NEW YORK -- Jefferson Mena and David Villa scored a minute apart before the game was 10 minutes old and New York City FC clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Friday night.Khiry Shelton assisted on both goals as NYCFC (13-9-9) ran its home unbeaten streak to seven games.Mena got his first goal for NYCFC in the 8th minute on a play that started off a corner kick before Ronald Matarrita sent a long ball toward the right post that Shelton headed out front for Mena to punch it in. Moments later Shelton sent a short pass to his left and Villa dribbled inside the 18 before finding the bottom right corner.A header by Luis Solignac for his second goal got the Fire (6-14-9) on the board in the 35th minute. New York got that back in the 44th minute Steven Mendoza, from the top of the arc, left-footed a rocket just under the cross bar for his fourth goal. Villa assisted on that goal and iced it with his 19th goal in the 83rd minute with Shelton getting his third assist. Jaylen Brown Celtics Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Danny Ainge Celtics Jersey . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-walter-brown-celtics-jersey/ . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Gordon Hayward Celtics Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Dennis Johnson Celtics Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. There is a chance that the season could peak too soon on Saturday afternoon, when the darlings of the American turf -- Songbird, California Chrome, and Beholder -- will be competing coast to coast.Songbird is laying her unbeaten record on the line in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, a 10-furlong race that has been won by so many fabulous fillies that it saves time to note only those who made it all the way to the Hall of Fame. There have been a cool dozen.The Pacific Classic will not be run until 6:15 Pacific on Saturday evening, and already local historians are making room for the 2016 version alongside the 1938 Del Mar match race between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti, the last hurrah of 8-year-old Native Diver in the 1967 Del Mar Handicap, and the epic duel between champion Paseana and the unwavering Exchange in the 1994 Chula Vista Handicap.And thats okay. When a Horse of the Year like California Chrome meets a three-time champion like Beholder, attention must be paid. Too many arguments have been left unsettled in recent years when top runners failed to intersect: Ghostzapper and Smarty Jones, Mineshaft and Pleasantly Perfect, Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. So, cherish the moment.There will be betting, of course, and good luck to those who view Beholder as a freak of nature who would be unbeatable if she repeats her 2015 Classic performance. Backers of California Chrome need little justification, especially at level weights and at a distance over which he has earned most of his record $12.6 million. Then comes Dortmund and his mammoth stride, emerging this year from the wings of the American Pharoah show to cast his own giant shadow.Dont bother asking Raul Rodriguez whom he likes. He is too busy fussing with California Chromes hourly needs to tout the obvious. For 3-1/2 years, Rodriguez has been the man in the stall, at the shank, in the van, and on the plane.For what its worth, Rodriguez noted that California Chrome was understandably tired after his win over Dortmund in the San Diego Handicap last month, Chromes first race since winning the Dubai World Cup in March.Then he trained even better, even stronger after that, Rodriguez said, which is exactly how its supposed to work.Rodriguez is the patriarch of a family that has become admired at the highest levels of the game. Raul and his wife, Florentina, have three sons. Raul Jr. grooms for the Art and Alan Sherman stable, while Freddy and Edgar are exercise riders for Jerry Hollendorfer. If the name Edgar Rodriguez rings a bell, it should since he is the man atop Songbird every day.I had an empty stall, Rodriguez replied wwhen asked how he came to be California Chromes groom.dddddddddddd Everybody else was full. I had one horse just go to the farm, so they gave him to me.Of such whimsical twists legends are born. No doubt Rodriguez took one look at the chestnut 2-year-old with the wide blaze and four stockings and immediately thought, Champion!He was so little -- this high, like a donkey, Rodriguez said, holding his hand to the level of his Tom Selleck moustache.The girl who breezed him the first time told me he was a stakes horse, Rodriguez said. I said, No, I dont think so.His skepticism made sense. Stakes horses are how grooms make any money above and beyond their basic wage, and Rodriguez, hardly a rookie, saw no reason to get excited until there was good cause. At that point, the best horse hed rubbed was Siren Lure, the former claimer Sherman turned into a Grade 1 winner and earner of nearly a million dollars.The second time he breezed, Art said to me he could be a good one, Rodriguez said. He was very tough in the stall, always kicking. Not me, but he tried. Anyone else went to do his stall, I said, Let me do it.It was late morning early in Pacific Classic week, and Rodriguez was taking a break in a camp chair outside the Sherman tack room. At one point in the conversation, California Chrome came to his webbing, as if stepping up in his own defense. But in fact, he had caught wind of a horse passing by, and, well, California Chrome was compelled to let the stranger know who was boss.California Chrome became a stakes horse by winning the Graduation for California-breds at Del Mar 37 months ago. Now, Rodriguez can sweep through the photos on his smartphone to display his travels with Chrome -- Kentucky, New York, England, Dubai, and then Dubai again. He also will share pictures of his ranch in southwestern Mexico, some 80 acres of rolling land near the Rio Verde in the state of Jalisco. Thank you, California Chrome.Here is the three-bedroom house Rodriguez built with attached double garage. Here is the brick barn for his horses and the high-walled corral for his white beef cattle. Here is the iron gate to Rancho Rodriguez, flanked by brick pillars topped with imposing horse-head sculptures.Ill be 59 the last day of this month, Rodriguez said. In three years, I retire to my ranch.And leave the Shermans in the lurch? What about those California Chrome babies who could be hitting the track in 2020?Thats okay, Rodriguez said with a smile. My son will be here. ' ' '