Beach with his father, Kenny. Defending champio

Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed the departure of head coach Martin Rennie on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after his second season in charge ended with the club sitting seventh in Major League Soccers Western Conference, three points outside the playoff places. In the weeks leading up to the end of the season, speculation was rife that the Scotsman would be replaced so the news comes as no surprise. Its a move that may even have happened if the Whitecaps had managed to sneak into the playoffs. Rennie has trumpeted his teams achievements loudly in recent weeks. This year, they set the clubs highest ever MLS points total, scored the most goals, won the Cascadia Cup against their rivals Seattle and Portland, and beat the Sounders, LA and New York for the first time in MLS. Brazilian sensation Camilo secured the leagues Golden Boot and the club won the MLS Player of the Week award a league high seven times. There was plenty to shout about, and on a number of occasions at BC Place this season, they played some scintillating soccer to entertain and engage the fan-base. However, those achievements mean very little without reaching the two main goals of making the playoffs and winning the Canadian Championship. The Whitecaps came close to both, but close wasnt good enough for Rennie to keep his job. Its true that the club has made progress in each of the seasons Rennie was in charge, but this year, that progress just wasnt big enough to keep up with the teams around them. The fact is, in an extremely competitive Western Conference, the Whitecaps slipped back. Their progress was much smaller than other teams such as Portland and Colorado, who took big strides forward. Its not just about the seasons record. There were other issues at play. Rennies team selections often provoked much discussion, including his desire to play Japanese defensive midfielder Jun Marques Davidson, especially at home. There was the regression of 2012 number 2 draft pick Darren Mattocks, the lack of playing time down the stretch for youngster Gershon Koffie and teenager Kekuta Mannehs thunderous impact when finally handed starts late in the season. Also at times, the Whitecaps looked as though they were trying to fit square pegs in round holes, until they finally switched to a 4-4-2 diamond midfield system late in the year. The fact the Caps lost their captain and highest paid defender Jay DeMerit just seven minutes into the new season, and were without their DP striker Kenny Miller for long stretches due to injury clearly didnt help. The Whitecaps never really had a settled side because of injuries and also the coachs choice. Did Rennie know what his best 11 was and the best way to utilize them? It seemed he was still trying to figure that out late in the year. Of course, with any team and any coach anywhere in the world, there are bound to be questions about player selections and formations, but theres little doubt these questions played into the mind of those making the decision. Although Whitecaps ownership has decided to go in a different direction, Rennie still deserves much credit for what he has achieved during his time in Vancouver. He leaves the Whitecaps in a much better position than when he arrived at the club following a dismal expansion season. Over the last couple of years, they have established themselves as an MLS club, assembled a much stronger squad and made the playoffs for the first time in 2012 after turning around one of the worst teams in the league. The Whitecaps are still missing a couple of key pieces that will need to be found in the off-season, but they have a young, dynamic squad that can be a contender for the foreseeable future. Players like Camilo, Gershon Koffie, Kekuta Manneh and Russell Teibert have the potential to be big stars in Major League Soccer, and there are more coming through the Whitecaps pipeline with the likes of Sam Adekugbe ready to step into the first team squad next year. Rennies hiring of some strong assistant coaches, Paul Ritchie, Carl Robinson and Jake DeClute assisted the development of many of the clubs younger players. They were all very shrewd hires by a thoughtful, intelligent head coach. So what now? I think starting completely from scratch would be a massive mistake. There is some momentum. The Whitecaps arent too far off with the squad they have had assembled, so whoever takes charge should be willing to add to what is already in place rather that start again and try to do things a different way. 