There was a moment on Saturday night that seemed to legitimize the status of Vancouver’s soccer culture, while also creating one of the great moments in the Whitecaps MLS history. It wasn’t the reaction to the final whistle, or the appreciation of two huge saves by David Ousted to preserve the win and another clean sheet. It wasn’t even the reception to Kendall Waston’s goal itself. It was the moment just before. Vancouver has always been a savvy soccer market. You can debate why, but going back even before 1974, there seemed to be an appreciation for the game that didn’t exist elsewhere in North America. The Whitecaps of 1979 galvanized that reputation, as did the parade of world class stars that wore the blue and white. Even the later incarnations of pro soccer captured trophies and the appreciation of the city, just not on the same scale. So while sometimes accused of being too polite, or too negative, the 21,000 fans inside BC Place proved en masse what their team, and what the game meant to them. They collectively stood just after Kekuta Manneh electrified them to earn the corner, and just before Pedro Morales delivered the decisive cross. It was as if 21,000 people became one huge human drum roll, with almost a sixth sense for the defining moment that was about to occur. Seventy-Five minutes earlier, their former captain was given one final curtain call, as Jay DeMerit put a public end to his career. A centre-back, who’s own defining moment as a player might have been the 2006 Premier League Promotion final at Cardiff’s Millennium stadium, when he nodded home the game winner past Leeds United, from an Ashley Young corner. He’ll never pay for a drink in a Hornets bar ever again. For supporters of Watford, it was a monumental goal, and a multi-million dollar moment for a club that always seemed to straddle the line between the top two divisions. How appropriate then, that the centre back who ultimately replaced DeMerit in Vancouver, would leap up and connect with a cross, that had been rehearsed over and over in training the day before. Kendall Waston was already gaining cult status before ... but Saturday’s goal, which earned the Whitecaps an MLS Cup lottery ticket, could mean so much more for the player and his new team. The supporters asked, the team answered - a wonderful moment in human synergy. The kind that creates history and defines what a club really is - a maker of memories and the provider of hope for more. Because of the single entity structure of MLS, and the fact that the league is only 18 years old, there exists a certain snobbery about the circuit’s history and credibility in the global context. But even the world’s most storied, and oldest clubs had to start the same way, with folkloric heros and legendary moments. Caps fans probably weren’t thinking about that as Waston raced to the corner flag with an unorthodox, beautifully raw, non-premeditated celebration. Whether they were long time season ticket holders from the 70’s, or there for the first time, an entire building was galvanized into one buzzing bee hive of emotion, elation and joy ... not to mention, relief. Imagine what it would mean to everyone associated with the club, if the players could offer up one more such occasion this season. Martinas Rankin Jersey . First, Ivan Nova decided to have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. Then Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games for using pine tar. Keke Coutee Texans Jersey .com) - Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll knows about life in the NFL from other stints around the league. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/ . You can catch all of the action LIVE on TSN2 at 6pm et/3pm pt. The Heat reached that mark Saturday night when they ruined the Philadelphia 76ers home opener. Justin Reid Texans Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena to a $25 million, five-year contract Saturday. Jordan Akins Jersey . Its the second of three meetings between these teams this season. Vancouver was a 2-1 winner on home ice December 22nd.NEW ORLEANS -- After many of his teammates were dressed and walking to the bus outside New Orleans Arena, Jermaine ONeal sat in the visitors locker room, still in uniform, with large packs of ice wrapped around his legs and a slight smile on his face. With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. "I had a rough six or seven days, hadnt been able to practice, had a viral infection, the groin injury, the knee injury, and I just felt like sometimes when your back is against the wall you just go out there and have fun, enjoy it," the 17-year pro said. "I prayed about it and just went out there and did what Ive been doing for so many years, just playing the game." ONeal made his first seven shots and finished 9 of 12 from the field, including the Warriors final basket on a baseline hook that made it 102-99 with about 2 minutes left. Eric Gordon had a chance to win it for New Orleans with an open 3-pointer from the left corner in the final seconds, but the shot rimmed out as the crowd, which was on its feet, started to cheer and then suddenly groaned. Anthony Davis couldnt quite reach the rebound, and Stephen Curry, who had left Gordon alone to offer help defence on Jrue Holidays drive moments earlier, might have been the most relieved player on the court after watching Holiday instead zip a pass to the corner. "Im sure theyd knock that shot down nine out of 10 times," Curry said. "Thankfully, this is the only time he missed it." Pelicans coach Monty Williams expressed considerably less gratitude. "Eric gets a wide-open look, and it goes down and comes out," he said. "This game is cruel. Its a cruel game." Klay Thompson scored 22 points and tied a career high with eight assists for the Warriors, who were without suspended centre Andrew Bogut, as well as several injured players, including swing man Andre Iguodala (strained left hamstring) and guard Toney Doouglass (stress reaction, left tibia).dddddddddddd David Lee scored 19 points, capped by two big free throws with 2:34 left. Curry struggled to find his usual accuracy, missing 13 of 20 shots, but scored seven of his 16 points in a tight fourth quarter for Golden State. Harrison Barnes added 14 points. "These games are character builders for us because were trying to do something special," ONeal said. "Not every game is going to be easy for us. Were going to have nights like tonight where guys like myself are going to have to step up." Ryan Anderson had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans. Davis finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. New Orleans appeared to be seizing momentum when Davis dunk on a pick-and-roll feed from Tyreke Evans tied it at 93. Golden State called a timeout and responded with ONeals 11-foot turnaround jumper and Thompsons 3. Holiday, who had 17 points, responded with a 3 and the Pelicans eventually pulled to 100-99 when Davis tipped in an alley-oop pass as he was fouled by Curry. After ONeal scored the go-ahead basket, Davis once again pulled the Pelicans within a point with his vigorous, one-handed putback jam of Evans miss. Then each club missed its final shot, leaving New Orleans just short of overcoming what had been a 15-point deficit in the second quarter. Gordon finished with 16 points for the Pelicans, who have lost two straight. Jason Smith had 14 points and Evans 12. "We have a lot of heart," Holiday said. "That hurt, though." After being deemed fit in pregame warmups, ONeal quickly converted a driving dunk, a layup and a turnaround jumper from 9 feet. Late in the opening quarter, Curry hit a layup and a 15-foot jumper in succession, sparking an 11-0 run that Marreese Speights capped with a tip-in to give Golden State a 28-18 lead at the end of the period. The advantage grew to 45-30 on Thompsons 3 before New Orleans, which shot below 40 per cent much of the first half, trimmed it to 57-49 at halftime. NOTES: Golden States Draymond Green had a career-high three blocked shots. ... The Warriors play the second of their four-game road swing Wednesday night in Dallas. ... The Pelicans lost for the first time at home in five games. Cheap Jerseys ChinaNFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Jerseys WholesaleDiscount Basketball JerseysCheap NHL Jerseys AuthenticCheap Baseball Jerseys Free ShippingCheapest College Jerseys SaleCheap Football Jerseys ChinaNike NFL Jerseys CanadaWholesale NHL Jerseys From ChinaMLB Jerseys Outlet CanadaWholesale NBA Jerseys Canada StoreCheap Soccer Jerseys ChinaCheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '