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Category Archives: Timbers

I’ll take those odds

07 Dec

The team wasn’t supposed to make the playoffs. And then they weren’t supposed to make it past the play-in. And then the season was supposed to end in Seattle. And then in Kansas City.

And now we’re here in Atlanta. This is all…extra. Everything past October is bonus. One more night out with friends, one more game, one more.

The stadium is imposing. The opponent is strong. The odds are against us.

I feel no fear, any earlier anxiety is gone. Win or lose, this team has given me more than I could have ever imagined when I plunked down my season ticket deposit so many years ago.

I’ve been places I never expected to be, met folks I would have otherwise never met, I’ve lived dreams I long thought lost. And my story isn’t unique. Every member of this tribe has a story, a reason they’re here. I’m grateful for all of them, and for all of you.

There are, at the lowest possible count, 1,700 of us in Atlanta that will stand for the green and Gold. We represent our team, our town, the Timbers Army. We stand in for all those who could not be here. So, celebrate tonight, and be ready to work tomorrow.

Let’s go get that cup.

 
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Posted by on December 7, 2018 in Timbers

 

Point of no return

11 Mar

There’s a point before every away match when I realize that, even if I dropped everything, got in the car, and went directly to the airport, there’s no way I’d make it to wherever the game is in time to see first kick. The Point of No Return.

And there’s a point in every season where a team, and its fanbase, knows that all is lost. There will be no trophy, no titles, no glory.

Guys, we’re two games into the season. All is not lost. There’s not yet reason to burn the stadium down with a bonfire of kits and scarves built at 20th and Morrison.

We want more, we want better, we want to know players are playing for the badge, playing for us. I think they are, for the most part. I know this is a tired trope: Fans Want Players to Play Harder, continued on C4. But yesterday’s performances cast doubt on the dedication of a Timber or two.

If you’re not willing to defend, why are you a defender? If you’re not going to take the shot, why are you a forward? If you can’t move the ball, why are you on the field at all?

I’m seeing three key points from folks with regard to last night’s match:

Ridgewell, out of position, casually glancing over his shoulder at two runners, deciding not to make an effort to disrupt their momentum.

Gleeson, primarily just being Gleeson.

Savarese, new guy on a bigger stage, out of his depth.

I’m good with one of those being a cause for worry.

Gio Savarese will be fine. He’s finding his feet, figuring out what’s going to work at this level. It’s going to be bumpy, but he’s not the complete idiot a few folks might have you believe. He knows how to win, just maybe not yet with this squad. He’ll make the necessary adjustments. Just…give him a minute.

Jake Gleeson is Jake Gleeson. Remember when we used to joke about the Donovan Ricketts 70th minute nap? I feel like we get a lot of the same from Gleeson: a couple top-class saves per game, and a minor injury deep in the second half. He’ll be fine if we sort out the myriad of issues occurring in front of him. Or if we get Attinella back on the field. Or McIntosh. I’m fine with any of those options.

The third issue is the one that really sticks. Captain Ridgewell, out for a jog, out of position, the leader of the back line. It stands to reason that if the one directing is out of position, those following will be, too. And if he who is supposed to motivate fails to do so, well, there’s going to be a lack of motivation, a lack of urgency. I’m not entirely sure how to fix that, but I know where I’d start.

 

 
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Posted by on March 11, 2018 in Timbers

 

Technology

16 Feb

A weird thing happened today. On the other side of the world, my little Scottish team played another little Scottish team in the second leg* of a cup tie. It wasn’t televised.

Due to some weird scheduling, the game went up against a Champions League match (or maybe it was two, I don’t know), and because of the tv rights or some such nonsense, no one could air it.

It’s rare that I see Rangers play. It’s even more rare that I see them in real-time. I catch clips here or there, mostly from Rangers TV or whatever bits and pieces are posted to YouTube, but it’s not ideal. There’s no way to capture the feeling of being in the stadium, of being surrounded by supporters.

