Allgemeines » areer when Sporting KC sought him out several y

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen announced his retirement Monday night, two days after he made a pair of dramatic saves in a penalty kick shootout against Real Salt Lake to secure his club its first MLS Cup in more than a decade. Nielsen made the announcement during a title celebration at Union Station. "I want to thank the ownership group, my teammates, my coaches and the entire organization for the opportunity to have four of the best years of my life, not only mine but my family as well, here in Kansas City," Nielsen said. "I will remember these years forever." Nielsen kept Sporting KC tied with Real Salt Lake through regulation and overtime Saturday night before making two saves in the penalty kick shootout. Sporting KC eventually prevailed 7-6 in frigid weather to win its first league championship since the 2000 season. Nielsen was so overcome with emotion following the game that he retreated from the clubs locker room to a back room, away from reporters and TV cameras. "To the best soccer fans: Since Day 1 they have always been behind me and I want to thank them for all the support," Nielsen said. "It was the perfect timing, finishing with a great championship that the entire city deserves." Nielsen began his career in England and played the majority of it in his native Denmark, but said he was at a crossroads in his career when Sporting KC sought him out several years ago. He wound up agreeing to a contract with the MLS club, even though he barely knew where Kansas was on a map, and instantly became a hit with fans. Nielsen played every minute of Sporting KCs last 100 matches, made two All-Star game appearances and was voted the leagues top goalkeeper a year ago. It wasnt just his play that endeared Nielsen to fans, though. It was his personality. He became known for stopping his car at local parks when hed be driving by and joining in games with random children. Often, Nielsen would pull kids out of the crowd and have them kick balls at him as part of his pre-game warm-up. The recent release of his autobiography, "Welcome to the Blue Heaven: Dont Bet Against the Goalkeeper," chronicled the way he overcame an addiction to gambling. All of it resonated with Sporting KC fans who nicknamed Nielsen the "White Puma," and who would often show up at games with their own version of his bleach-blonde hair. "What an incredible way to end a career," Sporting Club chief executive Rob Heineman said in a statement. "Jimmy Nielsen is so important to this organization on and off the field, and we look forward to the next phase of our relationship." He retires with club records for regular-season games played (128), games started (128), minutes played (11,497), wins (57), ties (32), winning percentage (.575) and shutouts (45). Nielsens career goals-against average of 0.99 is the best in MLS history among goalkeepers with a minimum of 1,000 regular-season minutes played. "He has been instrumental to the success of this organization over the last four years," Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. "And as much as Im sad to see him go, I am delighted that he leaves the game as a champion based on the fact that he is a true winner." Eddie George Jersey . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. Steve McNair Jersey .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/ . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. Bruce Matthews Jersey . Edwin Encarnacion carried the torch for two days at Fenway Park this week; Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista have had their moments; lately Anthony Gose has contributed. Custom Tennessee Titans Jerseys . Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., and Edmontons Barnett used a terrific second run to move up two spots, putting the Canadian duo in medal contention with the final two runs set for Monday (11:15 a.m. ET, streaming live at cbc.San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Pavelski scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Brent Burns also scored and Joe Thornton assisted on both markers for the Sharks, who have won six of their last seven games. Alex Stalock stopped 18-of-19 shots fired his way in the win. Christian Folins first NHL goal accounted for Minnesotas lone goal and Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves in defeat. We put ourselves in a winnable hockey game, Wild head coach Mike Yeo said. In the end, we just didnt do quite enough. After a scoreless first, Burns took a cross-ice feed from Justin Braun and blasted a shot past Kuemper from just above the left circle for a power-play goal with 5:09 to play in the middle stanza. Folins slapper from the right circle eluded a screened Stalock for a tied game 1:03 into the third, but San Jose reclaimed the lead 45 seconds later. Pavelski charged uup to the left circle and one-timed Joe Thorntons dish from the right boards into an open net for the game-winner.dddddddddddd (Thornton) found me and I put it right where I wanted, Pavelski said. Those are the ones you have to bury. Minnesota pulled Kuemper with over two minutes to play, but was unable to net the equalizer. Game Notes The Wild fell to 1-9-1 in their last 11 games at SAP center ... Thornton moved into 39th on the NHLs all-time scoring list with 1,220 points, passing the recently-departed Jean Beliveau ... The Sharks are now 11-2-2 this season when scoring first ... Wild defenseman Marco Scandella served the first of his two- game suspension ... Prior to the game, San Jose placed defenseman Matt Nieto and forward Mike Brown on injured reserve and recalled forward Chris Tierney and defenseman Matt Tennyson from Worcester (AHL) ... The two teams will conclude the season series on Jan. 6 in Minnesota. 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