on for the single-A Vancouver Canadians with 23 doubles,

WINNIPEG -- Wade Miller has pressed the firing button again. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Wednesday the firing of head coach Tim Burke. Miller said the move was made Tuesday, after the "acting" tag was removed from his title of president and chief executive officer. When Miller was put in the acting role in August, his first move was axing general manager Joe Mack. Although Kyle Walters is the teams acting GM, Miller explained why he let Burke go rather than wait for a GM to decide his fate. "I believe that it was the right step for this organization," he said at Wednesdays press conference. "Typically, a new general manager is going to want to hire his own person, and I believe now that weve set that path for a new general manager to be able to make his own determination of who his head coach should be. "And also, that I didnt feel it was appropriate to have Tim waiting for the next three or four or five weeks in determining what his future was with the organization." Burke became Winnipegs interim head coach in August 2012 after Mack fired Paul LaPolice. He was given the job last November. The Bombers finished with a league-worst 3-15 record this season, tying the clubs lowest mark in an 18-game season. They were 7-21 under Burkes leadership. All the assistant coaches are on contracts that are up this year, Miller said, adding hes open to Burke staying with the team because hes got good character and has excelled as a defensive boss. Burke reportedly had a year left on his contract. "I think that wed be lucky as an organization to have Tim back as a defensive co-ordinator," Miller said. "I think that thats a decision that the new head coach and general manager will make, but that is definitely something that Tim and I discussed." Burke is receptive to that and wants to meet the new head coach, said Miller, wholl be involved in the interview process with the GM. "Ive really enjoyed my time in Winnipeg and am grateful for the opportunity this franchise gave me," Burke said in a press release. "The fan support in this city and province is just really remarkable and it is one of the greatest things I can take away from this experience in Winnipeg." Miller acknowledged Burke was in "an extremely tough spot when he took over." And it got worse this season. Mack kept often-injured Buck Pierce as the teams starting quarterback, and predictably Pierce was lost to injury early this season. His young backups didnt flourish, Mack was fired and then Pierce was traded to B.C. in September. Offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach Gary Crowton was fired after Mack and replaced by former Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, whod been added to the staff the week before as a consultant. Miller didnt view Winnipegs disastrous season as a negative to finding someone to replace Burke. "I think you get an opportunity to come make a mark for yourself," he said. "Its not going to happen overnight, but the head coach and general manager are going to need to have a direction and a plan to get us to be competitive every week." The Bombers will have some competition searching for a head coach as there are also vacancies in Edmonton and Ottawa, while Montreal GM Jim Popp took over as the Alouettes head coach when Dan Hawkins was fired earlier this season. Miller said the GM the team hires, which is two to four weeks in the offing, would have a list of candidates theyd want to pursue as a head coach. Some names that have surfaced include Calgary offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson, Saskatchewan quarterbacks coach Khari Jones, B.C. offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine and Toronto defensive co-ordinator/assistant head coach Chris Jones. Dickenson is considered a desirable candidate, although its believed he doesnt want to break his family and professional ties in Calgary. Khari Jones has strong ties to the Bombers. The former quarterback is in the clubs hall of fame and he and Miller played together and are partners in Booster Juice franchises. "Im not going to talk about potential candidates," Miller said. "People that know me know that I care about being competitive and personal relationships wouldnt impact decisions that I make." If the Bombers are looking for someone with head coaching experience, a list might include former Bombers boss Doug Berry (Montreal) and Kavis Reed, who was recently fired by Edmonton and is a former Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator. The firing of LaPolice, now a TSN broadcaster, was also called a bad move by many Bomber fans. "If youve been a head coach before, is that a good thing or a bad thing, who knows?" Miller said. "So I think its important to find the right person, and (having) head coach experience is important, but not a deal-breaker, either." He did know what the right person will hopefully bring to the club. "Bring an attitude, bring leadership, bring a vision of where we need to go, along with the general manager," Miller said. Tom Brady Youth Jersey . -- One shot came out of bottom of a cactus, the other from the base of a desert bush with rocks scattered around it. John Hannah Womens Jersey . Winning more at home probably should be on the list. The Flames look to avoid a fifth defeat in six home games by winning a sixth straight meeting with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. http://www.patriotsjerseysauthentic.com/Andre-Tippett-Super-Bowl-Jersey/ . The Union looked to have grabbed a big win in the 88th minute when Amobi Okugo finally put the hosts in front. But a terrible giveaway by Union goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi handed Earnshaw the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time, keeping the Union two points back of fifth-place Red Bull New York for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tedy Bruschi Womens Jersey . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. Tedy Bruschi Jersey . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form.TORONTO - Second chances are rare in life, let alone in the NBA. The Raptors are confident that newly re-acquired forward James Johnson will take advantage of his. In a surprising roster move early Thursday morning, Toronto finalized an agreement to bring back the 27-year-old free agent at a reported $5 million, fully guaranteed, over the next two years. Toronto first acquired Johnson from the Bulls in exchange for a first-round pick (which was used on Heat point guard Norris Cole) during the 2010-11 season. The following campaign was a turbulent one for Johnson as he butted heads with new head coach Dwane Casey over his role in the teams offence, ultimately leading to a late-season benching. That summer, the Raptors flipped Johnson to Sacramento for a second-rounder (used on UConn product DeAndre Daniels last month). He played briefly for the Kings and spent the start of the 2013-14 campaign in the D-League before joining the Memphis Grizzlies and reviving his career, averaging 7.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 52 contests last season. Now, with a winning environment in place and a need at the small forward position, one that Johnson addresses, Casey and the Raptors have put the past behind them, believing the five-year vet will do the same. Having met with Casey, the Raptors are convinced Johnson has matured and recognizes the importance of this opportunity. It could be his last shot. "The number one thing with James, and weve had long discussions about that, is his role," Casey told reporters in Las Vegas, where his team is practicing ahead of their upcoming Summer League tournament. "He understands that now, which is great. In this business, theres never a person who youll say, Hey, Ill never coach that guy [again]." "Hes had his issues in the past," general manager Masai Ujiri reiterated, "but havent we all? We will help him get over them and this is a good opportunity for him. He has to take advantage of it." Newly re-signed point guard Kyle Lowry is a good example of what one can accomplish given the chance tto redeem themselves.ddddddddddddLowry clashed with Casey over playing time and philosophy during his subpar first season with Toronto before breaking out in a more defined role last year. "I think hes grown up," Lowry said of Johnson Thursday morning. "You get to the certain point, even myself, you get a maturity level that, it comes with age. I think hes going to be able to understand, listen, Im a lot older, Im more understanding of life and coach isnt going to make me this or make me that. At the end of the day, youre playing for the players, your teammates and the organization. I think coaching him will be fine. They will get along well." Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, a good friend of Johnson, were advocates of bringing him on board. Johnson - a big, versatile, defensive-minded forward - is the type of player the Raptors had been clamouring for and could alleviate some of the pressure from DeRozan and Terrence Ross, who were exposed by Joe Johnson and the Nets wings during their first-round playoff loss. Johnson, as you may recall, is a second-degree black belt, undefeated in seven MMA fights and 20 kickboxing matches. With a 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame, hes sure to strike fear in the eyes of the leagues top perimeter players, assuming he buys into his role as a defensive stopper. When Dave Joerger, Johnsons former coach in Memphis, was asked about the forwards reputation for occasionally trying to do too much on the offensive end, he joked, "I just let him do too much." "I just say, Go, wreck it," Joerger had told TSN.ca back in December. "I think hes changed his body. I think that hes able to sidestep guys, hes able to get by guys with his first and second step and then gather and finish around the rim, where I think maybe earlier in his career - carrying a little bit more weight - he wouldnt get past the first defender. I just think hes a lot quicker." The Wake Forest product appeared in 87 games as a Raptor, starting 51, over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds. ' ' '