As the game drew closer, Twitter was buzzing. An estimated 8,000 Rangers supporters travelled to Rugby Park. Ingress was difficult; away supporters were still outside, trying to get in, with ten minutes on the clock. Those that were inside found the away sections cramped, leaving spectators standing in the aisles.

And we know this because of Twitter.

And, because of Twitter, we were able to find a few people with the good sense (I know: this is debatable) to hold their cell phones aloft and broadcast bits of the game via Periscope.

Under normal circumstances, this is not something I would advocate. There are rights and regulations and copyrights and trademarks and things in play. This is me literally saying to you,”Don’t do this. DO NOT DO THIS. Put your phone away, you idiot.”

But today, people did this. And I clicked the links. And I watched a bit on my lunch hour at work. When I clocked back in to work, I listened.

There was a special kind of magic there, in just listening to the ambient sounds of a soccer match being played on the other side of the world. I can’t tell you what plays were made, or if fouls were correctly called, or if the Killie goal was well-taken. I can tell you that I was caught up in the sounds of the crowd, the ups and downs, the frustration of a near miss, the polite applause following, the absolute pandemonium after Rangers’ second goal. It was as if I was there, in the stadium, shoulder to shoulder with other supporters. It was amazing.

The whistle blew. Rangers 2-1 over Killie. The stadium erupted. Or, rather, the space around the Periscoper I was listening to at the time erupted.

And I’m back in Columbus, watching my friends dance at the final whistle of MLS Cup. And I’m in the lawyers’ living room watching the final minutes in Dallas on tv. And I’m in the press box in Vancouver watching Diego Chara put the ball into the back of the net.

This was the shortest offseason we’ve known as Timbers supporters. In a few days, we’ll be back in our stadium. Until today, I didn’t think I was ready. I needed more time.

Listening to a game played half a world a way changed that. I’m ready.

 

 

*I’m told it was a replay, not a second leg. I know nothing about soccer. I knew even less about the mysterious ways of the SFA.

 
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Posted by on February 16, 2016 in Rangers, Timbers

 

Aftermath

11 Jan

My traveling companions are and I are in Detroit. It’s December 7, the Day After the Big Thing, and we’re slowly making our way back to the west coast.

We’ve listened to the Will Johnson interview where he says he expects to play somewhere other than Portland in 2016. It’s not even online yet and won’t be for another twelve hours.

This is what we talk about now that we have the silverware. We’ve paused our celebration in order to travel halfway across the country and sleep in our own beds but we’re already looking to what will happen in the coming days and weeks.

“Blow it up.”

And that’s pretty much what’s happened.

Jorge Villafana to Santos Laguna. Michael Nanchoff to Tampa Bay. Maxi Urruti to FC Dallas. Will Johnson to Toronto FC. Options declined on Jeanderson, Paparatto, WeberAnd news today broke that Rodney Wallace isn’t re-signing.

Blow. It. Up.

With the salary cap as it is, there was no way that Cup-winning team was going to stay entirely intact. We know that. We knew it before we left the stadium in Columbus.

***

Knowledge doesn’t negate emotion. It’s not easy to let go of players we’ve watched for years, players who brought us our first MLS Cup. But there isn’t a single player on the squad who isn’t replaceable.

Dear god, when did I become the voice of reason? Heh. Roughly three years ago.

So take a few days to mourn. The wheels are turning faster and faster. The boys are back in training January 23rd.

We’re almost done with the shortest offseason in Timbers history.

 

 
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Posted by on January 11, 2016 in Timbers

 

Disappointed.

20 Sep

He said it over and over.

Disappointed.

Caleb Porter, who came in like a lion at the beginning of the 2013 season and has faded to mere lamb status, is disappointed.

Me, too, love. Me, too.

I’m disappointed in the play, the lack of energy, the loss of focus. I’m disappointed that the Timbers have reached this point in the season without ever really hitting their stride. I’m disappointed that this might *be* their stride: a slow, plodding stumble toward the offseason.

