It's My Sodden Pitch- soccer in Portland & Oregon

El Clasico: Barca v Real documentary premiere

2012-02-14T22:35:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Kelly Candaele speaks about this new production. "This documentary film is about Spanish history, culture and regional identity that will be screened in the 5th Ave. Theater on Saturday, March 10th at 7:30 PM. The film is titled El Clasico – More Than a Game and it looks at the intense soccer rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona through the perspective of Spanish history and politics.

Eighteen months ago I took 10 students from California State University, Chico to Spain to shoot this documentary. I put together an academic program of classes and lectures about Spain before we left, to provide some context for the production of the film. In Spain we interviewed historians, journalists, players, team officials and fans about the significance of this soccer rivalry. After the screening we will have some time to enter into discussion with you and your students. The film is in both Spanish and English, with English subtitles.

Hope to see you there on the 10th and please let me know if you would like any further information. " View the El Clasico trailer.

Whatever Happened to?

2012-02-07T23:26:00.000-08:00

Alex Nimo, the dynamic but small player who came out of Benson HS and provided some exciting local color as the Portland Timbers closed out their USL campaign, has not been mentioned much. A quick search shows that he's still pursuing his career as a player. "Sparing: Drutex-Bytovia - Pomorze Potęgowo 5:3" was the headline in a Polish newspaper review .Alex Nimo in Poland A reminder that being a soccer player anywhere other than the top tier of play is a daunting task. Best wishes to Alex and also that he comes home at some point, safe and whole..

People have been asking what I think about Boyd

2012-02-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

A look at Kris Boyd heading up Rangers shows a guy who clearly has the nose for goal and the quick foot to slip the ball in. He's got a left foot which is a good thing. And he's capable of tussling for the ball in the box based on some of those video shots. Does the MLS stack up as tougher than SPL? Some folks have suggested that Boyd is either in decline or can't play at the higher level based on the limited time he spent in the EPL. I'm guessing that the MLS is overall a tougher league than the Scottish league---but at the top, Celtics and Rangers, Motherwell and Hearts are good sides. I'm hopeful that Boyd has three strong years in him, and that as an opportunist in front, he'll give us excitement on the top this year. The Oregonian noted that "While with Nottingham Forest, Boyd was coached by Billy Davies, Spencer's brother-in-law. Spencer said Davies knows his system and the MLS well and recommended Boyd." Some folks might infer that the insider connection made Boyd an easy choice, but I'm guessing that's not the case. I suspect that Spencer and Wilkinson get commentary from a broad universe of their soccer connections- relatives included- and this would only have gotten more than a look if Boyd showed something positive to them. I like the choice myself. My only fear is that Boyd will get injured (Valencia?). Barring that I'm just waiting to see what number they put on his jersey and how quickly he can be match fit. Oh...and for the first sweet pass Chara can feed him in the season opener.

Cameron Knowles career continues as he joins Timbers' coaching staff

2012-01-28T23:54:00.000-08:00

Former Portland Timbers' defender Cameron Knowles became the newest member of the Timbers' coaching staff. The standout back might well have been playing on the side instead of coaching were it not for the terrible luck of a broken leg suffered in a 2009 match against Montreal. Knowles was a quality back in my opinion, and the Timbers last USL season suffered much from his absence. It's great to see that the club has decided to give him a try on the coaching staff. Particularly in that we've got the hardest work to do in the position he played. I think this is a brilliant choice and a sign of the club's loyalties. I'm sure they wouldn't have hired him unless they had utmost confidence he'd bring something important to the table. That being said, he's been part of the Timbers' family and they've done well to look for a place he can contribute.

Sad soccer...

2012-01-26T23:51:00.000-08:00

The Oregonian in recent days recounted a story of an eastern European block criminal enterprise in which 'operatives' flew into PDX and established false identities and bank accounts in the pursuit of selling phantom cars and sending the bulk of the money back to home base. The story was unfolded largely because of the arrest of the operatives arriving in our town. One of the miscreants was a Hungarian national who was quickly nabbed. In his brief bio for the article he was described as a soccer player and Hungarian national team hopeful. Which, if true, would reflect a sad decline in Magyar football aspirations since the miscreant is 41 years old. Hopeful is good but national teams don't generally cruise up to the rarified air of the 'forty somepuns' . Sad story all around. The guy was trying to find a way to support his wife and kids and the idea of boosting cars in the US seemed like a trifecta.
Very sad.

Copa del Rey Part Two

2012-01-26T00:26:00.000-08:00

The crew from Barca may be getting older and the trajectory of their glory may no longer be floating higher, but tonight in the second leg of the Spanish cup, they showed resilience and poise against archrivals, Real Madrid, finishing the first half of the match 2-0. The assassination of Messi still appears to be a goal in these matches as the Argentinian took ferocious hits more than once, particularly after setting up the initial Barcelona goal. The intensity of the match was easily revealed when the cameras focused on C. Ronaldo having apoplectic fits as that goal was scored. Not that only Barca's side suffered injury and insult. There were hard tackles and disappointments on both ends. This classico inevitably draws such intensity, such focus.
And what happens? with scarcely twenty minutes left, Real comes back. C. Ronaldo scores one. And three minutes later Real knocks in another. No question of the intensity of this battle. At 80 minutes , Messi is dragged down with the ball on the attack, again. The free kick? Just over the bar. 90 minutes in Barca mounts an attack ending in a header on goal. A minute later Dani Alves is slammed down and another yellow is thrown. Interesting that many of these guys play together on the national team. Is that great? Warriors who can battle fiercely for each other and yet battle against each other as well.

Fracas Espanol

2012-01-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Just watched Barcelona play Madrid in this week's Copa match. Not as entertaining a spectacle as I would hope. Alexis seems to be a hack magnet lest Barcelona have a newer and younger talented player to come up the ranks as the legendary players age. He took many ferocious chops. Puyol was magnificent in that one moment- the only moment in a match- when he slammed a header into goal to give Barcelona parity. Was the Abidal goal an offside? I couldn't tell from the replays but sad if it was. This Classico deserves to play out with no uncertain elements. In a thought far from the details of this particular game, I find myself thinking about the inevitable tide of time and the reality that the players of today are getting older and will someday be legends but no longer competitors on the pitch. Messi. C.Ronaldo. All of this is fluid. Sometime years from now there will be revivalists who say that Barcelona in this age was the best team ever, Clockwork Orange was the best team ever,.....so it goes. And I am in no position to judge but willing to sit and watch regardless. It's the Game.

Kenny Cooper traded as Timbers strategize in SuperDraft.

2012-01-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Kenny Cooper was traded today to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for a high pick next time around and money. It's not a real surprise. Cooper didn't show well last year though I think he got a rough ride in the press and it didn't seem clear that the team was using his skills well. I had predicted, in discussions with my fellow footballer, Mark, that he'd still be on the roster and Eddie Johnson would pass on. Amateur gawker from the sidelines that I am, I forgot the strategic value of a potentially strong player who still commands good money when it comes to wheelin' and dealin' time. Based on the cool tone of the Timbers' release regarding the Cooper trade, I'd guess that there was as much a problem of style and chemistry as of failure to thrive in the transaction. But again, I might be overreading the cards here. From a slightly different point of view, I have to wonder what New York will look to Cooper to do. Cooper's name is listed on the NY roster right next to Thierry Henry. And the Red Bull squad has four other forwards. Two of them are young- Agudelo and Hetrzog- and Cooper isn't likely to be backing them up. Luke Rodgers is a 'bull' on the field. He's thirty so maybe Cooper, slightly younger, will give Rodgers a breather. Who knows, maybe New York feels he's just a marker in their own trade situation.

Regardless, I hope we don't see Kenny back on the field here creating problems for our side like the last trade to New York, Stephen Keel.

Goal to Goal! Tim Howard chalks one up

2012-01-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

Just happened to catch the news that Tim Howard, playing for Everton, has become the fourth goalkeeper in the EPL to launch a clearing ball that ended up in the opponents' net. Great stuff for the US keeper.

Tim Howard- Goal to Goal

University of Portland Pilot women

2011-11-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

The Pilot women, whose decades long standing as a Western powerhouse faced a difficult road this past season, were energized to receive an at-large slot in the NCAA tournament despite their won loss record. And perhaps there's some justice in the selection as the young team may be hitting its stride.

That being said, I was saddened through the weeks to see that The Oregonian coverage of the Pilot season shrunk from 'front of the section with photo' coverage to inside bottom notes about the sad outcome of the most recent game with a single column inch. This approach to journalism is discouraging. Instead of a constant commentary on the challenges of the season and a respectful reportage, our town's daily just let go and didn't cover the team. I guess the theory is that if they're not winning all the folks who followed them lost interest. Sad really. The Pilots have a great program and an off year deserves as much coverage as any other. Danielle Foxhoven and Hailee DeYoung in goal shouldn't leave their college careers without acknowledgement of their achievements.

If you think this is simply grousing, I'd point out that The Oregonian's approach bears risks for our other soccer favorites, the Timbers. Will the paper decide that a bad season in the future deserves only marginal attention? I don't see that happening with the Trailblazers or the Duck n Beaver sport programs. But the ink this past season for the Pilots makes me wary.

We'll see. In the meantime, the Lady Pilots have a chance to chew their way into a little more memorable place in the annals. The NCAA has offered them the chance. My guess is that the women from the Bluff will use it well.

Horsebrass Pub commemorates Don Younger, Beer, and Football

2011-10-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

For those of you who had the opportunity to play in Horsebrass colors, and to those who simply enjoyed the idea of drinking good beer from around the globe and watching a fixture on the satellite tv in the old days, there's a chance to reminisce and recall those times when the Horsebrass and Don Younger were really the only place to go.

A celebration of all of the above takes place this week at the pub. Sure hope our picture's still up there on the wall.

Portland Timbers. Last home game.

2011-10-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to be at the game Friday night. Passed my tickets off to a friend who has been eager to see the team play but hasn't been able to get tickets. I was at a family event and could only check into the stream occasionally. The course of the game was clear by the time I did. And disappointing.
That being said, I was pleased to hear the 'never say die' chants from the Army behind the announcer's voice. And the audience in full roar when a call went against us. I'm hopeful that the team can pull out some more points in the last two games-- just for the record. If they squeaked into the playoffs, I'd be happy.
I've already gone out and renewed my seats for next year. According to the paper over 90% of other fans have as well. And that's great. I have enjoyed this past season despite the low moments. Have seen some great soccer. Ajax? And done it in good company in a great venue. I have faith that the organization will keep working toward its vision of a championship team. Many of the players this year appear to me to have excelent potential. And with more time together and some 'hardening', Iook forward to seeing them out there again.
I remember clearly the dark days when the NASL had folded and there was no local team to root for. Even without going to the playoffs this is a much much better place to be.
Thanks PTFC. Thanks very much.

The candle flickers. out.

2011-09-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight's match against the Red Bulls had all the characteristics of the slow motion bad dream. New York goes up early on a squeaker of a shot that should have been covered. Chara was a step confused, it looked like, giving Richards the tiny window to the back of the net---and again Portland is down a goal in the first half in an away game. Disheartening to say the least. As if to salt the wounds, former Timbers or might have been Timbers are out on the field- Keel and McCarty- like ghosts from some other universe.

Worst of all, the team hunkers down and plays scrappy. And makes chances. But who can oppose the gods when our best thundering attack with a brilliant pass out to the wing gives Kalif a look at the back corner. He places the most beautiful shot he's made all season on a full run. It goes over the keeper, drops, and smacks the bar! The rebound comes out. Cooper's there. He's poised. He volleys the ball down into the turf-brilliant- and it bounces up toward the roof of the net. Hits the bar again! Chara tangles with NY defenders trying to get one more take at it.
But no. "Ah, if only gray-eyed Athena would deign to love us again..." Or words to that effect.

Still, the game is not over, and the Timbers survive attacks and make their own. Surely they will perservere! But once again, the die is cast and the numbers are less than lucky. A shot from six yards out in our box is deflected on the left post by Kalif whose arms are pulled back and who turns with his chest to redirect the ball away. The referee says that the glancing ball hit his right arm on the turn and gives a PK. Distraught Timbers gesture to the jumbotron. Kalif is horrified and protests. For their troubles, the youngster earns a red card. The PK goes high into the net. And dark shadows gather around the edges of the pitch.

