On the day Randy Carlyle was fired as the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the conversation kept coming back to Phil Kessel – the teams most talented, highest paid and most enigmatic player. That term is often reserved for mercurial European players in the NHL – perhaps too often. But in this case, it seems to fit a player from the good ol USA, who just happens to be contractually committed to Toronto for seven-and-a-half more years - longer than any other player on the roster. In so many ways, Kessel seems to represent everything about todays Leafs – he has the ability to score goals, but his defensive play leaves much to be desired and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for when hes on his game and when hes off it. Most importantly, however, is the fact that when Kessel is engaged, the Leafs tend to win. And when he is not, well...they dont. If the debate about what Phil Kessel is or is not what was heating up before Tuesday, the firing of Carlyle has turned the heat up on this question even more so. Is he akin to the NFLs Jay Cutler, the petulant quarterback of the Chicago Bears whos known as the NFLs biggest coach killer? How about the NBAs Rudy Gay, the former Toronto Raptor star who - like Kessel - was his teams highest-paid and most offensively gifted player, but also one with a suspect commitment to team and playing defence. The Raptors traded him and got better. Could the same thing happen with Kessel? Its a dangerous game for fans or members of the media to try to determine the character of a player since they only see the version of him that is exposed to the public - not what goes on behind closed doors. But consider the circumstantial evidence around Kessel that suggests hes not the kind of player you build around or win with - despite the talent: - There were the comments of Leaf assistant Steve Spott, who told a group of minor hockey coaches last summer that Kessel refused to buy into things the coaches were preaching and that he hated Carlyle, who believed management wouldnt adequately deal with him. - There was MLSE president Tim Leiweke saying his team had players with excellent stats but, just terrible character. Whomever could he be speaking of? - There was former Maple Leaf executive Bill Watters recently relaying a story about Kessel refusing to consider playing on left wing when approached this season by both the coaching staff and team president Brendan Shanahan. - And there were insightful comments of former Leaf head coach Ron Wilson on Tuesday who described Kessel as a moody, hard-to-reach talent who is as capable of sinking his team with his whims as he is of elevating it. Other - and less significant - things, such as Kessels tweet during last springs playoffs about there being nothing better than fishing with his buddies, or his training camp remark about not skating much during the summer are hardly highly high crimes or reason to doubt a players value to his team. But they do illustrate a tone deafness that is hard to fathom from someone who is under the spotlight in the centre of the hockey universe. When you back up a bit more and consider that, after scoring 36 goals as a 21-year-old, the Boston Bruins (who went on to win a Stanley Cup and compete in another Final) determined it was in their best interests to trade him, well...that certainly says something doesnt it (And raises the stakes in the unlikely circumstance that Boston fires head coach Claude Julien sometime this year and he becomes available to the Leafs)? The biggest decision facing the Leafs in 2015 will be hiring their next coach. But riding shotgun to that will be determining whether its time to move their most talented - and confounding - player. Cheap Shoes Australia . Subway workers in Rio de Janeiro, meanwhile, were holding an assembly to vote on whether they would strike to demand higher wages, threatening to disrupt transportation. By late Tuesday night there was no announcement of their decision. Womens Shoes Australia . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. http://www.australiashoescheap.com/. If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. Australia Shoes Cheap . Globo TV and other news outlets said early Monday that Scolari will not remain as coach after the national teams failure to win the World Cup at home. Wholesale Shoes Australia . Perhaps their first trip to the city of Winnipeg in 16 years can serve as the shakeup they need.Bell Medias TSN and RDS have reached a comprehensive new media rights agreement with the United States Golf Association (USGA) that extends the networks long-term partnership with the USGA - making TSN and RDS the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of the U.S. Open through to 2022. The expanded partnership was announced before TSN and RDS begin their exclusive Canadian coverage of the 114th U.S. Open on Thursday. Beginning in 2015, the new eight-year agreement includes extended Canadian coverage across TSN and RDS platforms for the U.S. Open, U.S. Womens Open, and