Liebe, Lust und Leben » eague, you are always on your last year of you

WASHINGTON -- Chris Pontius converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute and D.C. United snapped a club-record 13-game winless streak with their first victory since March 9, beating the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Saturday night. San Jose (4-7-6) was shut out for the third time in four games and has failed to score in each of its seven losses this season. "Its been brutal," United coach Ben Olsen said of the winless streak. "Its been brutal for the staff and the players. Its been brutal for the organization and its been brutal for our fans." Pontius echoed Olsens sentiment about the teams run of futility. "Awful, terrible," he said. "It tests you off the field as well, mentally. Its not something that any of us want to be in this position." For the second straight week D.C. United (2-11-3) was able to take an early lead thanks to a kick from the spot. United captain John Thorrington rewarded defender Chris Korbs run down the right side of the field into the penalty box with a perfectly weighted ball. Korb was immediately fouled by Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow. Pontius, who started the initial sequence with a pass to Thorrington, made no doubts about his first goal of the season by blasting it right as San Jose goalie Jon Busch guessed left. "I felt like I actually got into a groove this game," Pontius said. Its a bit of pressure off my back now." Despite finally earning all three points, the United players know the job isnt over especially with the league cup on the horizon next week. "Our goals in the beginning of the season werent to win two games in MLS," Thorrington said. "So hopefully this is just a stepping stone." After failing to earn a penalty kick through the first 14 games of the season, D.C. United has taken one in successive games. San Joses best chance of the night came in the 61st minute when midfielder Shea Salinas found space behind Daniel Woolard and Conor Shanosky just outside the 6-yard box before firing a left footed shot right at goalie Bill Hamid, who made the point-blank save. Salinas kept the pressure coming two minutes later with another attempt from inside the penalty area, this time having his shot blocked by defender Alain Rochat. San Jose kept pressing in the second half and nearly scored again as forward Adam Jahn got free inside the box and rifled a left-footed shot that beat Hamid only to go off the left goal post and out of bounds. Hamid saved three shots on the night in earning his fourth shutout of the season. "The confidence has always been high, we know we have the talent," Hamid said. "Its just finding the final touch, thats all its been." Reigning Major League Soccer MVP Chris Wondolowski, who leads San Jose with five goals this season and is tied for the team lead with three assists, did not make the trip east after injuring his right foot in training this week. There is no timetable on his return as the club will re-evaluate him. Jerome Bettis Steelers Jersey . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Merril Hoge Womens Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Troy-Polamalu-Jersey/ . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Terrell Edmunds Womens Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Jack Ham Steelers Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday.RICHMOND, Va. -- Look at London Fletchers career stats, particularly the column of numbers under the letter "G." Nothing but 16s for "Games" played. On and on and on. Through four years with the St. Louis Rams. Five with the Buffalo Bills. Six with the Washington Redskins. Its become routine to say that Fletcher has never missed a game in his NFL career. Its routine to hear him say that hes been "blessed" with "good genes." Its routine to hear him insist that he only thinks about his playing streak when reporters bring it up. And, every year that passes, the routine becomes more remarkable. Robert Griffin III has missed a game, and hes only played one season. Keenan Robinson, the 2012 draft pick groomed as a possible successor to Fletcher, has already missed five games and had two serious shoulder injuries. He might not play at all this season. Fletchers streak is now at 240, the longest among active players in the NFL. Hes been credited with 1,321 tackles and 608 assists, which translates into nearly 2,000 confrontations with running backs, tight ends and quarterbacks -- and not a single impact that caused him to miss the next game. "London," Griffin said, "has been amazing." Fletcher is now 38, back for another year captaining the Redskins defence as an inside linebacker. It wasnt a sure thing that he would make it back this time. There were times last year when he couldnt practice because of injuries. Then he kept silent for a while after the end of the season and waited until he had ankle and elbow surgeries to proclaim that, no, he never seriously considered retirement. "Its just something where you get up every day and go to work and dont think about it," Fletcher said. "Its pretty much how I go about my business. I get up every day, come to work and dont think about the durability part until somebody brings it up. I feel good. I try to do a lot of different things to keep myself feeling good. The training staff does a great job of working with me, and the coaches do a great job of monitoring my reps and things like that. So I dont think about it a whole lot." Besides, now is not the time to quit. The Redskins went 32-48 in Fletchers first five seasons in Washington, and the losing was starting to wear on him.ddddddddddddNow they are the reigning NFC East champs. They are on the rise with Griffin, whose own medical marvel is the speed in which hes returned from reconstructive knee surgery. "Well, if I was impressed with him before (last) season, how do you think I feel about him now?" Fletcher said with a laugh. "I think he exceeded all expectations, and thats really hard for a guy like him to come in with such high expectations. And when you think about it, this franchise has been looking for a franchise quarterback for, I dont know, over 20 years. So to finally get one ..." Fletcher is two-plus seasons away from the record for consecutive games played by a defensive player, Jim Marshalls 282-game run from 1960-79. Hes in the last year of his latest contract, but thats immaterial. As long as he keeps playing well -- hes been second-team All-Pro the last two years -- the Redskins will want him back. "Really, in the National Football League, you are always on your last year of your contract for the most part," Fletcher said. "This is just the nature of the business. I have scratched and clawed my whole career. I came in as an undrafted free agent, so I was on the last year of my contract 16 years ago when you really think about it. Its not something I spend a lot of time with. Im focused on this season and thats pretty much it." Notes: Griffin was a bystander for nearly the entire practice Tuesday as the team prepared for Thursday nights preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. There were no 7-on-7 drills, and coaches arent letting Griffin do 11-on-11 drills because of his knee. Kirk Cousins will start at quarterback against the Titans and play about 15 plays. ... Running backs coach Bobby Turner, who is also an assistant head coach, ran the practice because head coach Mike Shanahan was away attending a friends funeral. Turner refused to take questions from reporters after practice. Asked why he wasnt answering questions, he said: "Because Im just filling in." ... Heavy rains forced the Redskins indoors for the first time at training camp: The morning walkthrough was held at Richmonds convention centre. ' ' '