On a different field far away, DC United is chopping RSL to mincemeat with a three goal advantage in the match. For the Timbers this is grim news. United has two games in hand on our crew at the start of the evening and two wins would vault them ahead. And it appears that tonight they will pick up one.

The candle flickers. Not that there is no chance. But clearly we have not gotten a smidgeon of luck in this latest fray. Perhaps in the off season, we can do something to propitiate these cruel gods of chance.

Soccer isn't for the fainthearted. Keepers are always at risk

2011-09-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

In this early match in the Erdivisie, the match is stopped for a long break as PSV's keeper, Tyton, is carefully removed form the pitch after being struck in the head by his own defender in the first half. Another reminder that futbol is a hazardous sport despite all the discussion of diving and histrionics. The truth is that players put their bodies on the line with no protective gear in a high speed competition with limbs at risk. It's somewhat astonishing that there are not more bodies laid low on the field when the pace and intensity of the game is considered. I suspect everyone in the stadium, of both allegiances, willed Tyton to recover. Footballers and football fans are not generally mean-spirited.
Goalkeeper injury scare. PSV v Ajax.

A red card?

2011-09-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Football has its moments of mystery. One of the strangest in my recent viewing came during a friendly between Ghana and Brazil. Not a bad match overall. Two thirds of the way into the first half, Daniel Opare, the Ghanaian left back, dribbled forward with the ball. At the top left of the box, he squeaked through two Brazilian players. Stumbling, he lost the ball as another Brazilian slid through in a tackle which caused him to stumble further. He turned, smiling with resignation, and as he started walking back, the referee ran toward him and showed him the red card. The commentator on this clip says it was a foul on the sliding Brazilian but it sure didn't look that way to me. Shows how tiny nuances in the game make all the difference in the world.
Opare Red Card

Holy Cow...Rodney Wallace is the hero for Costa Rica!

2011-09-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Okay I have been less than enthusiastic about Rodney Wallace on the Timbers' back line. And I still think I'm right that he's not the man we need as outside defender. And I would be the first to admit that, as a defender, he does get up there in the fray scoring goals. But I am stunned to see that the US National team went down yesterday to Costa Rica on a goal headed in by Wallace in the second half. In his first appearance for his country. And I guess I'd have to just acknowledge that the guy did it well. And good for him. I hope that it perhaps will help him step up his play and his confidence , particularly if he stays with our home side. One thing I love about the Game is that it's always full of surprises. Atta Boy, Wallace!

US Men v Mexico- First step in the Klinsmann era

2011-08-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

The US Men's national team looked as ragged as you might expect with a handful of recent callups and newcomers as they took on El Tri for the first time after a thrashing last year. The first half of the match was a demonstration of the Mexican structure and discipline. The US had few chances and paid a price when poorly delivered balls went off target even a little as the southerners pressed hard. Mexico was not shy about expressing themselves physically. And their plusses netted them a beautifully executed goal, a rotating shot around the marking defender, in the first half. That being said, the US team pulled up its socks in the second half, played scrappy, and made substitutions that began to break down the Mexican defense. The US had the best of the opportunities in the last thirty minutes and began to look more confident on the lovely goal that tied the match. Most exasperating were the increasingly chippy fouls by players in green as the tide of play swung against them. The culminating insult, however, came as the US had a breakaway, ball under control and Rogers outstripping his opponents, only to be pulled down with a flagrantly obvious shirt and shoulder grab by Torrado as Rogers broke free. What should have been a red was only a lemon yellow card on the ensuing call, and the US lost its best but not only opportunity to take home a win. When looked at overall, the match signalled that there are many great US players who can be called up to the national side, and that the US will be dribbling toward international success if the team plays with joy and passion. Tonight gave us sparks of both.

Portland Timbers wallop Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0

2011-08-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

First off let's express the obvious. The Timbers won a match 3-0 for the first time this season. A resounding win. The Timbers dimmed the stars of the class of the league, the vaunted Los Angeles Galaxy, and didn't look too stressed doing so. The Timbers snapped the Galaxy's fourteen game streak of no losses. Did I say resoundingly?The Rose City side proved thorny to the extreme for these cocky visitors. I must cheer for Palmer and Chabala, whose solid presence at outside back has taken away all my anxiety about balls coming down the outside. They were exemplary. I must cheer for Coop who didn't get a goal (there was one breakaway in the second half when he had the view and had muscled to the position but didn't take the shot) but who created much and made the visitors mark him hard all match. Equally, cheers to Perlaza whose goal was excellent and earned. And medals of valor to all the midfielders who scrapped their way into the game over and over. Zizzo for his audacity and danger. Chara for his energy and creative skills. Brunnner and Horst on the back end. And Nagbe in the middle.
All in all it was a reflection of what this team can do when they stop outthinking themselves. When they recognize that they are as good as any team in the MLS when they hit their stride, they'll be in the playoffs and scrapping toward the finals. I loved tonight's match because they earned it. I loved tonight's match because it should be a harbinger of a hot finish to the season. We've got enough points that we can make our move. Believe, Boys, believe.

Women's World Cup 2011

2011-07-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

What a great game. Two teams playing with heart. No easy answers to unravel a win. Just struggle. And hard challenges. I would have been happy had either team won. I know that being so close and not making the mark must be heartbreaking for some of the Americans but they scrapped their way through an epic game. And I watched Japan play the Germans and thought that they were animated, transcendant because of their desire to give their country something joyful when so much has been horrific. The commentators described one of the Japanese players as having lost four of her friends in the tsunami. That kind of experience would steel you to give everything you had to striking a light in response.

Eighteen games left in the season...what can be said?

2011-07-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Independence Day weekend is often marked at stadiums around the country with a fireworks display. Tonight at Jeld-Wen Field, the Portland Timbers appeared to have soggy fuses and little about the game against Sporting KC evoked anything resembling sparks. True, Darlington Nagbe's inaugural goal just before the close of the first half was stellar. Well taken and wicked. It's nice to see that he's got a shot because we haven't seen much evidence of it to date.
The greenclad crew left the field tonight with nothing to put on the tote board once again. In the world of standings and stats, though, the team is not even close to a crisis yet. With eighteen points on sixteen matches, the team is in the bottom half of the league standings overall but has a game or two in hand on several other 'slow starters'. While we're not in a great place, we're not quite ready to be turned out to the bone yard. The playoffs include ten of the eighteen teams in the league; from that perspective we have time.
What's more perplexing, however, is to understand what's happening with this crew. Reading the fan chat online, there's no shortage of opinions but I don't read much that makes sense to me. Tonight, we gave up two early goals. One goal sprang from a failed tackle just beyond the top of the box by Brunner which left the KC attacker free to shoot. The second goal was the result of a lovely arced cross from our right corner which floated to a virtually unmarked KC player's head and in. It was a classic finish. So criticizing defensive play is an easy route to take. Much has been made about the Timbers' lack of snap early in games, and giving up two goals in twenty minutes falls into that bucket.
What I don't quite get is that I think this team has the talent to come back from early adversity and win games. They're not doing it and my question is why? In particular, tonight we were not playing one of the high scoring powerhouse teams in the league. What to make of mediocre performances against so-so opponents? I don't think it's personnel.
In the last game against Dallas, I would have to call out Perkins for misjudging or mishandling at least two of the goals we gave away. Tonight he played a solid match so I can't point to the keeper slot as being a consistent weak spot. Still, success in the hole is very much a mental exercise and even good goalies can get spooked.
On the back line, Dansu's return after his injury is heartening but he may not be quite as sharp as he was before. Still, he's been solid more than not. And Brunner, despite the misjudged tackle has been solid as well. I would have rated Jeremy Hall solid at right back too but apparently the coaching staff didn't think so since they replaced him with Purdy. Wallace on the left side would still be my candidate to replace. He's been sloppy with his passing in midfield and has been beaten outside more frequently. If the reason to keep him in is that he adds to the attack, I'd note that it's left our flank open to quick counters. Again in this last match, Wallace in the attacking end was stuck without good coverage and a Sporting attacker had a free sixty yard run into our end.
Apart from the specific players, though, I see the defense overall allowing a high number of balls into the goal box from both the wings and from around the arc. Even if they get cleaned up, the more time the ball is in that space, the more likely there'll be a goal.
At midfield I like Jewsbury and I like Chara. I give them both high marks for their workrate. But I think this is where we see one of the issues arise. All four of our midfield starters, with AlHasan and Nagbe added in, come from completely different styles of play. With language issues added to the challenge, I just think it's hard to imagine that these four players would have settled as team in four months. And Chara hasn't been here even that long. Perhaps because they are all good players and successful in the systems they're used to, it may be harder to mold them into a unit. If I were making the choices, I think I would use Zizzo as the starter and make Nagbe the sub. Not that the coaching staff can do anything about it, but I'd like to see AlHasan get a little more protection from the officials; he gets hit a lot. And my read is that opponenets just want to make him wary so he can't use the flair he has. In this last game, the referee wagged his finger at players after some thuggery. That's not enough.
There are ten midfielders on the roster but I mostly like this group.
On the front line, much public commentary has focused on Cooper's failure to score goals. I don't see that as being the issue. Cooper works hard. He's wily and does interesting things with the ball. He's fast for a big guy. And he's stiffened up from some games earlier when he seemed to be upended every other touch at the ball. I think part of Cooper's lack of scores stems from the way we're using him. Perkins puts up a long ball, Cooper positions himself and heads it. And he does it darn well. But it makes him often the player who's away from the danger zone where he can shoot. Perlaza was brought on as the guy who had blistering speed and a ferocious shot. I think his scoring has been limited because we haven't put him often enough in positions where he can use that speed.
When we aren't lobbing a long ball up to Cooper, our attack has, commendably, been patient. We have a demonstrated a great ability in our own end to move the ball laterally, keep our shape and look for openings. My totally amateur observation, however, is that our players are too often visually blinkered: they make the accurate and effective lateral pass but they miss the 'variation' the 'look' upfield where the lateral motion has left an open lane in the defense in which a strong pass on the ground could be fed to a player like Perlaza. More frequently, I believe, we end up making the attack on a set of sideline passes which, when successful, give us a cross from the corner. It's not that these choices are mutually exclusive, I think our players tend to have a harder time seeing and executing the opportunistic play into the slant.
I'm guessing that most opposing teams aren't going to worry about us too much if we want to play the ball laterally back and forth but largely in our own end. In the game against Ajax the Dutch team used excellent lateral play, patience and ball control, but the players off the ball created opportunities for a variety of thrusts into the attacking end. We have the play between the boxes as they say. We need to add the play at the ends.
So this is my long-winded way of saying I'm frustrated that the team isn't playing better. I'm not ready to see a wholesale reshaping of the crew. And I'm betting that their increased comfort levels with each other under fire will bring us a stronger end to the season. I'm even willing to say I think we'll snag one of those ten playoffs slots.

Portland Timbers v DC United

2011-05-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

Okay. Weirdest game ever. I posted the link from 'droppping timber' because at midnight, hours after this match ended I couldn't find any fan site that was commenting on today's tussle in present tense. Lots of bravado written well in front of play...nothing after.

So I think the concern that the crew comes out not feeling the need to rip flesh and set the goals afire is a legitimate one. We came out today with some very nice play but not enough heart.

The game became a grudge match early on as the United players showed their willingness to batter our folk into submission...whether or not there was a call from the official. Is this something related to Troy Perkins having been 'bought' ? I don't know. When the first goal came, I'd say it wasn't Perkins who missed his assignment....the man coming in to deliver the flick on home was not well-marked. It is what it is.

Timbers had a good movement and much creativity on the field. But my longtime friend and teammate, Mike, pointed out that we were putting high looping balls in when we had crosses and not lower trajectory, more dangerous balls.

So the half ended with us in a hole. And the second half opened with several offensive forays from our crew that couldn't guite buy us some joy. At which point, we had Kenny Cooper fouled in the box and an opportunity to even it all. Teams often have someone who's the "go to" guy for pk's but Kenny was ready to take the shot as blood compensation. He took the shot and it was blocked.
Consternation reigned! But wait! The AR called the DC keeper for going off his line, so we had a redo..And Kenny again stepped up and the shot was blocked! Consternation reigned. Cooper didn't use his 90 mph shot but tried to do a finesse both times-not good. But wait! the AR said that the DC keeper had again gone off his line and so the PK was reset. This time though, Jewsbury was the man to step up, and Cooper, distraught, was directed to move aside. Number 13 buried the ball in the net as he should and the home crowd were energized. The score was even.

