Bewerbungen » with the European Champions

VANCOUVER -- His career was built on making the right choices so its no surprise Jay DeMerit knew the time had come to walk away from playing professional soccer. DeMerit, the first player signed by the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps in 2010 and the Major League Soccer teams first captain, officially announced his retirement Thursday. "When it makes sense, when its right, its not sad," the amiable DeMerit said during a news conference. "Its not something I am going to regret. "Its something I am very proud of." Being convinced he made the right decision didnt stop DeMerit from battling back tears at one point. He will continue to work with the Whitecaps as an ambassador but has other business interests in Vancouver. "I am excited for the future," he said. "By no means is this the end." Known for strong defensive and leadership skills, the centre back had a goal and one assist in 71 career games -- 69 of which he started -- with the Whitecaps. He logged a total of 5,928 minutes during his MLS career. DeMerit spent six seasons with English club Watford FC before joining the Whitecaps. The 34-year-old American also appeared in 25 games with the U.S. national squad, starting four matches at the 2010 World Cup. Two injuries in a 15-month span hobbled DeMerit. In 2013, he missed most of the year with a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the season opener against Toronto FC. Last month, he tore a tendon in his left ankle in a 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union. "I knew I was up against it," DeMerit said. It was one day last week while watching the team practise that DeMerit began to question if he could return. "Watching the guys play it just kind of dawned on me I think these days are over," he said. "I looked down and saw an ankle with one real tendon. "I didnt think I had it in me anymore." Later that day while sitting on a Vancouver beach, DeMerit decided to call it a career. "I sat down on a log," he said. "At that exact second, after no other thought, I decided I was going to retire." In a letter to fans posted on the Whitecaps website, DeMerit said if he continued to play he risked damaging the reputation he spent years building. "Ive always been the kind of player who wears his heart on his sleeve and its that heart thats telling me its time to stop," he said. "If I cant be the player that I have always been, and play to a standard that I believe is high enough, then its time for me to smile, say thank you and give my commitment to a new cause." Vancouver president Bob Lenarduzzi said DeMerits charm and charisma off the field played an important role in helping to raise soccers profile in a market dominated by hockey and football. "Jay gets the big picture," said Lenarduzzi. "He gets that in North America we are selling the sport." DeMerit has made over 120 appearances on behalf of the Whitecaps. "His willingness to participate in virtually any request we put in front of him has helped to strengthen our brand in the market place," said Lenarduzzi. Coach Carl Robinson said DeMerits competitive spirit helped mould the team. "Hes a sore loser," said Robinson. "Hes a pain in the backside sometimes when it comes to training because he wants to win so much. "He leads by example. Young players knew what was expected of them. If they stepped out of line, or didnt do the job properly, he would tell them." DeMerit played college soccer at the University of Illinois-Chicago but was overlooked by pro scouts. He travelled to London with $1,200 in his pocket to pursue a soccer career. In his letter he talked about being broke, "sharing bath water" with a friend and playing games with "nothing but a couple of cows and five people in the stands." Eventually DeMerit would score the goal that sent Watford to the Premiership. He played in an FA Cup semifinal against Manchester United and a League Cup semifinal against Liverpool. He also played on the MLS all-star team that beat Chelsea. In Vancouver he helped the Whitecaps become the first Canadian team to reach the MLS playoffs. The chance to be part of a new franchise appealed to DeMerit. "I thought it was an amazing opportunity to be part of a blank canvas," he said. "Vancouver gave me that opportunity." Playing in Vancouver also allowed DeMerit to meet his future wife, Olympic gold medallist skier Ashleigh McIvor. The couple were married last summer. In his letter, DeMerit talked about what soccer gave him. "I got to travel around the world, grace a few magazines and billboards, and got to see the soccer community come together and raise money to make a movie about my life," he said. "I got to talk about my beloved Green Bay Packers with Elton John while in my underwear and drink beers with Bill Clinton. "I got to meet other amazing athletes and even got to marry the most beautiful Olympic gold medallist on the planet." With one chapter of his life finished, DeMerit is anxious to see what the future holds. "This isnt a career ender," he said. "Its a life starter." http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Miles-Killebrew-Draft-Jersey/ . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Miles Killebrew Jersey . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Darius-Slay-Draft-Jersey/ .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Matthew-Stafford-Draft-Jersey/ . The Giants chances of winning the division were dealt a serious blow by the three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres. The Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. San Francisco is still in good shape to clinch a wild-card berth, although it dropped into a tie with Pittsburgh in the race for the top spot. T.J. Lang Jersey . The Cottagers last victory came in a 2-1 home win over West Ham when Rene Meulensteen was still in charge. Since then, a miserable run of seven defeats and two draws has seen the club part with the Dutch coach and replace him with German Felix Magath.Stuart Barnes has high praise for Connacht after the underdogs won the PRO12 title on Saturday and looks at the positives and negatives from Englands win over Wales ahead of their tour to Australia... 1. Where to start on a weekend where the club competitions reached their finale and over 80,000 people packed into Twickenham to see England and Wales meet? The answer can only be Edinburgh. The best team in Europe were sealing their superb season a few hundred miles south, well come to them later but this was a day for rugby romantics and Connacht. John Muldoons team weathered a five minute shower of Leinster pressure before taking the Guinness Pro12 final by the scruff and utterly outplaying the favourites.Those of us outside the Connacht camp wondered whether their inexperience would tell, we wondered whether playing on the big stage in front of a 34,500 crowd would cause them to freeze. We were wrong to wonder. They didnt. We discovered that Pat Lams men relished the sound surface and the absence of hurricane Galway. Their home crowd has inspired them all season but the wind and rain has held them back. The first half an hour or so was thrilling as they ripped the leagues meanest defence to shreds with their freewheeling attacking play in benign conditions. At global level New Zealand proved positive rugby can prevail. At club level in Europe, Connacht did the game a similar favour. No one was sneering at the rugby romantics come full-time. Highlights of the Guiness Pro 12 final between Connacht and Leinster from Murrayfield Stadium. 