its tough for all of them

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Former Brazil and Barcelona star Rivaldo officially retired on Saturday after a 24-year career that he said was built "upon a miracle" that allowed him to overcome financial challenges and disappointments. The 41-year-old midfielder, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, hadnt been playing at a top level for several years and finally decided to end his career with an announcement on his Twitter and Instagram accounts. FIFAs player of the year in 1999, Rivaldo had been playing sparingly for minnow Brazilian club Mogi Mirim. He is expected to remain as the president of Mogi Mirim, where his 18-year-old son is now playing. "With tears in my eyes today I would like first to thank God, my family and all the support (and) the affection that I received during those 24 years as a player," Rivaldo said in a statement published both in Portuguese and in English. "Today, I communicate to all my fans in the world (that) my history as a player came to the end." The talented playmaker thrived in Brazil and abroad in the 1990s, winning two Spanish league titles with Barcelona and the 2003 Champions League trophy with AC Milan, which was his last top European club, before spending time in Greece and finally returning to Brazilian football four years ago. The last top team he played in Brazil was Sao Paulo in 2011, but he was released after an unsuccessful stint in which he played only a few matches as a starter. Before rejoining Mogi Mirim, the team that launched him to the national scene in 1994, Rivaldo played for Kabuscorp in Angola and then for Sao Caetano in Brazil, which he left last year citing knee pain. In his statement, Rivaldo mentioned the hardships that he had to overcome early in his career. He said there were "many obstacles, challenges, waivers, longings, disappointments," but also "much greater joys, achievements, growth (and) change" that allowed a "distant dream" to come true. "I built my career upon a miracle, (living) in (the small city of) Paulista, no financial resources, no businessman, incentives only of my family, discredited by doctors and trainers," he said. "With persistence, dedication and especially with the hand of God, I came to be recognized as the best player in the world, world champion." Along with his statement, Rivaldo published a photo of him with tears in his eyes and another of him alongside his son, Rivaldo Jr. Last month, they got to play together in a Mogi Mirim match and Rivaldo said he fulfilled a longtime dream. Rivaldo also played in the 1998 World Cup, when Brazil was runner-up to France. With the Selecao, he also won the 1997 Confederations Cup, the 1999 Copa America and a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Rivaldo also previously played for traditional Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Corinthians, as well as for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, Olympiacos and AEK Athens in Greece, and Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan. 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Hunter Wood Jersey .com) - Tony Parker scored 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a comfortable 99-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.DETROIT - As of now, Max Scherzer is the only pitcher representing Detroits starting rotation on the American League All-Star team. Hed like to help change that. Scherzer is lobbying fans to support teammate Rick Porcello in the online vote for the ALs final spot. The 25-year-old Porcello threw back-to-back shutouts recently to put himself on the fringe of the All-Star roster, but hes not a member of the team yet. "We need our fans to really show up and vote for Rick," said Scherzer, who started the All-Star game last year and eventually won the Cy Young Award. "Come on fans, vote for Rick." With or without an All-Star invite, Porcello is developing into the pitcher many thought he could be after the Tigers drafted him in the first round in 2007. He made his debut as a 20-year-old, winning 14 games in 2009. Since then, hes been a consistent presence in the rotation, but hes never been able to match the 3.96 ERA he posted as a rookie. Until this year, perhaps. Porcello is 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA so far, helping the Tigers remain in first place most of the season despite Justin Verlanders struggles and Anibal Sanchezs brief injury problems. The candidates for the final All-Star spot in the AL are all pitchers: Porcello, Dallas Keuchel of Houston, Corey Kluber of Cleveland, Garrett Richards of the Los Angeles Angels and Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. "Obviously, it would be awesome to be able to go, but at the same time, it doesnt take anything away from how well I feel like Ive pitched the first half," Porcello said. "Im proud of the work Ive done the first half." Porcello set a career high with 142 strikeouts last year, but thats never been his calling card. He succeeds when hes able to keep the ball down — with a career groundball percentage of 53.dddddddddddd1. "Hes throwing strikes at a really high rate," Scherzer said. "Hes not walking guys, which is always a recipe for success. His offspeed pitches have really sharpened up. ... Hes always had the sinker. Nothings changed in the sinker, its what hes doing with his other offspeed pitches that allows him to be more effective." Immediately after being included in the final vote for the All-Star team, Porcello allowed seven runs Sunday night in a loss to Tampa Bay. Not an ideal audition on national television. But before that, Porcello had a 25-inning scoreless streak. "Weve said all along the key for him is being down with his sinker," manager Brad Ausmus said. "When it gets up, it gets flat and you see more flyballs." "He made the adjustment, he actually started getting the ball down in the zone. He got some groundballs, a couple of them found holes and ended up being hits but he got the groundballs he was trying to get," Ausmus said. Detroit has three players in the All-Star game at the moment: Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. Ausmus had been hoping Porcello and second baseman Ian Kinsler would get in as well from the AL Central leaders. "Its tough when you have that many guys on one team with the All-Star game roster rules, its tough for all of them to make it," Ausmus said. "But if Rick can win, we get four out of five and who knows what can happen between now and the All-Star game, maybe Kins gets on there as well. All of them were deserving." NOTES: Cabrera said he was invited to participate in the All-Star home run derby, but hell sit out because he doesnt want to mess with his swing. "Im going to enjoy watching," he said. ' ' '