Minutes later, United were awarded a PK at the other end and without hesitation knocked it home to take back their lead. In no other match that I can recall over thirty some years was there a double retake on a pk. Crazy.

The game proceeded at a fast pace from there on. The Timbers had many rushes but couldn't actually create shots on goal. DC United engaged in steady thuggery and the flavor of the game slid toward the grim end of soccer. Not much of the beautiful game.

The question surfaces in reflection on the match as to whether a healthy Charlie Davies and Dex McCarty would have tipped the balance so that the Timbers were back on their heels early. Hard to say but the reality was that, crazy or not, the tote at the end didn't favor our guys.

This has to be the most odd match I've ever seen. The resets on PKs were just the surface of a strange day.

Portland Timbers need to shake it off. It's not important to have a legendary 'never defeated at home' record. All that's important is to have a won loss record that takes the team to the next level: the playoffs.

We'll see if they can do that.

Barcelona. No question

2011-05-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

I got to my friend, Glenn's late in the match due to life commitments outside of football, but was not surprised to see the match tote at that point was 2-1. Within minutes of my arrival, David Villa place a lovely curling ball in the upper right corner of the net and made it 3-1. Barca rarely seemed hurried or pressed as to what the next pass might be, whether it was a pass of six feet or a pass of forty yards. United seemed grumpy. The video showed a closeup of Sir Alex clenching and unclenching his fist.

A discussion ensued. Most of us watching remembered the Spanish national team's astonishing run at the last World Cup. How much does Barca align with the national team? I was guessing that eight or more of the Catalan side were on the national team but a quick check tonight suggests that it's really only six. And may have been a couple more back in the last go round.

But I was struck when I looked at the roster for Spain that sixteen of the players on the national team are club players in Spain for Real, Villareal, or Barca. What other country could say that? Brazil has ten, for example.

I became a Barca fan for entirely non-football reasons. The club made the decision to make UNICEF their jersey sponsor and pay the children's agency for the privilege. That was such a righteous choice and so different than the typical club state of mind that I wanted to support it. Afterward I began to appreciate that the Barcelona style of play was also markedly different, and totally fascinating to watch. Like a cobra, Barca's passes undulate around the field in no hurry until the opponent is frozen at which point they strike. And then the reality also began to sink in that the Barca side was truly made up mostly of Spanish players, again an unusual situation. A dozen of the current starting roster hail from Spain and several are Catalan. Man Utd can't make that claim. Nor can many other teams. Our own Portland Timbers celebrate when one or two players on the roster hail from Oregon.

And from the point of view in the stands, I'd be much more excited to watch my team play if I were watching the best guys who actually have some identity with this part of the world. Barca seems to meet that standard. I hope they keep it up.

Back from England

2011-04-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

Just back from a visit with relatives in Kent and Portsmouth. The fans of Pompey are pretty intense and kindred souls to our Timbers Army. As I understand it, Portsmouth FC took 5000 fans by bus and train to an away match, I think it was at The Emirates. Admittedly not quite as far as Seattle but still a good feat.

About the ads...

2011-04-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

Last year I was unemployed. And scrambling around for any way to make a little money. One of my good friends suggested I put ads on my blog and see what I could generate in revenue through writing about something I really cared for. Something around eighteen months later I was on the verge of hitting ten bucks in revenue. And I have to acknowledge to myself that I've never written about the game with any thought of how many pennies I can earn from having people click on ads. To be honest, I don't like writing for money. I like writing for writing.

It's in that spirit that I turned off the ads tonight. Let me be the April Fool who can't make any moola from his work. It's alright. I am hopeful that maybe more readers will be inclined to chime in because they don't have to dodge so many 'opportunities' to buy something.

Thanks to all those folks who have dodged the detritus. I appreciate your taking the time to visit.

Portland Timbers in March-Lions and Lambs

2011-03-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

I've been biting my pen nib and not jumping in to comment on the "boys in green" as they have entered the MLS fray these past two weeks. I was able to see some of the streamed early matches and watched the 'stream' last night from University of Portland from the warm and dry comfort of my own home. I'd had a meeting and didn't even think of trying to go out to the peninsula.
But with three games in hand, two of them in league play, I'm beginning to feel that I can speak without seeming to be hasty in judgement. And I have several observations that may be wrong but they reflect what I see.
1) Perlaza was written up as a forward with the moves and speed to burn defenders and be tres' dangerous. I haven't seen that in the games. And realize it may be because he's feeling a little tentative and not "fuerte". But I don't see it.
2) Rodney Wallace at left back isn't impressing me. Last night in the Chivas match, there were two instances in which the attacking forward not only beat him but turned him so he was out of the play. He does get forward into the attack but I feel he's a weak link.
3) The midfield has its moments. But there's no one who's the dominant 'field general' ala Beckenbauer. And this team needs a general.
4) The team is playing with a man up from the end of the first half through the next forty five. I didn't see them using their extra man to control play and make Chivas run themselves out. At one point, there were four Chivas players collapsing on our player with the ball and he had no pass options. Am I not doing the math correctly?
5) Admittedly the defense was more solid last night, but in two breakdowns, Gleeson had to make extraordinary saves and that was when we were up a man. Should not be happening.
6) Al Hassan had at least three moments when he should have been at the far post because the ball coming down the right side came through and there was no Timber there to bat it in. In the instance, he was ten yards shy of being dangerous. I had the sense that perhaps he needs more seasoning to get the rhythm of this league. We saw him at the end of the season against the Caps and he showed good moves and field sense. Not sure what to say except 'time'.
7) Cooper was strong and aggressive. I like it. And he has a high velocity shot. The assassins on opposing teams will be going after him for that reason. Which means his partner upfront needs to take advantage and be the wily alternative.
8) A man up in the first half and we couldn't control the game. That made me very frustrated. Our crew looked anxious when they should have been confident. They were playing well in many respects but also were first-timing bad balls and were not looking around, slowing the pace, and taking advantage of their extra man.

I'm looking forward to putting myself into our season tix section for the home opener. I hope to see a crew that's gotten the bugs out. I like these guys. I want to see them play their best game. Confident. And fun to watch.

Judge George Cameron...an interesting figure in Portland History

2011-03-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I took some time to look for Mr. J.H. Bennett in the recorded history of Portland and found very little. There was a record suggesting that he was married on February 24, 1909 but little else. A cold trail sadly, obscured by dozens of references to other Bennetts of note.
Judge Cameron was a little more visible in the records. In 1906 two articles mentioned him and suggest his standing as a visible public figure. In one, the headline reads "Russian Nihilist Threatens Cameron" and in the other, "Cameron Advocates Playgrounds for Children". Can there be two more disparate notes? I find myself eager to know more about both men. I expect the good judge will prove the more interesting.
Thanks to Bruce Eaton for identifying J.H. Bennett as the progenitor of the eponymous cup amongst all the Bennetts seeking the public eye in the early decades of the 20th Century. It was a good catch. Now all we need is some detail.

CSI:Oregon's Cameron Cup examined

2011-03-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

long wave UV examination of the
Bennett Cup.

The Bennett Cup is more
mysterious. who was bennett?

Not too many months past, I wrote in astonished glee of the recovery of the Cameron Cup, Oregon's oldest soccer artifact dating back one hundred years. Judge George Cameron, scion of that Scottish clan's Portland branch, donated the cup as the trophy for competition in Association Football here in Portland. For decades small plaques added to the cup's base recorded the outcomes of pitch battles between teams like Sellwood and Clan McLeay and Longview and MAAC. At some point in the late 70s or early 80s, the cup and the competition with which it had been associated disappeared and there was no clear trace of the story behind the judge's bequest nor behind what had happened with the cup itself.

In late 2010, however, Roger Hamilton, president of the State Adult Soccer Association and longtime player and supporter of the game, received a phone call from Washington asking if he was interested in getting back two 'old trophies' which had been residing in attic storage up north. Happily, Roger took the time to go on a voyage of discover to retrieve the cups. Lo and behold, one of them was the Cameron Cup. The other was the Bennett Cup, a trophy noted in newspaper articles from the early 30s but without clear understanding of which competition it was the prize.

the cameron cup- a century of oregon soccer

To make a long story short, I was privileged to accompany Roger to meet with Tom Fuller, a professional conservator this week to have the two cups examined. Conservators are the people in the museum world who do the CSI work, looking at objects in great detail with many tools and sharp observational skills so as to decipher details about their composition, their stories, as well as what might be done to preserve their authentic character and extend their lives. Fuller, who donated his time while in town on a project for the Oregon Historical Society, looked both cups over in great detail and was able to suggest likely answers to basic questions about the evolution of the cups--such as whether the bases were originally attached or added later. And noting that the small metal tags denoting which teams won the cup in which years had at some points been moved around the base, possibly to make room for other additions.

Those small tags chronicle an Oregon soccer legacy which extends all the way back to at least 1910 when the cup was presented to what was, at the time, the League in Portland. Team names are engraved into those tags and into history as result. The most recent are from the 1960s. One conclusion from our discussion tonight was to take the time to catalogue those names and try to create a timeline of champion soccer teams in our city during that century gone by. Amateur teams that is. The guys who put their boots on and went out in the winter mud to 'have a try'.

The Bennett Cup is fascinating in a different way. Its provenance isn't quite as clear though it shows up in team photos of league winner as far back as the beginning of the 30s. And it's not clear what the competition was that earned the Bennett Cup. The globe is inscribed "PSFA Second Series" which one assumes means the "Portland Soccer Football Association" . But does "second series" mean the second division? Evidence suggests that there weren't enough teams playing for there to be two divisions. I think it more likely that there were two legs to the season, and that the Cameron was given for the first and the Bennett for the second. We also don't know at all who "Bennett" was. Or when the trophy was created.

I leave these mysteries for another day. Enough that the Cameron and Bennett are back in safe hands and that we know for a certainty. When you say "Rose City Til I Die." these days you are echoing a tradition in the game that goes back at least one hundred years. I'd like to know whether the Seattle Sounders can claim a soccer tradition that has roots this deep.

closeup of the cup. "Portland Association Football"

Where do you go for news on the Cascadia Summit?

2011-03-07T23:13:00.000-08:00

I have been encouraged by The Oregonian's coverage of the many unfolding facets of the Portland Timbers' nascent season in MLS. But there are still occasional bumps in the road, needless bumps. The Timbers played a round robin tournament this past weekend--everyone knows that I imagine. The teams included the Timbers' archrivals, the Whitecaps and the Sounders. Our crew stunned the Seattleites Friday night with a 2-0 loss. And on Saturday, tied the Caps in a game that was described in the paper as 'lackluster' at times. Not to quibble, that was still not bad news. But the round robin didn't end there. It finished with the Caps playing the Sounders on Sunday. With a win and a tie, the Timbers would be the winners of the tournament or at least tie for the lead. And the close of the story would say something about the directions and relative readiness of the these three fierce competitors.
So it was that I looked through the Monday morning sports section to find out what had happened. As far as I could tell, not even the Sunday result was listed. Maybe I'm an oddity but I suspect there were other people looking for a story on the close that round robin. But I guess it wasn't considered worth covering since the Timbers weren't actually playing. Which leads me to think that our local press still doesn't quite get how saturating the interest in all things Timber related can be, even the outcomes of matches they don't play in.
If you click on the subject line for this post, you can find out what happened at that Sunday game. As reported in the Winnipeg press. Ironic.

Timbers acquire Jack Jewsbury...Midfielder

2011-03-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not the most well-connected Timbers fan in PDX by any means. I have had friends tell me, though, that word on the street is that the club has been working hard on getting a playmaking midfielder, a Beckenbauerish person ( I know that's real old timey and Beckenbauer is most remembered as a sweeper) who has great field vision and can create opportunity. I also have heard a lot of comment that 'the mystery midfielder' they wanted isn't to be had. I don't know if any of that's true or not.
However, I was struck by today's news that the Timbers had come back from a tussle with Sportif KC back in the heartland and are suddenly the new possessors of Jack Jewsbury, a midfielder who has been a solid part of the KC franchise. Jewsbury is probably not the 'mystery midfielder' the team was working to acquire but I'd say he reflects an unspoken reality for our guys.
Jewsbury is the guy with the pedigree of eight successful years in the MLS wars who can settle the team, deliver the assist in the attack, and whose mettle is unquestioned on the defensive edge. Jewsbury's just about to turn thirty so he's old enough to be the player younger guys look to as the season turns tough. And his callups for the national side give him additional field cred.
I'm guessing as the club's wise men look around the roster, they're seeing the need for the anchor, the rock solid player, who can look everyone in the eye in a half-time dressing room during a hard-pressed match, a guy who can say "settle down boys. We can do this."
Jewsbury might just be that guy.