2. All season it was a consummate team effort, start to finish, but two men deserve individual mentions. Muldoon was playing his 275th game for the team. A one-club man and the glue that has held the team together through the bad years, the unfettered joy on his face and emotion in his voice when interviewed by Graham Simmons after the final whistle was my moment of the weekend. Muldoon put in a man-of-the-match performance as his side beat Leinster 20-10 in the Pro 12 final Connachts achievements cannot be mentioned without a word also for Lam. He has endured some tough coaching times in Auckland but in Ireland he assembled a team who believed in his positive style of rugby. They were also defensively savvy. This was a masterclass of coaching from the former Samoa international. Yes, they were romantic in their attacking adventure but dont be kidded, they were a ruthlessly professional side as well. Their presence will be a massive boost for the Champions Cup which lacked some atmosphere this season. If I have one regret this weekend it was the impossibility of hitching a ride back to Galway for what would have been the Sunday to end all Sundays. Lam claims the Pro 12 Championship crown is just the start for his side. 3. In contrast Leinster limped away from Edinburgh. The margin was ten points but with AJ McGinty losing his radar it distorted the difference between the teams. Many thought the semi-final victory against Ulster was a sign of them coming to form at the right moment as Wasps so famously used to do. It was not. It was a flash in the pan. Wooden and predictable was their way on Saturday, as it has been for much of the season. Against some of the better teams in Europe their defeats were inevitable - against the best team in their league, so it proved again.4. The manner of the victory puts Joe Schmidt once more under the spotlight. My Irish colleagues in the media have been critical of Irelands lumbering style of rugby for a while. Schmidts argument against Ireland playing like his great Leinster side did was the absence of players capable of playing with speed of thought and body. Despite defeat in the Guinnes Pro12 Final, Leinsters Eoin Reddan suggested that Connacht have got a lot right both on and off the field this season Well, the Connacht back three looked the part on Saturday while Leinsters wings and full-back were heavy legged.dddddddddddd. The Leinster trio are on the flight to South Africa, none of the Connacht men are making the trip. The microscopes are out.5. Now to the utterly unromantic Saracens. Back-to-back English titles with the European Champions Cup in their trophy cabinet, this is the most powerful side in England since Leicester dominated country and continent from 1999-2002. They looked a little flat for half an hour in the second half but when Exeter got within striking distance they scored again to keep the contenders at a distance. Only Harlequins beat Saracens when they were anywhere near full strength this season. Like that great Leicester side they suffer in the media from being too dominant. There is more to their game than they are credited. Somehow I dont think Saracens will care. Congratulations on a superb season. Eddie Jones launched a vigorous defence of fly-half George Fords performance, saying people need to get some perspective after Englands win over Wales 6. While Owen Farrell was playing like the Lord of the Manor yet again, George Ford played the part of intruder one day later. At the moment there is no comparison between the two players and I have always been a great believer in Fords long term talent. Right now the discrepancy between the two men is huge. One has no confidence - as his kicking illustrated - the other is oozing the stuff. If it comes down to a choice between one and the other as fly-half in Australia, there is no choice. Highlights of Englands 27-13 win over Wales at Twickenham 7. It may be that both will play together because England cannot resolve their pickle at inside centre. Luther Burrell picked a cracking line for his try against Wales but was otherwise too one dimensional in his game. Manu Tuilagi is again crocked and Ben Teo looked anything but Test class against a Connacht team whose pace of game at times exposed him. Jones dreams of a 12 who can punch the gain line but none of the contenders are convincing. The only other options are Henry Slade and Ollie Devoto. The one disappointed against Saracens, the other remains an interesting player but one with more potential than proof so far in his career. 10/12 will be a fascinating selection for the first test in Brisbane.8. Overall England will be reasonably pleased with their performance on Sunday. The set piece was solid, the structure of the English game rebuilt after Australia destroyed their foundations in the World Cup. Jones builds his foundations first. Thereafter comes the instinctive stuff which is taking its time to emerge from the debris of autumn 2015. Still, English teams have more chance of winning by reverting to the structures than having no solid foundations at all. To win a World Cup might be a different matter but to win a Test in Australia, England are just about on course. To win a series they have to sort out 9, 10 and 12. Warren Gatland was reasonably happy with aspects of Wales game despite their 27-13 defeat 9. Warren Gatland put a brave face on what was a poor performance by Wales. Yes, they started well but to concede five tries was something to set the alarm bells ringing. When England reached the wider channels and played with pace Wales were troubled. It is no trade secret to let on that the All Blacks have a few handy performers with the ball out wide.10. On the balance of what we saw at Twickenham, England look far more likely to win a series against Australia than Wales a Test against New Zealand. Either would be magnificent achievements. What with Ireland under pressure to produce a performance in South Africa, we have the best month of rugby since last October and you can see it all live, here on Sky Sports.Ill take a brief column break next week. Its time for a weekend with Mrs Barnes before the long flight down south. Back with a few (hopefully not too jet lagged) thoughts in Melbourne from Monday, June 13.Watch Englands tour to Australia, Wales tour to New Zealand and Irelands tour to South Africa on Sky Sports. Click here for fixtures. Catch the Tests without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: Ford boo-boys anger Jones Greenwood: Perfect preparation Farrell: We want more titles Follow @SkySportsRugby Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '