. Okafor averaged 9.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 79 games for the Wizards last season. Singleton averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 57 games. The Wizards open training camp Sept. 28. ' ' ' up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The three-time All-Star whose career was derailed by injuries had been released by the Red Sox last month after batting .216 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 52 games. The 31-year-old missed all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons due to an assortment of injuries. After leaving Thursdays game at Baltimore after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb, Washingtons Ian Desmond didnt play Friday. Desmond entered Friday leading all shortstops in the majors with 55 RBIs. NOTES: Philadelphia improved to 19-27 at Citizens Bank Park, where they have struggled this season. ... Rollins last hit two homers in a game on Aug. 1, 2012, at Washington. ... Washingtons Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a fifth-inning single. ... The Phillies also won five straight from June 16-20 at Atlanta and St. Louis. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 3.47) opposes Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (3-5, 2.87) on Saturday night. ' ' 's big for us to go out and stop them, knowing theyre a running team.Jacksonville, meanwhile, ran 35 times for 185 yards — the most in Bradleys two seasons.Robinsons 8-yard TD scamper in the fourth quarter provided some cushion, and rookie Storm Johnson added a 4-yard scoring run a few minutes later — the exclamation point in Jacksonvilles third home victory in the last three seasons.We felt like in previous weeks we were within reach of getting wins, Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel said. We talked all week about finishing. We had to make plays at the end of the game, finish it and go win it.The Browns certainly helped.Jordan Poyer fumbled a punt return with about six minutes remaining, and Jacksonvilles LaRoy Reynolds recovered for the teams best field position of the day. Robinson scored on the next play.Brian Hoyer lost a fumble that led to a field goal in the third quarter and threw an interception in the fourth. He completed 16 of 41 passes for 215 yards, perhaps rekindling debate about how long first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel will stay on the sideline. Hoyer had been solid all season, but that was with a dynamic running game.The Browns made two changes along their offensive line in an effort to replace Pro Bowl centre Alex Mack. Mack broke his left leg last week and had season-ending surgery. Right guard John Greco slid to centre, and Paul McQuistan, who was with Seattle last season, stepped in at guard.The Jaguars took advantage, getting steady pressure up the middle.When you dont have the best centre in the NFL, you have someone thats less than the best, Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said. But if we had played to our standard, I think we would have been OK.Jacksonville seized momentum late in the second quarter with a fourth-down stop at the 24-yard line. The Browns oddly opted to throw on fourth-and-1. Red Bryant pressured Hoyer, who floated the ball to tight end Jordan Cameron. He couldnt come down with it, and Jacksonville needed just three plays to go 76 yards the other way.Bortles connected with Robinson twice, the second going 31 yards for his first career touchdown.So instead of heading into the locker room up 9-0 or maybe 13-0, the Browns trailed 7-6.This is disappointing, Thomas said. Thats the nature of this league. You win one game and youre crowned Super Bowl champions. You lose a game and youre announced as the worst team in the league. I hope we have the perspective to know thats the way it goes in the NFL.NOTES: Browns failed to score 21 points for first time this season. ... Jaguars have allowed two touchdowns in their last three games. ... Jaguars DE Andre Branch (groin) left the locker room on crutches. ... Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny will have an MRI on his right shoulder.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL The Winnipeg Jets look to redeem themselves against the Blackhawks in Chicago tonight. Chicago were 5-1 winners at MTS Centre four days ago in the first of four regular season games between these two teams. Al Montoya (2-1, 1.69, .939) will start his second straight game in goal after making 26 saves Monday in a 4-2 win over Detroit. Jets Projected Lines: Ladd-Little-SetoguchiKane/Tangradi-Jokinen-WheelerHalischuk-Scheifele-FrolikPeluso-Wright-Thorburn Clitsome ByfuglienEnstrom BogosianPardy Ellerby The Jets held an optional pregame skate this morning. Head Coach Claude Noel says forward Evander Kane, who did skate, is a game-time decision. Michael Frolik has one goal and two assists in his last two games, while Matt Halischuk has a goal and assist in has last two games played.dddddddddddd Paul Postma, Mark Stuart, Jacob Trouba, Jim Slater remain on the Injured Reserve List. Chicago is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Calgary. They have earned seven of a possible eight points in their last four games. Corey Crawford (8-2-3, 2.19, .918) will start in goal. Blackhawks Projected Lines: Sharp-Toews-HossaSaad-Pirri-KaneBickell-Shaw-MorinBollig-Kruger-Smith Keith-SeabrookOduya-HjalmarssonLeddy-Brookbank/Rozsival Marian Hossa (two goals and four assists) and Duncan Keith (4 assists) are on a four-game point streak. Andrew Shaw is on a three-game point streak (two goals and two assists). Michael Kostka is the lone Chicago player on the Injured Reserve List. ' ' 'b. 14, 2013, killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, 27, claims he mistook Steenkamp for a dangerous intruder when he shot her with his licensed 9 mm pistol in the pre-dawn hours. Prosecutors say he killed the 29-year-old model after an argument and shot in anger and not fear last Valentines Day. Pistorius chief lawyer Barry Roux said at the start of defence-led testimony that the double amputees vulnerability and disability was at the centre of his case of a mistaken killing. But prosecutor Nel questioned Monday if Pistorius was merely trying one of a number of defences for shooting his girlfriend. "There must be some reason why Mr. Roux decided to call this witness. It might be the third defence that we have," Nel said. Pistorius, the first amputee to run at the Olympics, testified at his trial that he fired his gun accidentally at the toilet door. That aappeared to contradict his initial statement in court documents last year that he shot in self-defence because he believed his life was in danger.dddddddddddd Nel said if Pistorius had genuine anxiety issues, Judge Thokozile Masipa should order him to be evaluated. Responding to a question from a reporter after the trial was adjourned, Pistorius said "Go read the law." As the athlete sat in the Pretoria courtroom earlier Monday making notes and occasionally looking up at the witness stand, Vorster outlined his apparently unhappy childhood and a life story in contrast to the smiling, triumphant disabled runner who made history at the London Olympics in 2012. Vorsters testimony raised the question of whether Pistorius was now claiming "diminished responsibility" for the shooting, Nel said, because of a possible mental illness. Nel also asked the psychiatrist if someone who was suffering from such an anxiety disorder, and had access to guns, would be a danger to society. Vorster said the person would, indeed, be a danger. Vorsters testimony came at the start of the eighth week of the globally televised trial, and a day before Pistorius defence had predicted it might wrap up its case. It now appears unlikely that the defence will rest Tuesday. The prosecutions cross-examination of the psychiatrist could continue on day 31 of proceedings after Nel asked for more time to look at her report on Pistorius. Vorster reached her opinion after meeting with Pistorius on two occasions this month, and also from interviews with his family, friends and agent, she said. Pistorius and his brother and sister "were reared to see their external environment as threatening," Vorster said, and this played a part in his actions on the night of the shooting. Vorster said Pistorius was more likely to try and "fight" what he thought was an intruder than run away, because his disability meant it was harder for him to flee. Pistorius was on his stumps when he shot Steenkamp. ' ' '