Charlie Davies and all

2011-02-18T18:48:00.000-08:00

Was happy to see that Charlie Davies is back in the DC United side after the year and a half recovery from his auto accident. While I wouldn't want to say I'd like to see him get by any of our defenders as the season opens, I hope he's fully recovered and not lost the magic that made him a compelling player for the US National side. We could use some more 'oomph' there.

On a completely unrelated note, my friend and teammate, Mark, sent me a snippet of Zach Dundas who apparently will be writing for "The Run of Play". He's got an engaging writing style and speaks for many of us who were soccer outcasts during the long lean years. I look forward to reading more of his comments. Even better he's from Portland. And lord knows we need more soccer writers from PDX.

Another season. Another gray day in February. Decades pass.

2011-02-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

The game goes on. And those of us privileged to step out on the field treasure these moments. We know they don't go on forever.
This past Saturday FC77 Old Nicks faced off for the first time ever against our brothers, FC77 Newcastle for an actual match. The spirit was jolly. The play was a little rusty it being the first game of Winter Season. But it was excellent.
The end result was a loss for my boys, Old Nicks, on a last minute strike by Dean Jones, talented striker that he is. Otherwise it was an even contest and a good reason to lift a few pints at the legendary mobile Bierstube de Fithian Barrett. We are blessed. There are few men who get to experience these full moments so long in our lives.

Umony?

2011-02-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking that I'd better start figuring out how to pronounce Umony since the Ugandan player has rated mention in both of the Timbers first warmup matches. Rumor has it he's got the touch despite not being the biggest guy on the field. Knocking one in against the Galaxy isn't a bad feat.

Dike injured? Hard way to start.

2011-02-06T11:22:00.001-08:00

Sad to read that Bright Dike snapped his Achilles just minutes into the weekend's exhibition match. His brawny style and ability to fake defenders and come out of a scrum with a shot were all great fun to watch last year. And sterling as far as the team's effectiveness went.
I winced when I read the story. I'm an old man and I've been nursing a sensitive Achilles for a fair while myself. All my mates give me the lecture about not risking a tear because it's a long recovery and no fun in the meantime. Gives me pause when I read that this fit young guy who's actually an athlete was afflicted.
I'm hoping that they find it's a partial tear and his recovery will be swift. I am going to enjoy seeing the interesting cast of other forwards the Timbers have assembled. But I'd like to see Dike back sooner rather than later.

Dike injured? Hard way to start.

2011-02-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

Don Younger-In Memoriam

2011-02-02T23:51:00.000-08:00

Long ago in Portland there was little in the way of beer, little in the way of cool districts, no McMenamins or other brewpubs, and very very little sympathy for or interest in that sport called soccer. What there was, however, was a place called The Horsebrass Pub on SE Belmont street. A place which evoked every imaginable sensation that would warm the hearts of an Anglophile. Don Younger, independent and single-minded publican, had managed to create something magic with his pub.
Sadly, I read the news today oh boy, and part of it was the announcement that Don had passed on. Which made me sad for both his passing and the loss of his friends and family but also for the loss of a time in Portland that is unlikely to be repeated. Rightly, Younger is honored and mourned for the nurturing and support he provided to people in the nascent brewing industry. And for his quirky but authentic approach to the Horsebrass, a Portland institution.
What might go unsaid in other settings though is that Don was one of the people who helped the birth of broad interest in soccer in our city. The pub sponsored teams, the best known of which I believe was Rangers. On the east wall just near the dart boards, a framed photo still hangs of the Old Nicks Horsebrass team which rang up some metal in the 80s. I don't know whether Don liked the game itself all that much or saw it as an essential outcropping of the pub life which he was working to create. Regardless, he gave it his support. I remember well going to the Horsebrass on a weekend morning with family to have a good English breakfast and to watch a tape or limited access broadcast of the FA Cup final on the telly.
Those are good and genuine memories. I was lucky to be part of it all. And I'm sad today that Don is no longer with us. But I hope his memory will be part of our stories for years to come.

A Thrill of Recognition

2011-02-02T23:32:00.000-08:00

Okay it's a small thing, but I was reading the Timbers Notebook this past week and saw the small print notice announcing the division alignments in the coming MLS season. In the West I noted that competitors included our boys, the Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and the San Jose Earthquake. All of them teams who struggled for the title back in the 70s NASL. Brings back memories of an extraordinary time when most of us were just discovering soccer. Who would have thought that we'd be gearing up thirty some years later to go to battle under the same banners and wearing the same colors (sorta). As I say, I felt a thrill.

Portland Timbers Ink!

2011-01-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

My great frustration over the years that soccer has become more popular in our city has been the dearth of coverage by The Oregonian when good and interesting stories have been available to cover. I can see that the tide has turned in the past week or two as the sports page has frequently had updates on the Timbers' recruiting, drafting, speculating, and training. All of which is to say that Portlanders who follow The Game have at least a reason to check the sports page. And Portlanders who haven't yet followed The Game might be persuaded to take a little interest as the stories unfold. And I applaud The Oregonian's Editorial staff for giving some greater priority to the effort.
In the mists of the 70s past, local media covered the Timbers with gushing enthusiasm because they had a fantastic and unexpected run to prominence in the old NASL. And Portlanders, much to everyone's surprise, took the team into their hearts even if they did have funny accents, or perhaps because they did. Maybe it was an early example of why Portland could be 'weird'.
I am hopeful that Portland's print media continue the decent and insightful coverage of the Timbers and of the game in general two years from now, regardless of where our crew fall in the table. The sport has labored for acceptance as something more than an oddity for a half century almost. Write about it. And write about it well. Soccer deserves it.

Unraveling the mystery "These Lads Really Know How to Kick It Around"

2011-01-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

The Oregonian Sport Section, sometime in the latter part of 1935, featured a picture of the Sellwood soccer team, arms folded and smiling confidently, in a parklike setting. At their feet were ranged two trophies and a ball. Until this week, I couldn't venture an opinion about those trophies. Today I can say with certainty that the Cameron Cup, Oregon's oldest known soccer artifact, sits on the left at the feet of T. Watson and the Bennett Cup, a second ancient icon of our game, sits at the feet of R. Watson. The crew from Sellwood, including the ever-affable Hugh Templeton, were getting ready to face off against German Sports at Sellwood Park.

The match had been called off at the half four weeks earlier when one of the German players, Gus Moessner, had died during the game. The German Sports were ahead by two goals when the match had been stopped, but Sellwood was confident after having beaten the Germans three times in league play.

At stake in the match was the Oregon State Cup annual fixture.

Most notable to me, though, was the presence of those two trophies, icons of our state's soccer heritage going back almost to the turn of the Twentieth Century. The Cameron Cup, only recovered in the last few weeks after being out of sight for decades, symbolizes our sport's earliest competitions. And to see these photos recalls many threads of continuity between past and present.

Earlier today, I had an exhilarating phone conversation with a descendant of Judge Cameron, who created the Cameron Cup at the beginning of the 20th Century. She is eager to share family history about the Judge and also about her ancestors who played for Portland's Scottish sides ninety or so years ago.

So more is to come. Like the unfolding of a Chinese puzzle the unraveling of history no one remembered provides opportunities to recognize that we are part of a grand and long tradition.

John Rooney is reported to have signed with MLS and is available.

2011-01-06T00:13:00.000-08:00

John Rooney's name is either a blessing or a curse, I suspect. On different days. He's the mercurial Wayne's brother and is either not quite the talent his brother is reputed to be, or is a talent in his own right but is beset by unrealistic expectations because of his brother, or his brother is not quite the talent he's cracked up to be and so John's shortcomings are really not that big a deal. Regardless, the youngster with the big name has been in the Pacific NW training and visiting teams like the Sounders and the Timbers since last fall. This past week there was a small piece in the paper. (It's almost always a small piece in the paper.) that John has signed for MLS and will be available.

As a member of the Ould Guard of Portland Timbers supporters, I find myself wondering about the calculations which might go on in the strategy room of the PTFC leadership. If the young Rooney has any talent at all and can play decently at this level, with the special seasoning of some 'heart', would he be a marquee draw out of curiousity as much as anything else? If he has no talent at all, it's hard to believe the team would bother with him. Gavin Wilkinson comes across as a very practical man, not unsympathetic, but not given to flights of fancy with the club's money and limited roster slots. Not to mention the rest of the leadership. All give evidence of a very carefully calculated decisionmaking process. And I applaud them for that.

Wil be interesting to see where the youngster lands. Regardless, it's got to be a hard road getting respect when your brother's Wayne Rooney.

Seeking the grail in Oregon Soccer History

2010-12-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

I have been writing officially and unofficially about the history of the game in Oregon for a decade or so. The story of soccer before the original arrival of the Portland Timbers and the subsequent ascendancy of University of Portland as a college soccer power is complicated and somewhat mysterious. It's a detective story if you will. Just after the turn of the Twentieth Century, early adherents to "Association Football" played in the Portland area for a trophy which was donated by Judge Cameron, a figure whose career has mixed characteristics. The Cameron Cup, regardless, was the state championship trophy for many years. As I researched the game, I spent a fair amount of time trying to get a handle on what had happened to this fabled cup. Without success. It appeared to have faded into legend decades back. And for me, finding the Cameron Cup and figuring out what had become of it acquired the status of 'quest'. It was a 'grail quest' of sorts, likely doomed to endless frustration.

Imagine my amazement and excitement, then, when I received a note that the Cameron Cup and another ancient trophy, the Bennett Cup, had turned up and were being returned to Oregon! Not only that, but there was a picture of the two included. I was in hog heaven. More needs to be done to trace the journey of these two trophies through the past half century. Worth noting is that one of the early Cameron Cup winners one century ago is M.A.A.C. or the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club now known as the MAC Club. And one of the last holders of the Cup are Club Germania, the German social club which still exists and carries its tradition proudly.

Somewhere in today's landscape of the game, I hope there is a place to honor and explain the Cameron Cup and the earliest origins of soccer in Oregon. Maybe an exhibit case with facts and images in the new Key Bank Club at the Portland Timbers stadium?

We'll see. In the meantime the Grail quest has turned out not to be like the quest for the Hunting Beast in the Once and Future King. King Pellinore might be disappointed but almost any "Rose City Till I Die" fan should be extremely pleased. Our lineage is ancient.

El Classico-Barca v Real Madrid

2010-11-30T00:34:00.000-08:00

What a great time to be alive! I can stream the battle between the two giants of La Liga when I get home from work at my leisure. Thank you ESPN3. And the game is worth ten times the price of admission. Barcelona balanced its controlled, soporific, point to point play with brilliant little gems of attack. The score mounted slowly but steadily. One. Two. Three.....then a long break. Then four. And finally at the end, a fifth goal as the clock ticked off. Real Madrid were less than gracious. C. Ronaldo shoved Barcelona coach, Guardiola-Sala, thirty minutes in as the skipper held the ball for the throw-in. After he'd given it to the Real star. Petulant to say the least. And at the end, sadly, Messi was hacked down hard as he pulled away from another scrum with ball at his feet.

All of that is an aside. Barca showed brilliant team play and exactitude in dissecting the Real defense. For every one of the five goals there were two attacking runs that could easily have turned their way into the net. I know a lot of folks think Barca's feint, push, pull back, go wide, come in style is boring. I think it shows amazing discipline. More, I think Barca's players across the board exhibit better field vision than any other team I've seen. They look at the three choices presented them, and often take the least obvious. Like chess players and magicians, they realize that misdirection is often the shortest way to the back of the net.

I was glad, truly glad that I got to see this match. It was enchanting despite the petulance.

MLS don't care if you got the cool!