I’m disappointed enough that I don’t even have the energy to be angry about it.

There were legends in the stadium today, Timbers from seasons past whose stories are told over and over. They are the players who have gifted us this legacy. Tommy Potl. Scot Thompson. Johhhhnnnn Baaaaaain. Come on. How do you not use that as motivation to push ahead and get the draw most everyone predicted?

How do you not use those predictions of a draw as motivation to push even harder and get the full three points?

How do you just watch the ball hit the back of the net without so much as moving in its general direction?

Dissapointing. Disappointed.

 
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Posted by on September 20, 2015 in Timbers

 

Porter speaks

04 May

Honestly, it’s like you guys have never seen Caleb Porter respond to questions before.

I’ve watched today’s post-training piece twice. Jamie Goldberg from The Oregonian posted it here if you haven’t seen it yet. If you haven’t, you should.

It’s got a bunch of people all wound up. Words I’ve seen used to describe Porter in that video today include the following:

Dick
Dickhead
Douche
Condescending

I’ve also seen people suggest that his snark (something that’s present on a regular basis) is due to some insecurity, that perhaps he’s finally found himself in the hot seat.

Nope. This is a guy that’s pretty comfortable where he is. This is a guy whose boss is happy with his performance.

I went back and read some of the things I’ve written about Porter since he landed in 2013. This is the one that still strikes a chord:

I feel kind of like he’s been invited over for dinner, a really great dinner, and arrives to find a bowl of Grapenuts and a host who spends the entire evening apologizing for the mess.

If there is a hint of frustration when Porter speaks, I’d guess it’s because he’s still looking at that bowl of Grapenuts and wondering when the Beef Wellington’s going to arrive at the table.

 
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Posted by on May 4, 2015 in Timbers

 

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Are you having fun?

20 Nov

A bunch of different things have happened over the last few days in Soccerlandia. We’ve been arguing about scarves, we watched a team get parted out and, my personal favorite part of this week, Ted Westervelt called me “plastic.” Then he backtracked and called the Timbers plastic. Or something. I don’t even know.

A friend of mine, a friend I might not have made were it not for soccer, tweeted something disturbing a couple days ago. She suggested that becoming a supporter of a professional soccer team was perhaps the single worst decision she’d made in the last five years.

She doesn’t mean it. It’s just that some days are much, much more frustrating than others.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few weeks considering the advice of someone I consider one of my “soccer elders.” It’s a question he asked me a couple years ago and has posed several times since: if it’s not fun anymore, why do it?

I’ll say this out in public, this thing that I’ve said to just a few people in private: parts of the last year in Soccerlandia have not been fun for me. Very little of that not-fun-feeling is actually tied to the game. It’s the crazy that surrounds it: the internet trolls and the my-support-is-bigger-than-yours folks and politics of supporters’ culture and and and…

Meh. Sometimes, I just want to watch the game. I want to go to the stadium or the local bar and have a beer and watch the game with my friends. That’s it.

I don’t want to argue pro/rel. I don’t want to worry that the management of the league (MLS, NWSL or otherwise) will eventually spell doom for my club (or anyone else’s). I don’t want to guess what the rules for allocation or expansion drafts are. I don’t want to wonder when the players who are playing for other teams overseas during the North American offseason are going to show up. I don’t care that Arsene thinks MLS is a retirement league, or that Jurgen’s way of doing things doesn’t mesh with what Don thinks. I don’t want to wonder if Craig Whyte’s been arrested or if Hope Solo’s trial is being set over again.

I just want to watch the game. I cannot wait for the offseason to be over.

In our earlier Twitter discussion, I asked Ted when the last time was that he actually enjoyed a game. He didn’t answer.

That makes me sad.

 
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Posted by on November 20, 2014 in ThornsFC, Timbers

 

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A thin (red) line between love and hate

09 Oct

I fell in love again last night.