U.S. Senior Open Championships, as well as the USGAs national amateur championships. The new expanded deal includes the following: - Every U.S. OPEN round broadcast on TSN and RDS - A comprehensive suite of digital assets for TSN, RDS, and Bell Media platforms - Radio broadcast rights for TSN Radio and Bell Media Radio stations "The U.S. OPEN is one of the preeminent golf championships in the world and has been a key component to our coverage of the biggest events in sports," said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. "Were thrilled to work even closer with the USGA executive team on this new and expanded partnership as we elevate Canadian coverage of USGA events across all of our platforms." "We are truly excited about extending and expanding our relationship with TSN and RDS and are eager to work more closely with them to showcase and promote the game of golf in Canada," said Mike Davis, Executive Director of the USGA. The agreement further solidifies TSN and RDS as the home of golfs marquee championship events, with a slate that includes all four of golfs Majors - The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, as well as the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, as well as a series of PGA TOUR events. 114th U.S. Open on TSN The 114th U.S. Open returns to the historic Pinehurst No. 2 Course in Pinehurst, NC with a star-studded field that includes defending champion Justin Rose, 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, and Canadas Graham DeLaet. TSNs live coverage of all four rounds begins Thursday at 9 a.m. ET and concludes with the Final on Fathers Day, Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. TSN subscribers can also watch live streaming and on demand coverage of every round from the U.S. Open via TSN GO. TSN Digital platforms deliver bonus online coverage from the U.S. Open - coverage that goes beyond the television broadcast. Fans can live stream this bonus online coverage on TSN.ca, TSN GO, or the newly launched TSN Golf app. TSN also surrounds its live coverage of the U.S. Open with the multi-platform highlights listed below.dddddddddddd SportsCentre - Bob Weeks files daily reports for SportsCentre all week long from Pinehurst, delivering post-round reaction, one-on-one interviews, and features, including one focusing on six-time U.S. Open runner-up Phil Mickelson, and more. Preview and Highlight Shows - TSN delivers 60-minute highlight shows after every round, along with 60-minute preview shows before the Third and Final Rounds. Fans can also tune in to a tournament preview show on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. 1999 U.S. Open: One Moment In Time - Airing Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN, the 60-minute documentary looks at Payne Stewarts emotional and hard fought victory at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, with Stewart holding off the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to win his second U.S. Open and third major title. TSN.ca - TSN.ca features up-to-the-minute U.S. Open news and daily highlights, plus daily reports and analysis from Bob Weeks, as well as his popular golf blog, and more. TSN Golf app - The fully customizable TSN Golf app is a completely new golf experience that lets fans follow their favourite players hole-by-hole and get real-time alerts whenever they make a birdie, bogey, or par, as well as receive all the latest scores, news, and stats. Using this app, fans can also directly live stream bonus online coverage from TSNs lineup of the biggest events in golf. TSN Radio - the following TSN Radio stations deliver select live coverage of the U.S. Open: TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa, TSN Radio 1260 in Edmonton, and TEAM Radio 1040 in Vancouver. Twitter - Fans can tweet their questions to Bob Weeks (@bobatscoregolf) and he will post video answers on TSN.ca on Wednesday. Fans can also follow @TSNGolf for updates from Pinehurst all tournament long. Broadcast Schedule* Tuesday, June 102 p.m. ET - Preview Show Wednesday, June 112 p.m. ET - Preview Show 9:30 p.m. ET - 1999 U.S. Open: One Moment in Time Thursday, June 129 a.m. ET - First Round 3 p.m. ET - First Round 5 p.m. ET - First Round 12 midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT - First Round Highlight Show (TSN2) Friday, June 139 a.m. ET - Second Round 3 p.m. ET - Second Round5 p.m. ET - Second Round1:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. PT - Second Round Highlight Show (TSN2) Saturday, June 149:30 a.m. ET - Second Round Highlight Show (TSN2)11 a.m. ET - Third Round Preview Show 12 noon ET - Third Round 12 midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT - Third Round Highlight Show (TSN2) Sunday, June 159 a.m. ET - Third Round Highlight Show (TSN2)11 a.m. ET - Final Round Preview Show 12 noon ET - Final Round 1 a.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT - Final Round Highlight Show (TSN2) Monday, June 163 p.m. ET - Final Round Highlight Show *Schedule subject to change ' ' '