2010-11-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

So tonight in LA the Seattle Sounders fairytale run ended. Worse it was ended by the likes of Beckham and Donovan and all the darlings of the press. After two shots at the Galaxy, the Sounders couldn't even force the finale to pks. I mean no disrespect but I watched the second match of this contest and wondered what it will mean to the Sounders phenomenon. Seattle has had a charmed existence since it went up to to the big time. Their marketing team turned soccer into the hottest thing in the Emerald City since the Space Needle went up. And for the first runs around the track, it seemed like a magic carpet ride. Seattle won the Lamar Hunt Cup and then repeated the feat, the first MLS team to do so. They made the playoffs in their inaugural year and are making a second run this time around. All that being said, I wonder how deep the passion for soccer runs in 'the Sound'. In their years in the USL the Sounders were drawing miniscule crowds so the audience of folks who can speak to the 'old days' when the team slugged it out in the NASL isn't that big. And there's a whiff of faddism in the recent enthusiasm for the Sounders. I'd be less than honest if I didn't note that the passion for the Portland Timbers ( Rose City Till I Die) wasn't ladled most heavily amongst younger audiences who could not have been part of the traditional audiences.

But it's all good. Portland Timbers are supercharging their side, probably the biggest investment to upgrade the team since Louisiana Pacific threw money in the kitty some thirty years ago. John Spencer is a coach to be reckoned with. And there's a smell of 'flounder' blood in the air that should incite lively participation from the 'street'.

I like it. I'll be sitting with me mates in Section 209 when the curtain opens. Hey Timbers, let's rock.

USL Title goes to Puerto Rico

2010-10-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my calendar chimed to remind me that it was the second leg of the USL D2 championship. I knew from the paper that the Railhawks had dropped the first one to the Puerto Ricans 2-0. I thought it might be exciting to see or follow the match. Well, it amazed me to find out that not only did it seem there was no coverage of the match, it was hard to find out about the match at all. Going to the USL website, I found no obvious mention of the D2 championship at all. Puerto Rico Islanders had an announcement and a streaming feed with the first game in the titles but nothing worked when the game started. And the Railhawks, even this morning, only have a sidebar urging people to buy tickets. The commentary for the game says there was a large crowd of "over five thousand people". Whoa...that's exciting. Anyway I guess the impending reconfiguration of the D2 league next year has left those involved less than motivated. Not a good sign.

The End...for now

2010-10-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight the Portland Timbers rallied at University of Portland's Merlo Field to attempt recovery from the ignominious first playoff game last week in Vancouver BC in which the Whitecaps, once again, rubbed mud in our team's face. Portland, according to reports, gave up two early goals and looked staggered for the rest of the game, mounting almost no credible response. Tonight was different. The Timbers came to play and finished the match with a 1-0 win which was not enough to erase game one's impact but at least restored some of their dignity. The sad reality, though, was that Vancouver had to do next to nothing except stop Portland's attack which they did, through means fair and foul.

The best part of this evening, however, was watching young Al Hasani, our Ghanaian acquisition of a month ago, on the field. The kid is fast, very skilled with his feet, smart, disciplined and hard-working. If our new Technico, Gavin Wilkinson, can recruit this kind of talent from the less heralded (and expensive) arenas of the game, Timbers MLS could knock the socks off the league. When I first heard about this acquisition, I thought the youngster would not show until next year. My mistake. He was the most dynamic player on the field and that in itself was exciting.

So we're folding up the scarves in our household. Ready to look forward and not mourn this season's good and grim moments. Ever optimistic, I'm with Stephen Gerrard on this subject. "It doesn't matter who scores the goals as long as we win."

Rose City 'til I die.

The Mark of the Boot

2010-10-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

The LA Galaxy squared off tonight against Chivas in the "Super Classico" crosstown match and sixty minutes in it was a 2-1 match Galaxy with the pace still not quite clear. Buddle had cracked a beautiful first strike for the Galaxy followed by a bent Beckham blast on a free kick which gave the favored team a clear lead. What struck me was watching former rookie Timber, Alan Gordon, playing against his former club, the Galaxy, for Chivas. Early in the second half Gordon went in for his third or fourth dangerous shot and Donovan Ricketts came out, feet up, to gather the ball. Gordon ended up on the ground, with his jersey ripped and the clear crimson stripes of cleat marks on his chest. Just another reminder that the game isn't for wimps. Watching Gordon play I think it's sad he didn't get more time in Timber green. He's got the chops of a striker. And Gordon gets his revenge scoring Chivas goal so far. Oh...and Chivas would be more dangerous if they just didn't give the ball away so often. Sorta like the Old Nicks. If we could just avoid mistakes...

When you get to a certain age, there is no coming back.

2010-09-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

That's a great quote from former England and club manager, Brian Clough. I just finished watching "The Damned United" which threads its way with an unflinching eye through Clough's career, and I thought it was that rare treat, a movie about the game which also is an extraordinary movie about the dynamics of a brilliant, flawed, larger than life personality. The Caine Mutiny and Captain Queeg come to mind, for the latter. I don't know if there is a film out there that depicts the game in its glorious and gritty reality to match this. English football in the later part of the Twentieth Century was played by hard men and that shows in the period footage interspliced with the movie's narrative. And as historic footnotes, people like Alan Hinton played for Clough at Derby County. Clough's career spans the origins of the NASL. I know this blog isn't your Shawn Levy movie review column! But if you haven't seen the movie and you lived through those years, rent it. Or whatever it is you do to watch movies these days. The stream at Netflix worked pretty darn well for this one.

Oh...and that quote? I just like it 'cause I'm an Old Nick and it fits. Clough had a way with words. That was part of what made him memorable.

One last thing. I said I wasn't going to be covering the Timbers game by game. But they knocked off Baltimore Crystal Palace this afternoon over on the east side of the country, 3-1. All that's left of the last USL season is to spank the 'Caps next weekend at Swangard and then win the championship. Go get 'em, boys!

Who's goin' to the Show? Poll on which Timbers will go to MLS

2010-09-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

So my poll results are in, and there's some clarity in the trends. Without any question the brightest star in the polling was Bright Dike, who earned top points to play MLS ball for the green team next year. My take? Dike is strong and smart but his vulnerability is being muscled by highly physical defenses. The MLS thrives on highly physical defenses. I'd say Dike is a contender but not a given. Next on the list were Ryan Pore and Steve Cronin. I have to agree with Cronin as a choice. He's shown smarts and cool under pressure. And he's had a broad range of experience. All of that militates to a shot next year. Pore is an easy "of course". He's a quality player: passionate, intelligent, and a natural shooter. I'd say the risk next year is that opposing defenders will just physically chip away at him. MLS is like a prison farm---a hard row to hoe. As opposed to the beauty of the game. Also ranking up there in voter estimation is Ian Joy, a defender who's had increasing impact on the Timbers' play this year. His experience in MLS and in the Bundesliga make him a likely yes. Not doing so well in our voting were Taki, Nimo, Keel, and Ross Smith. I can hypothesize about what voters might have thought in terms of their qualities but it would only be speculation. Truth be told the 2011 Portland Timbers will likely sport a very new and different look, regardless of current player performance, because John Spencer will have his own vision of how to craft a team. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. Hey? Is Sebastien LeToux available? If he's on our team he can't score against us!

Portland Timbers notch one more

2010-09-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

I can't help myself. The Timbers played on the road in Puerto Rico and slapped the Islanders with a single goal win. The chip shot by Kalif Alhassan followed a tough ninety minutes of play, including an Alhassan shot just an instant earlier. The nineteen year old showed some stuff as an attacking midfielder. My take is that the the Timbers are hoping he'll blossom into a Fredy Montero, an unheralded youngster with great potential and years ahead of him. I hope they're right.

The arrival of autumn

2010-09-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the opening of Fall men's league. It was a beautiful afternoon. The field was groomed and green. Our opponents were guys we've known and played against for years. I feel lucky after thirty some years to be able to be stepping out on the field and playing.

Last week also brought a change in my status. I got a new job, an exciting new job, and so my choices about what I'm doing with my time are changing. Through the summer I've kept up with posting on this blog frequently. I've enjoyed it. And found the challenge to write steadily worthwhile. Because of my new reality, though, I am not going to be posting commentary with the aim of staying up with contemporary events. My original intent with Sodden Pitch was to extend people's access to material about the history of the game in Portland and Oregon. I will, as I have time, continue to work on interviewing long time participants and posting their comments. I will also continue to scan and publish materials from years past. I hope readers with questions or comments will continue to chime in.

On that note, I post this link to the Portland Timbers NASL Rosters for Jamie who was trying to identify who wore the number 00 back at the beginning of the team. Jamie was correct that Mick Poole was the super keeper sporting that number.

Spain v Argentina friendly.

2010-09-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

There's no question that on a given day and a given pitch, football is a game that can provide surprises. And that was the emotion I felt on logging on to the international friendly between Spain and Argentina and discovering that Spain, with fifteen minutes left, was down 3-0. I watched with puzzlement, particularly as the Spaniards seemed to be playing with their typical measured pace and, as I watched, scored a nice goal. So there was a sense of the surreal. I guessed that the Argentines, stinging after South Africa, felt they had something to prove in front of their home fans. I guessed as well that Spain rested some of their best players and perhaps arrived somewhat complacently. And then, as I continued to watch, the South Americans scored yet another goal making the final score 4-1. Regardless of the reasons, it is a stinging slap to Spain which has lost only two matches in recent years.

Last evening I also saw that our crew, the Timbers, have clinched a playoff spot in USL. I've heard that playoff matches are likely to be held in Hillsboro Stadium. If so, that's going to be an interesting logistics challenge. The team's been pulling nearly 16,000 fans a game. And the stadium only holds 7,000. Maybe a few more with temporary seating. But it will still be a challenge. Perhaps they can put up big screen televisions downtown and let people watch as they did for the MLS unveiling during World Cup. I plan on being at the games myself.

Have another cuppa?

2010-09-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

The football landscape is such a rich environment for the soccer junkie. If you can't do anything else, you can always find game somewhere out there in the world. After spending an hour and a half on the grassy sward we call our practice field Wednesday night, I was willing to resign myself to staying inside and streaming some soccer on screen. The number of mosquitos per player at the practice made breathing difficult without sucking a few morsels down the windpipe.
So I turned my attention to the opening round of qualifiers for Euro 2012 which are unfolding and can be screened, mostly live, on ESPN3 On Thursday I was forced to stay close to the computer as I was scanning a large batch of images, so I chimed into different parts of Spain clobbering Lichtenstein. Where it was interesting to see Chevrolet turning on the ad boards in Lichtenstein's 6,000 something seat stadium. I also checked out, for sentimental reasons, Greece's tie with Georgia and Ireland's rough win over a scrappy Armenian team. Where would Ireland be without Seamus "Shay" Given in the nets? Regardless, there's a fair amount of fun watching available there. All free!
I'm a longtime fan of the Lamar Hunt Cup, even if the little guys rarely get far enough in the competition to qualify as a 'giant killers'. The Seattle Sounders are back this year to defend their title in the cup and will be playing that all out in October. The Sounders hope to repeat and join the ranks of MLS teams who have won more than one Open Cup. Up against the Columbus Crew, they're still going to be a ways away from the real champs, teams that held the cup five times. Bethlehem Steel, back in the early part of the Twentieth Century, and Maccabi Los Angeles, who made their run half a century later starting in the Seventies, achieved that status. The modern team who's come closest is the Chicago Fire with four wins. I'm still waiting for the day that another team of unknowns, little guys, a team with a 'natural' and a lotta heart can pluck that championship off the shelf and take it home.

De Martin is the hero!

2010-09-03T00:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight's scramble between the Timbers and the Islanders was nowhere near as fun to watch as the game earlier this week between the Timbers and CP Baltimore. If I had to guess it's in part that our crew can't pull off the creative, diverse offense that makes them look good against the best teams in the division. Puerto Rico is one of those teams and the game tonight looked evenhanded but not at all pretty. Doug De Martin is the hero of the match in my opinion because it was his little piece of 'one on one' out in the left corner that led to his being free to make a sterling cross for Ryan Pore to put in the goal. Pore gets much credit for being there on the receiving end, but De Martin's moves in the corner were worthy of the best players in La Liga or Serie A.

The bottom line for our guys is whether they can hold the line and play staunch defense against four good teams on the road to bring home a playoff berth. I wish them all the best.

Meanwhile, back in the stands. The Army's territory looked like Day of the Triffids with the dangling stalks of thousands of sunflowers brought for the purpose of illuminating 'You are my Sunshine". The stalks talks....

