event three times in a four-year span (2008-11) and he shared secon

TORONTO - Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has cleared up the uncertainty surrounding president and chief executive officer Tim Leiwekes long-term future with the company. He will stay in the position until June 30, 2015 or until a new CEO is found, MLSE said Thursday in a statement. "Under Tims leadership, MLSE has made a number of key moves to strengthen our organization on the path to championship success," said MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum. "We look forward to working closely with Tim to build on this foundation and further accelerate our momentum as we seek a new leader for MLSE." The Toronto-based sports organization counts the NHLs Maple Leafs, NBAs Raptors, AHLs Marlies and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer among its properties. The search for Leiwekes successor is underway, MLSE said in the statement. Leiwekes future with MLSE has been a hot topic this week after a report indicated he would "soon" be leaving the company. He denied the report, called the rumours a distraction and said he was focused on the teams current and upcoming seasons. However, Leiweke, who joined MLSE in April 2013 and is reportedly under contract for five years, did not reveal his long-term plans. He also did not say how long he wanted to stay in the position. That became much more clear Thursday morning when MLSE issued a five-paragraph statement. Once he leaves, the longtime sports executive plans to pursue his goal of owning and operating his own business. "Its an honour to lead MLSE, a world-class organization in a city and a country so passionate about sports," he said. "But with new opportunities on the horizon, its time for me to begin the transition from sports and entertainment executive to entrepreneur. "Right now, my total focus is here at MLSE and I look forward to working with the Board and MLSE team to continue strengthening our franchises while ensuring a smooth transition to a new leader." Until his successor is found, the company will continue to operate with its current executive management structure. The statement did not say whether Leiwekes successor would also assume his title of president. A decision on that would be made at a later date, an MLSE spokesperson said in an email. "Ive always told everyone Im not here forever," Leiweke said Wednesday during a brief media availability at the Air Canada Centre galleria. "My job is to change the culture and get it headed in the right direction." Leiweke has helped guide dramatic change at all levels during his 16 months at the helm. In May of last year, he lured NBA executive of the year Masai Ujiri away from the Denver Nuggets. Two months later, he restructured the senior management team at MLSE. Leiweke then turned his attention to Toronto FC, firing president and general manager Kevin Payne and later hiring Tim Bezbatchenko as GM. On the NBA front, the Raptors announced plans for a two-year rebranding effort last fall, named local rapper Drake as their global ambassador and Toronto landed the 2016 NBA all-star game. Toronto FC underwent a roster makeover over the winter, landing Jermain Defoe, Gilberto and Michael Bradley while bringing back former league MVP Dwayne De Rosario. In April, the Maple Leafs brought in former star player Brendan Shanahan to oversee all team operations as club president and alternate governor. The teams have had mixed results under Leiwekes watch. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs last spring but the Raptors claimed the Atlantic Division title and returned to the post-season for the first time in six years. Toronto FC, meanwhile, is in third place in the Eastern Conference standings and could make the playoffs. Leiwekes pro sports business career has spanned over 30 years. He previously worked as president and CEO of AEG, which owns the NHLs Los Angeles Kings, NBAs Lakers and the Galaxy of MLS. He joined the Kings as president in 1996 and became president and CEO of AEG Worldwide in 2001. Leiweke also previously served as president and CEO of U.S. Skiing and has worked for the NBAs Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves as well as the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Basketball Shoes Online Store Canada . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. Discount Basketball Shoes Canada . Rockhold." Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor. http://www.cheapbasketballshoescanada.com/ . All of 46 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 victory over Alex Ovechkins struggling Washington Capitals, Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitzs goal. Basketball Shoes For Sale Canada .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak. Cheap Basketball Shoes Wholesale .com) - Stephen Currys jumper with 3.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - PGA TOUR - SONY OPEN IN HAWAII, Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii - Having already collected his first tour win earlier in the season, Jimmy Walker continued his hot play as he fired a 7- under 63 in the final round to win the 2014 Sony Open in Hawaii. Walker rallied by Chris Kirk for his second win in the first six events of the 2013-14 season. Walker went on to win one more title and make his first Ryder Cup team. Kirk, the third-round leader, failed to hold the 54-hole lead, but he did pick up his third victory in three years later in 2014 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Walker, who was in the penultimate group, birdied the 16th and 17th to end at minus-17. Kirk had an eagle chip at the last to try to force a playoff, but he ran the chip eight feet by the hole. He converted the birdie effort to end alone in second place. Walker and Kirk will be joined at Waialae by Jason Day and Matt Kuchar. Those four, all ranked in the top 25 in the world, played the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week and more than two-thirds of those participants are also competing at the Sony. A pair of Japan Golf Tour stars, Hiroshi Iwata and Hideto Tanihara, were invited to the event this week. Several 50-and-older players will also be at Waialae, including Fred Funk, Paul Goydos, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry and Vijay Singh. Golf Channel has coverage of all four rounds. NBC will kick off Sundays final round coverage, with Golf Channel airing the completion of the round. The PGA Tour heads to the California desert next week for the Humana Challenge. Patrick Reed opened with three straight 63s last year and cruised to a 2-shot wiin over Ryan Palmer.dddddddddddd EUROPEAN TOUR ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - A return to the desert for the European Tour brings with it a return of some of the best players in golf. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will make his first start of 2015 this week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. McIlroy is one of nine former major champions in the field. McIlroy will be joined at Abu Dhabi Golf Club by the likes of Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Ernie Els and Darren Clarke. Kaymer won this event three times in a four-year span (2008-11) and he shared second place in 2009. McIlory was runner-up to Kaymer in 2011, he was second to Robert Rock in 2012 and shared second-place last year. Stenson (2006, 2008) and Rose (2013) have also had runner-up finishes at this event. Pablo Larrazabal closed with a 5-under 67 last year to hold off McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, who went 63-69 on the weekend. McIlroy had been assessed a 2- stroke penalty in the third round for taking an illegal drop. The win for Larrazabal was his third on the European Tour. Along with several of the top European Tour players, world No. 10 Rickie Fowler also made the trip to the desert. Fowler will be competing for the first time since the first week of December, when he played in the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods. Golf Channel will have early morning coverage of all four rounds. The European Tour continues its desert swing next week with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Sergio Garcia birdied the third playoff hole last year to defeat Mikko Ilonen and win for the 11th time on the European Tour. ' ' '