|
CARSON, Calif. - Until last weekend, Landon Donovans pending retirement was a nebulous concept obscured by games, goals and a sport-wide outpouring of appreciation from the moment he made his stunning decision this summer.This week, Donovan finally saw the finish line.After the LA Galaxy host New England in the MLS Cup on Sunday afternoon, the greatest soccer player in U.S. history knows he will be voluntarily unemployed at 32 years old.Donovan has most of his life ahead of him, and he plans to fill it with travel, education and working with kids. He probably also has several good years of soccer left in him, but Donovan remains determined to figure out who he is outside the sport that has defined his whole life.Im just trying to stay present, and well see what happens afterward, Donovan said Friday at the Galaxys training complex. But for now, I just want to channel the excitement in the right way, as we all do, and really put it into a meaningful and special day on Sunday. After that, I can worry about the rest.Donovan is seeking his record sixth MLS Cup championship when the favoured Galaxy take on the Revolution. The Southern California native has carried MLS banner for 14 years, spurning a European career to play a major role in building his sport and its U.S. league from a small-time operation into something bigger and better.With his self-imposed end in sight, the top goal-scorer in MLS history cant help reflecting on the journey.I could have never in a million years imagined playing against Thierry Henry in brand-new stadiums, Donovan said. I could have never imagined playing with Robbie (Keane), a guy I followed as I became a professional and idolized so much. Playing with David (Beckham) for so many years. All of those things, if you had said that in 2001, I would have said youre absolutely crazy.Donovan is still one of MLS best players after 14 years, and he will play a key role in his franchises attempt to win its record fifth championship trophy Sunday. Teaming with MLS MVP Keane and Gyasi Zardes in a dynamic attacking combination, Donovan would love to make the difference one more time with his combination of speed and skill.Although Donovan struggled to find the inner motivation for his sport at times in recent years, even taking a fairly brief sabbatical last year, he insists he still retains his hunger for goals and success in one last game.This week has been a little bit different than the past few, because I personally didnt know what was coming next (before this), Donovan said. Now I know, so Ive been very excited every day to wake up and go to training. Candidly, I dont want it to end right now. Its been a lot of fun, and Im going to have that attitude Sunday. I personally want it to be as enjoyable as possible, and that would be winning. I love winning, these guys deserve it, and I want to help them do that.That plaintive note of wistfulness in Donovans voice has been seized upon by fans, media and even his own friends as a reason to hope he wont walk away after all. Perhaps after an extended break, Donovan will revive his love for competition and the sport that brought him success and fame — and a sizable fortune that probably wont get bigger without soccer.But Donovans coach, Bruce Arena, and his teammates say they believe hes done. Just as they did when Beckham abruptly left the Galaxy in late 2012 following back-to-back championships, Keane and Arena are ready to bid a winning goodbye to a key piece of their championship lineup.If he hasnt changed (his mind) now, I dont think hes ever going to change it, Keane said. Its been an absolute honour to play with him. Its certainly up there with one of the best partnerships Ive had. Hes made the decision that hes going to retire, which is a shame. But at the end of the day, thats up to him. You have to respect someones decision, and if anyone deserves to go out on a high, its certainly Landon.Donovans future beyond Sunday afternoon is uncertain. Even if he doesnt leave with another trophy, his past is secure.I think his legacy is that he left the game as the greatest player in the history of U.S. soccer, and hes a damn good person, Arena said. Thats a pretty good legacy. . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing. . Eller scored the midway through the third period after Dallas scored twice to tie it, leading Canadiens to a 6-4 win over the Stars on Thursday night. .C. -- Tony Stewart will not race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third Sprint Cup race hes skipped since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. .C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot.WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Will ONeill is making a name for himself in the American Hockey Leagues Calder Cup playoffs. The second-year pro is tied for the league lead with 10 post-season assists. Hes playing key minutes for a defence that is allowing fewer than two goals a game. Just about the only thing missing from his resume was a goal. ONeill fixed that in a dramatic way Thursday night, breaking a scoreless tie late in the second period and assisting on the winner in the third as the St. Johns Ice Caps won a third straight game in the Eastern Conference finals, beating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 in Game 4 Thursday night. The IceCaps can advance to the Calder Cup finals with a win in Game 5 on Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre. "It feels nice to get a goal, but it feels great to win," ONeill said. "Weve got a long way ahead of us here, but well enjoy it for a little bit." Josh Lunden also scored for the IceCaps, who went 2 for 9 on the power play. "I thought we did a good job drawing penalties, getting to the net," ONeill said. "Thats the key to getting to any goalie." Brian Dumoulin scored a third-period goal for the Penguins, who went scoreless on six power-play opportunities. "Our power play had some good looks, but at the end of the day, myself and our unit definitely have to put some in the back of the net," Dumoulin said. "Its not just getting chancess anymore.dddddddddddd We have to score." The Penguins were called for six minor penalties in the second period, contributing to a massive 19-2 shots advantage for the IceCaps in the period. Penguins goalie Peter Mannino stopped the first 18 shots he faced, but the 19th was a one-timer from ONeill from the top of the left faceoff circle that trickled past his pads with 26.1 seconds left in the period. ONeills goal came on a 5-on-3 advantage after centre Zach Sill took a double minor for high-sticking IceCaps winger Andrew Gordon with 1:07 left in the period while the Penguins were already killing a penalty. "We were getting a lot of chances," ONeill said. "It was just a matter of time before one went our way. We had a 5-on-3, had good traffic at the net and we buried one." The Penguins tied the score 1-1 at 6:49 of the third when a Dumoulin shot from the blue-line that looked to be headed well wide of the left post hit defenceman Brenden Kichton and skipped past goalie Michael Hutchinson. The Penguins took another penalty less than a minute later, however, and St. Johns retook the lead with a second power-play goal. Lunden collected the rebound of an ONeill shot behind the net and wrapped it inside the post with 10:41 left. "They had some momentum going their way," ONeill said. "It was good to draw a penalty, get back into it and bury one on the power play." ' ' '
|