In our section of the world, disputes broke out between fans who wanted to sit in their seats and fans who thought that standing up at any opportune moment was good, as for example for quaffing a beer or hiking one's crimson kilt upward around the tropic of corpulence. The reality for selling mucho tickets to MLS is that never the twain should meet. Standers should sign up to get their bona fides and report for duty in the Timbers' army. Many fierce Timbers supporters who are not thirty years old should be able to find a seating area where standing through the game isn't mandatory to see something other than the tattoo on the back of the head of the goofball in front of them. For friends of mine this isn't a 'choice' it's a reality for attending matches. A little empathy here, Army folk? But when all was said and done, folks were enjoying the match. And that's a good sign.

Soccer practice in modern times.

2010-09-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight at the end of practice, one of my teammates said, in a helpful way, "you have a cloud of mosquitos flying around your head". And he was right. I did. It's the beginning of September and we're swarmed by skeeters who are voracious and go for the eyes. Never had this experience before. But 'the game' requires sacrifice, blood sacrifice I guess.
The FC77 crew has had a Wednesday night practice since sometime in the misty years of the 80s. For a long long time we practiced under the tennis court lights at Colonel Sumner Park on SE 20th and Belmont. I remember being there when there was snow falling steadily and the boys were arguing about how much snow it would take to have to quit and go home. We were practicing the night of the famous plane crash in far southeast Portland. The odd thing is that the crash was on a Thursday night and not the night we normally practiced. It was three days after Christmas and so it would have been possible we moved that night to Thursday because of holiday obligations. I remember seeing the plane circling around in the East and then going very very low. We didn't realize that it had crashed right then. But we all were convinced something bad had happened out east.
Wednesday night practice moved from Colonel Sumner when the Big Dig started. One of the portals to the new stormwater and sewer retention system was in the middle of the field we used. Even after the crews 'cleaned up' there were ankle breaking ruts in the surrounding ground.
So we found Kenilworth Park after some searching. And as the years have passed, that practice has become an anchor. While it started with FC77 players and friends, in recent years we've had kids from Cuba, kids from Romania, Tibetans and Southeast Asians, odds and ends of players from the surrounding neighborhoods, and the core of old guys from the club.
Soccer practice is actually one of the unspoken rewards of the game. Guys and some girls who love to play, not necessarily speaking each others' languages, pull on their boots and side up 'dark or white' to knock the ball around together. There is laughter. There is trash talk. There is good play and bad play, but the ultimate reality is that the game we all love becomes the language we speak.
Practice is not just about game. Practice is about being part of the incredible human race.

Timbers v Crystal Palace

2010-08-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Crystal Palace Baltimore arrived in Portland last Sunday night hoping to shake off the mental impact of a 0-5 shellacking by the Montreal Impact the previous weekend. The Timbers not only showed no mercy but stepped up their game, looking like the team Coach Gavin Wilkinson had been talking about all season. The three goal shutout featuring a brace from Bright Dike and a solid finish from Ryan Pore was not only notable for the bottom line but also because it was the prettiest display of football the team has displayed. Passing was crisp and particularly precise in slotting dangerous, short through balls in the box from a variety of directions. Claesson's early intrusion in behind the defense and his lovely ball to Dike on top was only one example. It was pretty to watch. And it stands as the kind of game in which the excitement of creative interaction between the players on attack makes those moments almost as satisfying as the tallies in the net.
The Timbers got both in this match, and it's perfect timing as they head toward the last home stand on the schedule Thursday night. One other interesting note was that we had the first chance to see Kalif Alhassan, the young player from Ghana. He's got quick feet and looked poised in his first runout.
We'll hope this starts a run.

Portland Timbers and Austin Aztex bluster to a draw.

2010-08-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Portland Timbers ended up with a point last night at PGE Park in a tense match against the Aztex in a game that left folks in my section of the stands shaking their heads. The Oregonian's match recap and the Timbers' own press release pointed to the strong play of several members of the team and the Timbers' dominance of the shot totals as evidence of the 'we was unlucky' flavor of the match. Along with taking more shots, our side defended well enough that Steve Cronin wasn't forced to make a single save in the match. And thus the tie, on Bright Dike's crackerjack early shot, seemed a decent outcome agains the team with the hottest offense in the league.

I'll give them all that. And throw in that Mamadou Danso had an excellent game, playing forward with skill and poise to set up the attack on a couple of occasions and saving a shot off the line that would have given Austin a go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute. But that came just seven minutes after the Timbers gained a man advantage as Austin's Bernard was sent off after clipping an attacking Timber. And looking at the Timber stats, the team only outshot Austin by 4-2 in that half despite having the man advantage for over thirty minutes.

What had people looking through their fingers with a certain anxiety was this. When Austin went a man short, their other ten players ramped up their game. Austin controlled the ball for more minutes, passed accurately, and snookered attacks into the Portland box that had to be cleared, albeit by good defending rather than Cronin's goalkeeping. And when Portland did have the ball? The Timbers attack, with a man advantage, seemed hurried and anxious when they had the option of using the free player to establish control over the game. Poorly placed passes that ended up on the feet of Austin players and booming long balls were frequent. It was a disappointing strategy. And man to man, Austin's players seemed a half step quicker, or at least more aggressive, which kept them in the game. And could have won it for them.

As the clock ticked, Austin indeed engaged in time-wasting tactics. Shorthanded in an away game, a tie would be a decent result for them. But most significantly, Portland wasn't taking full advantage of the time it had. You can't score if you don't have the ball. And our crew didn't have the ball as much as they should have considering the circumstances. The newspaper quoted players as saying the game was "disappointing". Yup.

Jimmy Conway Testimonial Match

2010-08-26T23:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight's match to honor Jimmy Conway and the years of contributions he's made as a player, coach, and mentor was fun to watch. Like the best of soccer, it's great to see a group of guys square off over a ball with nothing more at stake than jostle and panache and bragging rights for a slick move or two. That was about the sum of the Testimonial match tonight. Just a bunch of guys who love the game moving the ball around. And Jimmy Conway out there, playing half and half for each side, completely in the game, at home on the pitch, happy in world whose boundaries and rules and joys and sorrows he has been familiar with all his life. It was a pleasure to watch, with nothing monumental at stake except to honor a man's life. The game was lively as a good football friendly should be. With a fair amount of good humor thrown in. As for the 'main event'? The Timbers match which followed will have to be recounted in the morning, when I've had time to settle down.

"That's a red!" Oh wait....the game was a month ago.

2010-08-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Just saw a little blurb that the ref from the World Cup final, Howard Webb, says he should have sent off Nigel de Jong for the 'foot in chest' foul on Xabi Alonso. Don't know what the details of his current statement were, but I'd say "good call". Just late. Of course that would have changed the entire course of the game. Who knows? Netherlands might have settled and not given up a goal.

Timbers announce Goldthwaite signing

2010-08-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

Kevin Goldthwaite, recently of the MLS New York Red Bulls, was announced as the latest Portland Timber today. The club noted that "Goldy" as they called him in New York would be ready to suit up for the team in a couple of weeks. Read, in time for the playoffs, as there are five regular season games from September 2 through the beginning of October. The release also noted that he had played for our green team on loan in 2005. Most notable, he has playoff experience with the Dynamo in 2006 and as Defender of the Year for the Red Bulls in 2008 when they took the Western Conference Championship. That should come in handy because the team is certainly pointed toward playoff appearance. Could Goldthwaite be tasked with shoring up the Timbers' defensive performance on set pieces in particular? Wouldn't be surprised.
On the site Big Apple Soccer an August 7th posting denies that Goldthwaite was let go to make room for Rafa Marquez, a suspicion which might be forgiven since the Red Bulls acquisition was much-heralded and in the time frame. In the strange framing of 'truth' that is the Internet, Goldthwaite's Wikipedia listing has already been updated to show Portland as his current club. It also asserts that the Red Bulls released him to make room for Marquez. Not that we really care.
As a twenty-seven year old with a solid MLS portfolio, I'd suspect Goldthwaite may be around for more than just this season. That is, if he's healthy. And if he can keep his cool. Almost exactly one year ago, Goldthwaite jeopardized the Red Bull's first win in fifteen matches with a swing at an opposing player which drew a straight red card.
We like feisty here in Soccer City. But we need smart feisty.

Portland Timbers v Minnesota Stars

2010-08-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

I don't see myself as the blogger who does the comprehensive match reports. Check out Allison's The Timber Mill for that. But I do like to comment. If you weren't able to stream the match, click on the link at the blog title to see the Minnesota Stars highlights. Once again, we owe this match to Bright Dike's athleticism and speed as he picks the pocket of the last Minnesota defender in the second half to steal the ball and earn a mano a mano run on Warren, the Stars' keeper, who was forced to foul him to save the goal. In steps Ryan Pore to knock the ensuing PK home. It is odd to me that Pore, the league's leading scorer, has taken home six of his goals on PKs. Three of them, I believe, against the Stars! Is this the face of the new soccer? I hope not.
On a soccer trivia note, I kept wondering what the NSC was about in the Minnesota Stars' name. National Security Council? Scary! But it's apparently the National Sports Center which took a leading role in unfolding this team from the financially struggling Thunder. Based on the attendance this weekend of fewer than 2,000 folks, I'd say there are still issues here. And it reminds me to wonder whether a league is viable if it has a half dozen solid teams who are doing wonderfully and well-loved in their communities while the ten other franchises are limping along like some barnstorming 1930's baseball teams. I don't know the answer, but I've seen too many "Rise and Fall of American Soccer" stories to take the question lightly.

A-free-ka calling! Timbers announce signing Ghanaian midfielder.

2010-08-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

In what may be the first move toward next year's MLS side, the Timbers announced signing a nineteen year old, Kalif Alhassan from Liberty Professionals of the Ghanaian Premier League. The youngster impressed technico futuro, Gavin Wilkinson, on his scouting tour this year. Portland has a vibrant Ghanaian community. Perhaps we can look forward to the Timbers inviting Obo Addy and his troupe to help open the festivities and welcome next year's African players. I'm guessing Alhassan won't be the only one. As a side note, Obo's son, Alex, was a red hot soccer player in his high school days, at one point in the Eighties leading scorer in the local amateur league with something like 36 goals for one season. Liberty Professionals is a relatively new club at fourteen. Their match reports are colorful. I like their enthusiasm too. "Simply the Best" is a great slogan. Somehow I hear Tina Turner belting it out over the loudspeakers at matches. Will be interesting to see what happens next as the winter brings us news of other signings.

OASA, Timbers honor former Timber, Jimmy Conway-

2010-08-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

As many of us have played with and against Jimmy over the years, I pass on this message from OASA.

Jimmy Conway

Soccer fans, take note! The Oregon Adult Soccer Association and the Portland Timbers are joining with other local soccer organizations to honor former Timber player/captain/assistant coach Jimmy Conway with a Testimonial match.

After a great career in Irish soccer (including 20 games with the national team) and 12 years with Fulham and Manchester City in England , Jimmy spent 10 seasons with the Timbers as player and coach. He followed that with 16 years at Pacific University and Oregon State University and 28 years as Director of Coaching for the Oregon Youth Soccer Association. He additionally served as an "A" licensed coach for Region IV teams and the USSF national staff.

While Jimmy still plays against many of us on a weekly basis with his Pierre's teammates in over-50 competition in the Greater Portland Soccer District, he has had to resign from coaching due to a recent diagnosis of trauma-induced dementia. You can get more details on Jimmy's playing and coaching career, including his many years participating on OASA teams, at the OASA website: Jimmy Conway biography.

The Jimmy Conway Testimonial match is scheduled for Thursday, August 26, at PGE Park with kickoff at 5:00 p.m. The game will feature former Timbers players against an Oregon Select XI who Jimmy coached at the college and youth levels. The Testimonial match (an abbreviated 60 minutes) will be an exhibition match played prior to the Timber's 7:00 p.m. USSF Division-2 Pro League match against the Austin Aztex. Fans with tickets to the Timbers regular-season game on Aug. 26 may come in early to enjoy the Testimonial match; gates open at 4:30 p.m.

At halftime of the Portland-Austin game, the Timbers will present a special commendation to Jimmy and his family.

Tickets are as low as $12 (in advance) and can be purchased at the PGE Park box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, online at portland timbers or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Let's help the Timbers in their drive to the playoffs and pay tribute to Jimmy, who has meant so much to local soccer for more than 30 years. See you at PGEPark !

For those of you who not able to attend the testimonial match wishing to show your support for Jimmy, please consider making a contribution to the Alzheimer's Association, Oregon Chapter in Jimmy's name. All proceeds from the Jimmy Conway Testimonial will be donated to this designated charity at the request of the Conway family."

