ce. You wouldnt get to experience that kind of thing

Liam Ridgewell has been at Portland Timbers for one-and-a-half years - and hes really enjoying life in MLS. The former Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom defender captained Timbers to their first-ever MLS Cup trophy last season, beating Columbus Crew 2-1 in the final.With another 2-1 win against Columbus last weekend to mark the opening game of the season, Portland now make the trip to California to face San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday - live on Sky Sports. Ahead of the game, we asked Ridgewell 10 MLS-related questions. Take a look at what he had to say as he tells us all about his own career and life stateside.What was it like winning the MLS Cup last season? Portland Timbers won MLS Cup in 2015 It was a huge achievement - for the city and for the organisation, it was massive. A lot of people didnt expect us to do it, nobody thought we could get anywhere near it, but we knew of the teams capabilities and we knew we could do it if we performed on the day.How did it compare to winning the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011? Ridgewell won the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011 On the day I was excited and said it was better than winning the League Cup but it is definitely on par with it.It was such a special thing with Birmingham, it might even have been a greater achievement to win the League Cup with them because we were such outsiders going against Arsenal, but winning the MLS Cup was a big achievement.As MLS Cup holders, when do you get to meet President Barack Obama? Winning MLS Cup means the chance to meet Barack Obama We havent been told when we meet him! Id say it will be when we play DC United away so thatll come towards the end of the season.It will be unbelievable to meet him, it will be extra special being the captain and being able to get a couple of minutes with him and to shake his hand. Itll be a massive thing, thats for sure.Whats the aim this season after winning MLS Cup last year? Portland Timbers surprised many by winning MLS Cup last season Its going to be a difficult year for us. Last year people were tipping everyone else. This year the spotlight is going to be on us in every game to keep on winning, so its going to be more difficult.But weve got the capacity in the team to carry on winning and go and do it again. We did it last year and made a couple of additions in the pre-season. Were looking good, looking strong so why cant we win it again? Its going to be very tough because people are going to be looking at us as champions and wanting to beat us, so its something weve got to get used to quite quickly.You play San Jose Earthquakes live on Sky Sports this weekend, whos their main threat? Ridgewell thinks Chris Wondolowski is one of San Joses most dangerous players Theyve got Chris Wondolowski, who is a very good centre forward and plays for the national team, he scores a lot of goals. Theyre a very strong outfit and Im sure this year theyll be looking to do a lot more [than last season] and are a team weve really got to look out for.What Portland players should we be keeping an eye on this season? Portand Timbers Darlington Nagbe was called up to the US national team in November last year Darlington Nagbe is certainly running the midfield every time we play. Hes such a big player for us and to now get into the USA national team is even bigger.Hes going to go on and do bigger things and a lot more with his career. Were lucky to have him to be perfectly honest and is a good player to have in our team. With him and Diego Chara in the midfield, and if we can get Fanendo Adi scoring goals like last season with 16, well be up and running.Other than Portland, who has the most passionate fans in MLS? Seattle Sounders fans are known to be very loud and passionate about their club Seattle are very big rivals to us. They pack out their stadium, so theyre certainly passionate about their team.Whenever we play them with it being a derby. Theyre certainly very loud. Its always nice to play there and you certainly hear them thats for sure.Can MLS ever compete with the Premier League? Steven Gerrard (R) joined MLS last season I definitely think it can. The way the league is going theres a lot of investment into it, and theyre doing it the right way by not letting the investment get too out of control.When you get these players like Steven Gerrard, David Villa, Frank Lampard coming over here its a different lifestyle and type of place. Its enjoyable as well so theres no reason why it cant grow and get better. Your Lumberjack mascot Timber Joey… do you see him often? Timber Joey is a much loved figure in Portland We see him all the time! He travels with us to away games, we see him at home games before we go out and train...if were lucky enough we get to have a beer with him or see him out in Portland.Theres no other stadium in the world where you see someone cutting a log with a chainsaw. Its just incredible really and its such a good experience. You wouldnt get to experience that kind of thing back at home so its another perk of coming to play in MLS.Do you see yourself finishing your career in MLS? Liam Ridgewell (R) was on loan at Brighton during the off-season, and could see himself returning to play in England one day Id like to go back and play one day back in England but Ive only got a year left on my contract at Portland Timbers.Im talking to the club at the minute so hopefully that will go well but you never know how thats going to go so it could be my last season this year.Hopefully it isnt but it might be. I might be playing at home sooner than I expected but I think Im always going to come home with my kids being at home, my family. Id like to play at home one more time. Also See: MLS: Galaxy start with win WATCH: MLS top 5 young players Weekend Menu on Sky Sports WATCH: Federico Higuain over-head kick Jefferson Lerma Colombia Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with defensive lineman Israel Idonije and are bringing him back for a second stint. Yerry Mina Colombia Jersey . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/...olombia-jersey/. Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Carlos Sanchez Moreno Jersey . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. Abel Aguilar Jersey . Dougie Hamilton and Jordan Caron scored in the first period after the Red Wings had miscues on the ice and Tuukka Rask finished with a 23-save shutout, giving Boston a 3-0 win over the Red Wings and a 2-1 series lead in their first-round series. TORONTO -- After falling just short in last months $1-million Queens Plate, jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva and Up With the Birds left nothing to chance Sunday in the $500,000 Breeders Stakes. Da Rosa moved Up With the Birds into the lead down the stretch, then emphatically held off a spirited River Seven to win the final leg of Canadian thoroughbred racings Triple Crown at Woodbine Racetrack. The Queens Plate runner-up easily handled the 1 1/2-mile distance, winning in 2:28.69 on a firm turf. "I think he knew he lost last time (in Queens Plate) so he said, This time Eurico, I do the job, " Da Silva said. "When he took the lead, it was hard for another horse to catch him because he wants to take off. Hes all heart, hes a very good horse." Up With the Birds fell well back in the 1 1/4-mile Queens Plate on July 7 but rallied strong to finish second, a half-length behind Midnight Aria in rainy conditions on a speed-favouring Woodbine polytrack. The race took its toll on Midnight Aria, who skipped the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on July 30 at Fort Erie Racetrack due to fatigue while Up With the Birds was always being pointed towards the Breeders Stakes. Up With the Birds didnt have to contend with either Midnight Aria or Prince of Wales victor Uncaptured as neither ran Sunday. Winning trainer Malcolm Pierce said the rest certainly helped Up With the Birds easily pass his stiffest test. In fact, after taking the lead the three-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic showed why he was the overwhelming favourite, holding off a game River Seven before pulling away for a 2 3/4-length victory. "He answered (questions about distance) them today," Pierce said. "I was real worried at the head of the stretch because River Seven was giving him all he wanted but the last eighth of a mile I got a little more relief as he pulled away. "We didnt think there would be much pace so we were sure hoping to maybe be a little closer than we were in the Plate and just have some luck and a good trip. Thats half the battle because we thought we had the right horse." Owner Sam-Son Farm earned the $300,000 winners share with a record sixth Breeders victory. River Seven was second in the 10-horse field, a neck ahead of third-place finisher Pyrite Mountain. The remainder of the field, in order of finish, was: Global Express; Whos Mr. Hughes; Highland Bay; Dragon Puff; Scipio; Bookies Nightmare; and Faithful Rose. Wando is the last Canadian Triple Crown winner, achieving the feat in 2003. Pierce said had Up With the Birds won the Plate, he wwouldve run at Fort Erie and taken a run at the Triple Crown.dddddddddddd. But with a first- and second-place finish, Pierce wasnt lamenting about what mightve been. "Weve never really tried him on dirt," Pierce said. "He worked on dirt in New Orleans over the winter but we didnt think it really needed to happen. "If we wouldve won the Queens Plate we probably wouldve gone to Fort Erie and tried it but after getting beat (in Plate) it sure made a lot of sense to come into this race really fresh." Up With the Birds paid $3.10, $2.30 and $2.10 while River Seven returned $5.20 and $3.40. Pyrite Mountain paid $3.10. River Seven was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races this year, taking second in the Prince of Wales after finishing 10th in the Plate. But trainer Nick Gonzalez, who also conditioned Midnight Aria, was pleased with River Sevens first effort on grass. "I knew it was going to be a fight," he said. "A lot of the horses in the race were proven accomplished turf horses. "We were experimenting but Im very happy." Gary Boulanger, Pyrite Mountains jockey, said Up With the Birds was a deserving winner but added with a little bit of luck his horse couldve taken second. "I was following Eurico (Up With the Birds), I was stuck there the whole way," he said. "If I had a little better trip down the lane, I dont think Id beat Eurico but Id have finished second." Up With the Birds also continued a trend in this race, becoming the 26th of 55 race favourites in the Triple Crown era to emerge victorious. The three-year-old colt has also finished in the money in all eight career starts (five wins, two seconds, one third) and boosted his lifetime earnings past $870,000. Up With the Birds has also been impressive on turf, winning twice and earning a second-place finish in three career starts. "I dont know, I think hes equally adept at both poly and turf to be honest," Pierce said when asked which surface Up With the Birds favours most. "He has never run on dirt. "I was very proud of his race in the Plate although I was disappointed he got beat. Hes just a good horse and Im happy hes in my barn." Pierce was brutally honest when asked whats next for Up With the Birds. "Not a clue, I was just hoping to get through today," he said. "There will be no rush and no real plans. "We wouldnt be looking for anything until October. Ill have to talk to the Sam-Son people and see what they want to do and make a plan." ' ' '