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Jim Kelly Jersey .Y. - Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez has a strained lower back and will miss at least a week.PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Andrew Loupe knows how one week can change everything. He can only hope his 8-under 63 in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is the start of another one. Loupe had to wait three hours to tee off because of rain Thursday, and then he played bogey-free on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula. That gave him the lowest score among those who finished their rounds. Rain soaked the Monterey Peninsula in the morning, which was great news for an area desperate for rain, not so much for the tournament. Puddles quickly formed on the greens at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, forcing play to be stopped on all three courses. Monterey Peninsula played the easiest, and Loupe took advantage. He never had to scramble for par, missed only one fairway and only two of his birdies were over 10 feet. This was his first trip to the area, and it was everything he imagined. "This place is amazing," Loupe said with a smile as wide as a fairway. The 25-year-old from Louisiana hasnt made the cut in five starts his rookie season. Loupe might not even have a PGA Tour card except for his tie for sixth in the last event of the Web.com Tour Finals. He had missed the cut in his previous three "Finals" event. Stuart Appleby, Jim Renner, Richard Lee and Scott Gardiner had 65s at Monterey Peninsula. Phil Mickelson, a four-time champion, was at 5-under par through 15 holes when the round was stopped because of darkness. Pebble Beach played the toughest, though the weather was not nearly bad enough to make that much of a difference with only a cool breeze and no rain the rest of the day. Jimmy Walker, already a two-time winner this season, got up-and-down for birdie on the 18th for a 66, the best score at Pebble. Jordan Spieth, playing with country singer Jake Owen, had the best round at Spyglass Hill at 67. He picked up birdies on all but one of the par 5s, stuffed one close on the uphill second hold and escaped with par with a long pitch from short of the sixth green. "It was more of an effort just to really play safe on the harder holes," Spieth said. "The par 5s you can take advantage of out here. I three-putted the first par 5 for par, but bounced back on the other par 5s. And then I finally made some putts on the back nine. We picked a great day to have Spyglass." Dustin Johnson, a two-time winner of this event, had a 68 at Spyglass Hill playing with his future father-in--law, hockey great Wayne Gretzky.dddddddddddd "More happy with the fact he was 4 under today and its a tough course," Gretzky said. "Im here for fun. Hes here for work." Johnson had to work hard for his birdie on the ninth hole. His approach struck the pin and bounced back some 40 yards off the green. He chipped that in for his third straight birdie, and then picked up another birdie on the par-5 11th. He closed with seven pars for what he believes was his first bogey-free round at Spyglass. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., shot a 1-under 70 at Monterey Peninsula. Ottawas Brad Fritsch turned in a 5-over 77 at Spyglass Hill. Graeme McDowell, back at Pebble Beach for the first time since he won the 2010 U.S. Open, opened with a 71 at Spyglass Hill. He has to wait until Saturday to play Pebble Beach with his father, Kenny. Defending champion Brandt Snedeker had a 72 at Spyglass Hill. Loupe kept reminding everyone that his 63 was only one round, though it sounded as if he was reminding himself. He is thrilled to be on the PGA Tour, and it really hit him a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines when some of the biggest stars began showing up. This wasnt the start he imagined, however -- one round out of 11 that was under par, five weekends off. He wasnt about to panic, either. "I really just stick to the plan and I know that my group is good. I have 100 per cent trust in my swing coach, my family, my trainer," he said. "I guess when youre in those ruts, I just kept telling myself, Youre supposed to be here, youre going to play good, just keep playing. This is just one round, guys, but I feel good. "I did miss a few cuts coming into Sawgrass and played good," he said of the week that secured his card in the Web.com finals. "And I just knew that I could do it again. Would I like to play more consistently? Yes. But I just want to keep this rolling." DIVOTS: Davis Love III was 2 over through 15 holes, but at least he had an amateur. Kelly Slater won the Volcom Pipe Pro 2014 on Wednesday at the Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, scoring a perfect 10 on one ride. He arrived at Pebble Beach about 5 a.m. Thursday. ... Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley opened with a 67 at Pebble Beach. ... Jim Furyk, in his first PGA Tour event since September, opened with a 70 at Spyglass Hill. David Duval made his first start of the year and shot 72 at Pebble Beach. Authentic Steelers Jerseys Authentic Cowboys Jerseys Authentic Raiders Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Authentic Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Authentic Ravens Jerseys Authentic Browns Jerseys Authentic Cardinals Jerseys Authentic Bills Jerseys Authentic Panthers Jerseys Authentic Bears Jerseys Authentic Bengals Jerseys Authentic Texans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Authentic Packers Jerseys Authentic Jets Jerseys Authentic Dolphins Jerseys Authentic Patriots Jerseys Authentic Jaguars Jerseys Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Chargers Jerseys Authentic Giants Jerseys Authentic Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Authentic 49ers Jerseys Authentic Seahawks Jerseys Authentic Rams Jerseys Authentic Vikings Jerseys Authentic Colts Jerseys ' ' '