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Galaxy, Real play for MLS title today
Published on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
From Beacon Journal wire services
He looked zoned out sitting behind the table, microphone in his face, lights glaring into his eyes, talking about a season that's gone so right for himself and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Finally, Landon Donovan said why the Los Angeles Galaxy team that was so dysfunctional a year ago and this year was surrounded by distraction now finds itself playing Real Salt Lake for the MLS Cup title today.
''There are a few points that stand out to me. One was having [coach] Bruce [Arena] come in and just create stability, which we hadn't had for a while. And candidly, the second was David's reaction to everything that's gone on,'' Donovan said with David Beckham seated a few inches away. ''Life is about choices. He could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man and want this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are.''
The gambit Major League Soccer embarked on in 2007, when Beckham made his MLS debut to help boost the game in America for a big price tag, could pay off tonight.
Though Beckham's decision to leave Madrid for Hollywood was greeted with much skepticism, there was hope that his talents would draw increased interest in the league, victories on the field and ultimately titles for the Galaxy. Now comes that opportunity for Beckham to help deliver.
''I've been able to play in great leagues and play for big teams, and winning championships and cups with those teams is always exciting,'' Beckham said. ''And so is this. This is the first time I've been in the playoffs and the first time I've been in the MLS Cup. I'm proud to be on this team.''
While the Galaxy and their starry duo gather the headlines ahead of the final, the postseason run by Real Salt Lake is worth just as much recognition. After finishing with an 11-12-7 record in the regular season, Real ousted Columbus in the first round with a 3-2 victory in Columbus, then beat Chicago on penalty kicks to reach the finals.
''We just kind of peaked at the right time. It was like that last year and again this year; we wait until the end of the season to play well,'' Real midfielder Andy Williams said. ''It's paying off right now.''
Winter sports: Napier leads U.S. finish
• American John Napier won a World Cup event in the two-man bobsled competition at Mount Van Hoevenberg, leading a 1-2 finish for the U.S. team in Lake Placid, N.Y. Napier and brakeman Charles Berkeley beat the sled of Steven Holcomb and brakeman Justin Olsen by 0.26 second with a combined two-run time of 1 minute, 53.62 seconds. The third U.S. sled driven by Mike Kohn with brakeman Nick Cunningham finished ninth. Kohn was subbing for driver Todd Hays, who suffered a left hamstring injury at Park City, Utah.
• The head of skiing's governing body says the Russian ski federation and Olympic committee could face sanctions if there are more doping cases in the country. International Ski Federation President Gian-Franco Kasper said Saturday that ''we are not happy with what is going in the Russian [ski] federation.'' Four Russian cross-country skiers were banned for two years last season after testing positive for EPO. Three Russian biathletes were also given bans this year for having used the same endurance-booster.
• Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the original dance to take the lead at Skate Canada in Kitchener, Ontario. Virtue and Moir scored 60.57 points for their flamenco routine. The Canadians have a total of 101.26 points heading into today's free dance. Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France are in second with 91.60 points after scoring 56.05 points on Saturday. Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are third with 83.36 points. In pairs, world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany won gold.
Other: Canucks' Sedin to return
• The Vancouver Canucks cleared room for the return of high-scoring forward Daniel Sedin by sending forward Matt Pettinger to their AHL affiliate. Sedin has missed 18 games since his foot was broken by a teammate's shot in the fourth game of the season on Oct. 7.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Jeff Karstens for assignment and claimed right-hander Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle. Karstens was 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA. He was acquired from the Yankees in 2008. Jakubauskas was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games after unexpectedly making the majors at age 30.
• The Austrian cycling federation says Christian Pfannberger, 30, has been banned for life by the national anti-doping agency after a second doping offense. Pfannberger, a two-time Austrian national champion, pulled out of the Giro d'Italia and was suspended by his Katusha team in May after he tested positive for the banned drug EPO in an out-of-competition check on March 19. In 2004, Pfannberger was suspended for two years for testosterone.
• Zsolt Erdei of Hungary won the WBC cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Giacobbe Fragomeni in Kiel, Germany. Erdei (31-0) vacated the WBO light-heavyweight title to fight at cruiserweight for the first time, and managed to do just enough against the 40-year-old Italian (26-2-1). Two judges had it 115-113 for Erdei, while the third scored it 114-114.
From Beacon Journal wire services
Get the full article here.
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