I fell in love with the bartender who called me “pretty lady” during happy hour before the game. I fell in love with they Arsenal boys in 210 and the knitting ladies of 108. I fell in love with the ladies who sat to my left and right and the gentleman who sat behind me and bought me drinks. I fell in love with Timbers Jim and Joey and the guy in the ADA section in front of us with the flashing disco lights on his chair whose name I do not know.

I fell in love with billowing smoke and waving flags and the songs we’ve sung a thousand times.

I fell in love with the movement on the field, with Caleb Porter’s cheeky footwork on the touchline, with every bit of Diego Valeri.

With two games left in the regular season, I’m lovestruck.

Lovestruck, but not blind to the reality of the Timbers’ situation.

Two games left and hovering near the red line, hoping another team drops points.

The social media firestorm today was, as we all know, focused on a game the Timbers won’t play.

Vancouver, currently on 43 points and nestled just below the Timbers (45 points) in the Western Conference standings, will travel to play Seattle, a team that’s safely tucked into a playoff berth and currently at the top of the division. With a win, Vancouver overtakes the Timbers’ current above-the-red-line position and retains the Cascadia Cup.

I like Vancouver. It’s a great city. I like Canadians. The Southsiders I’ve had the pleasure of meeting have been nothing but delightful, even that one that I hold responsible for my February bout with food poisoning. If the Cup can’t come home to Portland, I’d rather it stay in Canadaland where I know it will be safe and properly looked after.

But a Whitecaps win digs a hole for the Timbers to (again) climb out of in order to secure a playoff spot.

A Seattle friend (yes, I have those) asked me to explain why Portland folks would be so opposed to even remotely, quietly, privately cheering for a Seattle win.

It’s complicated. Some feel this hatred of Seattle so deeply that, despite a Seattle win increasing Portland’s playoff hopes, there’s no possible way they could or would cheer for it.

I can’t get behind that. It isn’t because of any deeply-rooted hatred of Seattle. It’s because I hate math.

More specifically, I hate late-season, point-scraping math wherein we desperately need to take every point AND desperately hope that at least one of our rivals drops points.

Win outright. Win early. Win often. Don’t hang your hopes on another team’s results.

If the points fall in such a way that the Timbers find themselves in the playoffs, this will all be forgotten again. We’ll be told that it doesn’t really matter how we got there. Sliding in ass-backward counts just the same as finishing the season at the top of the league.

The Timbers were nine games into the season before notching their first win. Nine games, two full months into the season. Five draws and three losses came before game nine, a 3-2 win over DC United, the only Eastern Conference team to have clinched a playoff spot thus far.

So, I don’t care that the Timbers front office thought it was a good idea to give us permission to root for our rivals. Honestly, I thought it was cute, if misguided. Nobody’s perfect.

Regardless of tomorrow’s result, it’s possible that we won’t know for sure what our postseason looks like until after the Timbers’s final regular season match on the 25th. I need a hug.

Friday, October 10
Vancouver at Seattle, 7 p.m.

Friday, October 17
Real Salt Lake at Portland, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 18
Vancouver at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 25
Portland at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Colorado at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

 
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Posted by on October 9, 2014 in Timbers

 

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Snapshots

24 Aug

Today was another one of those days that, when I look back over it, is comprised of snapshots.

Sitting in the parking garage at 8:30 this morning, waiting for my phone to charge.

The concern at only finding a handful of people at the airport when I got there and the ensuing contentedness when we were joined by several dozen others.

The moment when one of the PDX security guards revealed her season ticket holder status. And then the moment when she had her picture taken with a returning Thorn.

The tears in the eyes of players when they saw us, waiting for them, despite their loss in Kansas City.

Leaving the airport while, presumably, Nadine was still hugging people and thanking them for coming.

The walk to the stadium with Nissa. Non-welcoming gestures toward the ECS buses.