The Jimmy Conway Testimonial donation site may be reached at:

Jimmy Conway donation

FC77 Annual Athletic Cup 8-15-10

2010-08-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

Timbers beat St. Louis despite humidity.

2010-08-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

In PDX we were sweltering with a ninety six degree day but the humidity was only 18% according to my area weather station. The wind out of the east made it seem less hot than it was. In St. Louis, though, the AC in the team's name would have better been "Air Conditioning" as the teams slogged it out in seventy five percent humidity. Luckily the greenclads were fully staffed and able to make sufficient substitutions to keep up the pace. It weren't pretty, but Bright Dike's goal at the 37th minute was enough to bring home a win. What more can I say? I watched the stream which seemed to have sweltering film on the lens or maybe that was my bandwidth. All around decent play, smart control as the minutes ticked down. A five minute glop of extra time was unwelcome but ultimately didn't make a difference. "And so it goes", as Elliott Rosewater often observed as he made his way through the interior passages of Kurt Vonnegut's creative mind. "And so it goes." At least this time the announcer knew that it was "dee-kay" as he acknowledged the goal. And where were we playing that the chant was "Portland Tubers"? I don't recall. It all runs together.

Keita and Wayne Rooney's brother...

2010-08-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Geoffrey Arnold, the Big O's sometime soccer writer, posted at Oregon Live that last year's scoring star, Keita, has been missing from Timbers' activities including match days and has been placed on personal leave. A commentator suggested that the start of Ramadan, earlier this year than last, might have something to do with this. And I like the possibility because it suggests a complex and spiritual man struggling to balance his faith and his public life. What is sad to me is that the current version of the Portland Timbers are more or less ciphers to their fans. We know something about their vitals, where they came from, occasional publicist reviews, but not much about the real people on and off the field. Wherever Mandjou goes, I wish him well. He did a good job up front last year. Hard to say what the season at Salgaocar in Goa was like from this distance. Their club crest shows them to be relatively young club at fifty-four. They are in Goa which, if I recall correctly was the Portuguese colony on the Subcontinent. Somewhat different than the rest of India I believe.

Arnold also has a piece noting that Wayne Rooney's brother spent some time in Portland so the Timbers' coaching staff could take a look at him. He is on something of a tour apparently, having just come down from a similar visit with the Sounders. If nothing else, his name is buying him a nice tour of the Pacific Northwest, never something to sneeze at. Hope he at least had time to go out to Vista House and see Multnomah Falls. Reminds me, is there any family resemblance between Wayne and that other Rooney? Mickey? Not so much I guess.

Portland Timbers see stars.....

2010-08-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Juneuary weather that has been plaguing our August so far seemed to have lifted as crowds bustled their way around the sidewalks outside PGE Park last night. It was actually warm for a change. And despite the uncertain results of the team's recent three game road trip, the crowds were larger. People with tickets in hand fell into serpentine lines around the displays of giveaway items and groups waiting for the rest of their party. The sharp-faced scalper shouting "I need tickets" wasn't attracting much in the way of curiousity on this night. There was no question that enthusiasm for being part of the Timbers' bandwagon was continuing.
Inside, as usual the crowd continued to flow in a cascade of colors anchored by green even as the National Anthem finished and the players took to the field. Seats were filling all around the circumference to the top of the second level, above which the seats had been sheeted off.
The game was a rumble from the start. Portland looked eager to make their mark early. And Minnesota seemed equally eager to deny them. The Stars succeeded in putting their bid into the back of the net about halfway through the first period with two men running on the right, free as the crossing pass came in. As the last sands drifted into the bottom of the glass though, Bright Dike showed the stuff that made him an attractive forward earlier in the season. He'd been getting knocked about since early in the game. At this last instant though, the ball was crossed to him as he struggled to run on with defenders bracing him. I believe he had a defender's arm across his chest as he took the ball, brought it down and placed it with accuracy instead of force just to the keeper's right. It was an awesome and hard-won goal. Dike celebrated by doing double flips as he ran toward the stands. That made the end of the half more palatable, and things seemed to be going the Timbers' way for a change as they ramped up their attacking play in the second half. They finally had an attack similar to the run Minnesota had scored on in the first half; Pore and Dike making a run toward the box on the right side, with the ball. Minnesota's defense first swept Dike in a clear foul and then swept Pore in the box. The fouls earned a PK and a yellow card for the Stars' Tarley. And Pore gave a poised demonstration of how to take a PK to put the team up by one.
Within an instant of the restart however, Ian Joy put Portland on the defensive when he made a hard tackle and drew a red. Whether the red was deserved or not, in a moment so close to the Minnesota fouls and resulting score it isn't hard to imagine that the ref saw it as retaliation. If my memory serves, he'd already had the 'no more of that' conversation with Joy about something else in the first half. So when the team sucked it up playing good pressure defense with twenty some minutes to hold on, all 15,000 fans must have felt we had a chance even a man down. The Stars, however, scored on a pretty cross and header off a corner. Which is one place that the man difference shouldn't have affected things. While I can't go back and check my 'stats book' since I don't have one, I think we've given up a high percentage of goals on set pieces this year. What the solution is I don't know.
Bottom line is it was a shame to give away a win when the momentum was going our way. A shame.
Other odd thoughts. I really like Dike's performance and hope this helps his confidence out there. I watched the match against Rochester on the stream and I thought he was clearly being physically outmuscled by the defenders which took away his effectiveness. Last night, he was playing strong. Also odd to me was that the Rochester commentators didn't know his name is pronounced Dee-Kay. They called him Dike all night.
The appearance late in the game of Dutch newcomer, Ibad Muhamadu, was greeted with a great cheer. It took me a minute to remember who he was. He didn't have much time to show his skills, but what is clear is that he's fast. Very fast on the first few steps. Hope to see more of him.

Never a day goes by when there's not something to say about the game

2010-08-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! Here it is August 10th and in the rush of "important things to do" like help pull off a baby shower for fifty or so close personal friends of daughter I haven't had time to post exciting and not so exciting soccer news.
This morning the Timbers' organization shot out an email inviting me to respond quickly and get to attend the press conference tomorrow at which John Spencer will be presented as the Timbers' first MLS coach. I sent a reply that I was sorry I wasn't able to be there regardless and was glad that all my earlier posts about Spencer's similarities to John Bain would not be in vain.
And the Timbers also had much to crow about with the undefeated run of the PDL U23 team from start to championship in twenty matches. I wasn't able to attend any of those games because of the important, aforementioned family activities, but I was able to give away my tickets to friends.
They went and really enjoyed the development team's performances. In fact, I got a report back that the youngsters were "better than the real Timbers". Ouch! Although I have to say after watching the last match on stream, it weren't pretty.
And in more development team news, the US tonight put themselves out for a drubbing by the Brazilians who clearly felt that they had much to prove after going home early from South Africa. The South Americans clearly wanted to show that they knew how to move the ball around with small-side passing and to play something like the beautiful game without resorting to bulling their way to victory. There was a little of the "argy bargy" in the game, but Brazil was assertive, organized, and effective. The new kid, Neymar, scored a pretty goal and showed he could turn just about anyone on the US team. The US had a brace of chances but was not really effective after the first forty minutes had passed. American forwards, Buddle and Altidore and Findley didn't have much impact. It was young Bradley who had a goal called back on offside and the newcomer, Gomez, who put a great header into the mashup and almost tallied. Findley just had a birthday last week but apparently no one bought him a present. What was good was that Coach Bradley did put a fair number of newcomers in play and gave a look to the future. Whether Bradley himself will be directing that future isn't clear. But it's good to get the kids out there.
So...back to the U23 Developmental team championship here this weekend. If I were tied into the news feed from MLS or USSF I would know this better, but I wonder how the young talents throughout the development league get a look from the national coaching staff. There aren't enough slots in the MLS to show off all the young players coming up who might be the next Landon or Dempsey. I know. I know.... There's the national development teams too. I just think it's tough in a country as big and geographically distributed as the US for the selection process to cover all the bases.
Speaking of MLS, my inquiry to the league last week has met so far with silence....
Oh...and congratulations to the Eastside United boys for their National Title too! First time since 1994 when FC Portland sent a team to triumph.
Like I said...lots to talk about. Not enough time. Gotta go!

Sean Ingersoll and friends go for 'highest soccer match in Oregon'

2010-08-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

Taking Soccer to new heights in the Oregon Cascades This blog entry--scroll down for the video--is a testimony to how Oregonians feel about their footy. Anywhere anytime! The mad manager of FC77 Rangers gives us the full story at The Offside.

A new spin- homeless soccer tournament creates opportunities

2010-08-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

I heard a news story today recounting the journey of a soccer team made up of people recovering from homelessness to a national tournament. The team, the Portland Torrent, felt the trip was a success. I thought this was yet another example of the way the game can change people's lives.

The MLS Designated player

2010-08-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

I notice in this morning's news that Freddie Ljungberg played his first match as a Chicago Fire player following his trade from the Sounders. And apparently contributed thirty minutes of play without giving anything away. As I read the articles talking about the deal with the Sounders, I began to wonder at what point a "designated player" loses that standing and no longer qualifies to fall outside the salary constraints? A
player like Ljungberg at 33 is at some point going to fall into a different category. No disrespect intended but there are a limited number of these 'designated' slots and so who those folks are becomes a marketplace discussion I would think. I sniffed around the MLS website but didn't find anything that clarified the answer, so I shot an email off to them asking for a clarification. Stay tuned for answers.

Speaking of John Bain

2010-07-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

The other day I was noting that John Bain provided a possible model from the Timbers' past for why John Spencer might be a good choice as the team's first MLS coach. In 1989 the Portland Timbers' franchise launched its Western Soccer League campaign with Bain as the head coach. Underwritten by local businessman Art Dixon the team was looking forward to a strong run against opponents like the Seattle Storm and the San Francisco Blackhawks. Part of coach Bain's enthusiasm was that a new star of American soccer, the young Kasey Keller would be in the nets for the team following a successful run with the US U20 team and his career at University of Portland. Bain called Keller the best goalkeeper in the US. Prescient! Dave Nicholas, whose coaching career at Jesuit High School has been stellar, was the assistant coach for the team. And a bevy of Pilot and Warner Pacific stars provided the underpinnings for the team. Bain's appearance wearing his iconic #6 on the cover reflected his stature in the eyes of the community and of those wanting to bring the team back to prominence.
The Western Soccer League had evolved from the Western Soccer Alliance which started in 1985 with San Jose, Seattle, Portland and Victoria fielding teams in a 'challenge series'. One of the fundamentals that marked WSL was that American soccer would not succeed until it was built on a foundation of American players. Bain, Ignacio Baez (of Timbers and Cascade Surge fame) Paul Goldsbrough from Blackburn England and Rob Baarts from BC were the only players not from the US on the squad.
Interestingly, Bain was featured as well on the cover of the match program for the Portland Timbers match against West Bromwich Albion eight years earlier in 1981.

And you thought you knew soccer....

2010-07-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

According to a piece on the ever-evolving rules of the game by Neil Reynolds and published some decades back, "In 1895 legislation was introduced limiting posts and crossbars to five inches in width. The previous season, Middlesbrough had set a new record low of only two goals conceded at home because their posts were over three feet wide!" Exclamation point mine. Could be much more dangerous around the goal box as well if there's that much wood to hit. Who woulda thunkit?

Timbers v AC St. Louis match streaming live

2010-07-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

Once again it is apparently possible to stream the Portland Timbers match tonight via the opponents webstream. Game starts shortly after 5PM our time, so it's conveniently early. The only bad thing of course is that it is unfolding almost head on head against the MLS All Star match against Man United. What to do? What to do?

I think I can probably stream one on my laptop and the other on my desktop....that might work.

