Digest: Spirit's 2-0 loss to Thorns is first shutout

Sports Digest — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Washington falls to 1-3-3 in debut season in National Women's Soccer League

David Beckham tears up in his finale

Reuters — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:20:00 EDT

PARIS -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while David Beckham produced an emotional Parc des Princes farewell as Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain beat bottom club Stade Brest 3-1 on a memorable night on Saturday.

David Beckham to retire at end of season

Sonia Oxley — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:51:00 EDT

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - England's best known footballer David Beckham announced his retirement on Thursday after a career laden with trophies and glamour that had a worldwide impact that went way beyond soccer. The 38-year-old former England captain, who this month helped Paris St Germain to the French league title to add to titles won in England, Spain and the United States, will hang up his boots at the end of a successful season. "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," the midfielder, whose final match will be against FC Lorient on May 26, said in a statement. Beckham earned 115 caps for England, a record for an outfield player, and won the Champions League, six Premier League titles and two FA Cups with Manchester United. He also won league titles with Real Madrid in Spain, LA Galaxy in the United States and PSG in France, making a habit of moving on straight after achieving success. He joked that he realized it was time to call it a day "when (Lionel) Messi was running past me" when PSG played Barcelona in the Champions League before saying he had always known he wanted to retire at the top of his game. "It's simple, you are leaving as a champion," he told Sky Sports in an interview conducted by his former Manchester United team mate Gary Neville. "It's the right time, I believe it's the right time but I'll always feel I can do more, that's the problem." London-born Beckham started his career at Manchester United, the club he supported as a boy, making his first team appearance at the age of 17 in 1992. His trade-mark free kicks and pin-point crosses established him as a key player, while his good looks made him a pin-up for teenage girls and later his marriage to former Spice Girls band member Victoria Adams established him as an off-field celebrity. The stunning goal he scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon at the start of the 1996-97 season announced him as a special talent and he even had the film 'Bend It Like Beckham' named after him. While his commercial appeal, personal fortune and his friendships with Hollywood A listers grew, his main passion of soccer - and in particular England - held firm. "To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country," Beckham said in his statement. "I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country. I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch." TREND-SETTTING As well as the highs, there have been the low points for Beckham such as his sending off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, a cut on his face after being hit by a boot kicked by United manager Alex Ferguson and missing a penalty at Euro 2004. But like the trend-setting haircuts that youngsters asked their barbers to recreate, Beckham's skills and personality ensured he became a brand that everyone wanted a part of. He was a key member of the bid team that helped London win the right to host the 2012 Olympics and brought the torch by speedboat to the stadium at the opening ceremony. There was public disappointment when he was not selected for the British Olympic team and his retirement has prompted messages from the highest quarters including British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Washington College player wins $61,192 Kerr literary prize

By Carrie Wells, The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:50:00 EDT

Winner Tim Marcin, 22, hopes to pursue sports journalism career

As the five young writers sat with bated breath, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post book critic Michael Dirda told them that a life of wordsmithing would bring them pain.

First Mariner Bancorp decides not to bid for arena naming rights

By Eileen Ambrose , The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:15:00 EDT

Baltimore parent of 1st Mariner Bank cites steep price

For a decade, 1st Mariner's name adorned the Baltimore arena, but now the bank's parent company says it does not plan to bid for naming rights that expired last year.

Digest: Wake's Harris, Gamble among new Bohemians

Sports Digest — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:26:00 EDT

Salisbury gets seed in D-III baseball; Hopkins in, too

Soccer

Messi likely to miss La Liga season finale

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:14:00 EDT

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is likely to miss the rest of the La Liga season after tests showed he had aggravated a hamstring injury but he should have recovered in time to captain Argentina in two World Cup qualifiers next month.

Wigan stuns Manchester City to claim FA Cup

Sports Network — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

LONDON -- Ben Watson stunned the Wembley Stadium crowd Saturday as the midfielder's goal in stoppage time helped Wigan claim a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Digest: Former soccer pro Dennis 'Otis' Woodward dies of cancer at 64

Sports Digest — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:50:00 EDT

Bayhawks' Cottle: Casey Powell will play this season

Men's soccer

United pick Moyes as Ferguson influence lives on

Sonia Oxley — Thu, 9 May 2013 15:28:00 EDT

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Alex Ferguson's influence at Manchester United will continue past his retirement after the Premier League champions followed his advice and appointed David Moyes as their next manager on Thursday.

Soccer - baltimoresun.com