A mimosa at Oscar Drake’s. A hug from steward Greg. Heidi flinching every time I moved. More hugs from Sunshine and Shecky and Chris and Kris and Nick and Cindy.

Singing for Special Olympics players. Gorgeous tifo.

Adi’s first goal. Passing the log slice up into the 200s. Resignation.

A few friends at a crappy Mexican restaurant. Something about too much lettuce and a margarita that was too tart. Delicate palates.

An Irish bar, a dram of whisky, laughing at the impossible-to-follow conversation between the Irishman and the Argentine. The warm, fuzzy feeing brought on by a shared distaste.

This was my Sunday in Soccer City, USA. We greeted our returning Thorns the morning after their playoff loss in Kansas City. We filled ProPark for the Timbers, only to watch them lose 4-2 to our most contentious rival.

The results of each game are momentary. It’s everything else that I hope to remember. Much love to all of you.

 
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Posted by on August 24, 2014 in ThornsFC, Timbers

 

Not good enough

05 Jul

I keep going back to Vero Boquete in that presser after her first match in Portland. “It’s not good enough.”

And it isn’t. From either team.

The Thorns played to a 2-all draw at home yesterday afternoon. The first half was beautiful. Good pace, well-placed passes, and enough scrappy play to put two goals past Karina. With orders going into the second half to get that third goal and put the game away, they did pretty much the opposite.

The Timbers then played to a 2-all draw on the road at LA last night. They were scored on first, fought back, took the lead and then lost it to an own goal.

Not good enough.

We’ve spent the season – both seasons – hearing the same talking points from both coaches, all the stuff about keeping the lows high and the highs low, about motivation not being an issue, about this thing and that thing and never actually getting to the root of the problem.

Both clubs are lacking leadership.

I love Will Johnson. I really do. He’s tough, he’s hard-nosed, he’s not afraid of a challenge. But somehow, he’s just not himself this season. He gets caught in awkward situations and has acquired a hesitation when he finds the ball at his feet. Do I go this way? Do I go that way? Do I spin around in a circle?

And while he’s trying to figure out which direction to go, he’s not leading. It pains me to say it. He was the captain the Timbers needed in 2013. I’m not sure he’s the one they need in 2014.

With a new coach and a new direction, former captain Jack Jewsbury was asked to step back and it seemed a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Since giving up the armband, Jack has been dependable, focused and a reliable option when called on. I can’t help but wonder if a few games on the bench wouldn’t do something the same for Will.

I’m asking a similar question about Christine Sinclair. When the first roster additions were announced for the Thorns last year, it wasn’t Alex Morgan who got my attention, it was Christine Sinclair. I was thrilled when she was appointed captain but, with the team faltering, I don’t see her leadership on the field. I understand that she isn’t perhaps as demonstrative as others who’ve been charged with captaining their squads, and I get that she lives a dual life as the Canadian WNT captain, but she has not been as effective with the Thorns as she should be.

When watching the Thorns, I don’t see that passion, that fire from her that I expect from a captain who is trying to drive her side forward. I see it elsewhere on the field, but I don’t see it from her. With Paul Riley’s post-match comments yesterday about Sinc not starting because of issues with fatigue and a tightly-packed schedule over the next few weeks, maybe it’s time to move in a different direction.

Ugh.

It is, as was reiterated in a somewhat tipsy fashion to me last night by someone who has far greater knowledge than I, a simple thing to place blame on the coaching, but at a certain point, we have to look to the players to take things into their own hands. If you occupy that position of leadership on the field, you have to use it. It isn’t enough to drop “brain of a goldfish” in a post-match interview or to shrug and say the team has to work harder. You have to be the difference. You have to be the motivator. You have to be the captain both on and off the field.

Without changes, I won’t be surprised to see both teams miss out on the playoffs this year. I won’t be surprised because, though I love them deeply and despite having rosters that can and should get them there, they’re just not good enough.

 
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Posted by on July 5, 2014 in ThornsFC, Timbers

 
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