John Spencer? Hard working. Scotsman. Leader. Familiar profile

2010-07-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

The speculation that John Spencer will come on board as the Timbers first MLS coach cites his passionate, hard-working style and notes his Scottish roots starting with Rangers and going out after a short run at Motherwell back around the Millennium. Before his stint in Houston, Spencer put in time with the Colorado Rapids as a player. He had notable moments such as an Independence Day hat trick against DC United, the first in Rapids history. Today's newspaper profile asserts that he's noted for fierce loyalty to his players-- gesturing his disagreement to fans who were taunting Brian Ching.
A Spenceresque profile might suggest that he'd be a great success here. Back in the late Seventies, John Bain came to the NASL Timbers from Bristol Rovers and never looked back. A smart attacking midfielder, Bain clocked forty-five goals and-fifty five assists in his outdoor career in Soccer City USA. He played in 148 matches for our side and was a fan favorite. When the outdoor Timbers suspended play in '82, Bain ended up floating around the country for outdoor and then indoor teams. However, he returned to Portland as the player coach of the WSL Timbers which was launched on the foundations laid by FC Portland---a story for another day. The revival didn't last long but Bain's stint in Portland continued for one more round with the indoor Portland Pride.
My recollection of Bain, besides his origins, is that he evidenced many of the qualities being highlighted for Spencer. Bain was a smart player who was dynamic and hardworking on the field. He had a nose for goal. He motivated his teammates. I recall the crowd and the play on the field all ratcheting up a notch when Bain leapt out of the box and entered the fray. He was intense and focussed about the game. And he'd seen enough of it in enough settings that he wasn't fazed by the competition. Bain never played for his national team, but he had great poise. Spencer's experience not only includes national side appearances abut a stint in Hong Kong. To the extent that Spencer shares Bainlike qualities, I think he's a strong pick.
One side note occurs to me. Spencer's impatience with the negative behavior of the fans in Houston is likely to be in evidence here in Puddle City if the North Enders chew on members of the team. While rare, it has happened. And I doubt Spencer would take it lightly.
Truth be told? I like that.

US U20 Women lose to Nigeria

2010-07-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

The curse of the penalty kicks strikes again. The US Women's U20 side playing in Augsburg Germany was eliminated in a shootout loss to Nigeria after playing to a 1-1 tie in 120 minutes. The U20 US team has never been eliminated before, so this was a shocker. Not to take a thing away from the Nigerian team, which played hard, fast and strong, but the penalty shootout was a puzzler. The US keeper, Henninger, was forced to face the second Nigerian shooter three times. The first two she stopped, but, obviously frustrated, she missed the third shot. The end was sealed when LeRoux, the US sharpshooter, missed her kick. Once again it's a hard hard way to end what was an attractive struggle between two well-matched teams.

Two players from Portland, Kendall Johnson of UP and Courtney Verloo of Stanford were on the US roster.

What will happen next with Les Bleus?

2010-07-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Laurent Blanc, the new skipper of France's national team has benched all twenty-three of the players who stood up for France at World Cup. It may seem to be a sweeping gesture but not much more. On the other hand, I predict that France will begin taking a look at a new generation of talent coming up. And return to the fray like 'le coq sportif' should. Will be interesting.

Mwanga

2010-07-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

I streamed the match between Philadelphia Union and United yesterday afternoon. Though United wasn't at full strength neither was the Union. Despite that it was an interesting game to watch. Certainly the Americans played with passion and intensity. And the 1-0 result could have been reversed. I thought that Danny Mwanga, out of Congo by way of OSU, showed quality for a first year player. He worked to set up several smart through balls to running teammates from the twenty five yard range and his strength on the ball, persistence, and field vision affirm that he's got potential beyond just physical ability. Will be interesting to see how his career unfolds. Maybe Sir Alex will decide to give him a look.Publish Post

Portland Timbers break the jinx! Beat 'Caps 2-1 at Swangard.

2010-07-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

Tonight the Portland Timbers clawed their way out of Hades and ended the Sisyphusean struggle to kick a ball uphill into the opposing goal at Swangard one more time than the Vancouver Whitecaps could. It took a perfectly placed, pinpoint, penalty kick from Ryan Pore and a missile from the backline's Mamadou Danso to bring it home, but the Timbers did it. They really did it.

As expected the match was a slugfest. Ryan Smith went off with a forehead wound gushing blood in the first half. Stewart, attacking midfielder for the 'Caps was carried off on a stretcher. It weren't no cakewalk and that's a fact.

Pore's penalty came on the heels of a takedown in the box on a breakaway and the sending off of Janicki at the 65th minute. At that point Vancouver led on a solid goal from Khalfan which accelerated the Timbers' efforts to get one back. Pore showed his quality with a poised shot.

Dansu's goal was perfectly executed in the face of chaos as the Timbers attacking ball bounced out to Danso's foot right on the eighteen yard line and he placed it, unhesitatingly, into the goal.

Question to the peanut gallery. Is it my imagination or are defenses being so successful shutting down forwards that midfielders are ending up being the dangermen in this league? Or in any league? I haven't seen any stats but certainly Pore and Stewart fill that card. Bright Dike worked like a madman to get free and get a shot. And made good layoffs when he couldn't get the ball away. But he was marked as hard as a Chicago gangster on the road to Joliet. So maybe this is the new reality in the Game. Midfielders will be the new supa-stahs. Can somebody run the stat machine and spit out some statistics? Oh...and don't forget to include play in Uruguay.
Bottom line? Timbers hit the road with a win and a confidence builder against a quality rival. I like it!

Live match cast of Timbers v Whitecaps

2010-07-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Well if you look at the Timbers' site you won't find anything except the listing for the radio broadcast out of our market. But as is often the case, you can go to the opponents' website and find the link for whitecaps v timbers live. I'm hopeful that the jinx can be broken and we can send the 'Caps packing for a change up there. 'Bout time for the cannons to get untracked on our side.
Defense can only do so much.

Afterthoughts on Timbers v Man City

2010-07-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

It was only after we'd been back from tournament a day that I got to read the Big O article in advance of the Timbers' friendly against City on Saturday night. There was much discussion of the benefit and confidence building from playing up against a team of EPL standing.

I am reminded, though, of frequent comments in the press about how mental the Game is and how teams can get themselves in a scoring slump from too much anxiety or have similar problems at the other end. That led me to wonder, as the season is about half done, what the effect of a 3-0 game will be in furthering the goal scoring efforts as the Timbers head off on a four game road trip.

Hope for the best of course. But I do have to wonder. The Man City website write-up was politely respectful but brief about the home team's performance in the game. Eminently English.

Timbers v Manchester City

2010-07-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

I was up in Snohomish at the KlaHaYa Soccer Tournament this weekend with a caravan of my Mojos friends, so this report on the Man City match comes courtesy of my longtime teammate, Mark.

"One of the early pleasures was the venue. It was a really beautiful evening in Portland. Merlo Field was immaculate as a playing surface. At one point Alison and I were at the railing at field's edge, about six feet above the surface. Alison asked whether it was real grass; it looked that unreally perfect.

If one followed the EPL, there were plenty of name players: Patrick Viera, Craig Bellemy, Emmanual Adebayor, Wayne Bridge, Jo, Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Joleon Lescott. Notably missing: Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure, Sean Wright Phillips, Rocque Santa Cruz, Shay Given. I never saw the head coach, Roberto Mancini.

First game impression was that the Timbers could do the mechanics of soccer play almost as well as Man City. Ultimate impression: that the huge difference between the teams is that in the crucial moments the MC players are far more lethal in the final third. That maddening profligacy in front of goal that the Timbers have shown us all season was there last night. The MC players were insanely quick in passing/running movement as they got into the penalty area.

The first goal was a kind of cheap bundling in via Stephan Ireland's gluteus maximus. The second goal by Adebayor was an unstoppable glancing header where he leaped above everyone else. (He's tall and surprisingly lacking in bulk in person.) The third goal by Jo was a terrific, precisely placed worm burner, just inside the near post from 20 yards out.

For the Timbers: Dike played well, but at this level there were guys that could muscle him off the ball. Danso did an excellent job sweeping in the back. Pore was average. Josten had a good chance but was invisible most of the time. Nimo played very well; not intimidated at all. Taka was great and had two really good efforts on goal in the 2nd half. Scot Thompson did his usual overlaps to good effect.

Both teams steadily substituted through the match. Both sides had their best sides out on the pitch for the first half. Unfortunately, their second team was a lot better than ours during the last 45 minutes. At one point from about the 65th minute on, we had our complete worthless trifecta out there: Quavas Kirk, James Marcelin and Mandjou Kieta. Marcelin only passed laterally or to the rear - big surprise. He doesn't have a creative bone in his body. Kieta looked no better than a decent amateur rec player out there.

Impressions: It was like going to an English 4rd Div match in, say, Bournemouth. People could actually shout friendly, rude stuff to the players and sometimes they would good-naturedly respond (Bellemy did, at least). Without fouling, the MC defenders were more physical and very quick to slide tackle. (There were no cards.) Probably 200 people in MC colors. Their club had fans doing the whole USA tour along with the team. Defender Micah Richards looked like the Incredible Hulk in a MC kit. The dude is muscular!

The TA was not as vocal as at PGE Park. Partly due to the different configuration of Merlo where they were in a wide, very shallow setup behind the west goal.

I did take some snaps and a little video. It was fun. Thanks again for the ticket; Alison enjoyed the spectacle."

The dangers of blogging and catchy titles.

2010-07-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have been guilty of the worst of errors, lazy thinking. My last post about the "men's league" ignored the reality that there are many leagues in the Portland area whose primary players are male, as well as the fact that the league I've mostly played in, GPSD, is not a "men's league" by any formal designation. There have been instances when we've played against opponents who had women in their side. The properly corrective missive below arrived from Jevan at the Oregon Adult Soccer Association. It's worth a read.

"David,

I love your latest blog post “Local Men's League Championships- yesterday and today.” Well all except the headline and the opening sentence.

It’s true that at one point GPSD was the only affiliated “men’s” league in the Portland area, but I don’t think (even just including the history from the merging of Rose City and Portland leagues in GPSD) that it’s ever been THE men’s soccer league in the Portland area. Back in the old days GPSD even affiliated separately as Rose City and Portland leagues until (I think) the late 80’s or early 90’s, so the “District” was in fact, two leagues, neither of which could lay claim to be THE league.

Old-timers often refer to GPSD as “the men’s league” and NUWS as “the Women’s league”, I cringe each and every time I hear either of those things – we have more or less eradicated those terms at least at the OASA Board level.

From OASA’s perspective, we don’t even have Men’s leagues, women’s leagues, etc. We affiliate a soccer league and they are free to offer whatever soccer they wish. OPSL affiliated as a break off from GPSD, so initially they offered Men’s premier division, but they have added women’s, over 30, 6-a-side, and are talking about other things. I could cite other examples.

I’d even argue that GPSD is not a men’s league (the league has no gender restriction), but rather an open soccer league populated primarily by men.

NUWS has some claim to being A women’s league since they do have a gender rule (In Oregon we have not yet had the gender identity issues that California soccer has had, but that’s another story), but they certainly are not THE Women’s league, not even the affiliated Portland area women’s league.

Without counting the many Portland area unaffiliated leagues that have men’s play (I know of four large ones), I stuck this on letterhead so I had a list to refer to, the Portland area affiliated leagues that offer men’s play are Eastside United, George Beck, GPSD, Legacy, OPSL & OSCL.

GPSD THE Men’s league? Not now, probably not ever.

Jevan"

Local Men's League Championships- yesterday and today.

2010-07-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

In the earlier days of the Men's soccer league, say from the late Seventies when the Portland Park Bureau stimulated a growth spurt until about a dozen years ago, there was one playing season. It started in the fall and trudged deep into the mucky month of December at times.
The season was split with a break over the holidays, and recommenced after the first of the year. As you can see from the accompanying cover of the 1994 Championship program, that led to the championship games being held in the spring following a season of about eighteen games.

I can't think back on those years without a shout out to the memory of Ted Zyelinske who was the dynamo behind much of men's league soccer in Portland. It was largely due to Ted's efforts that there were soccer programs for the championships. Each team got its picture and record included. Not only that but the championship games were played at PGE Park...then called Civic Stadium. I remember how vast the old, artificial turf field seemed in the couple of times I had the honor of being out there. (Our team had a talented forward by the name of Alex Addy who scored a record 36 goals in one season. The rest of us just tried to get him the ball.) And there was no friction to speak of, so the ball would shoot off into the distance. Ted was a tireless promoter of the local men's game. He was cheerful, knew everyone, sold ideas and advertising and sponsorships. A Brazilian by birth, Ted's playing days were ended early by an injury but as a result, his efforts made the local game an excellent experience. Sadly, he died in 1995 at the age of 59, suffering a heart attack while visiting family in Brazil.

In more recent years, the heavy demand for field use by a variety of other sports like lacrosse and ultimate frisbee coupled with the massive growth of youth soccer led to changes in how the men's league unfolded. No longer did the season run into December nor start in January. No more games with snow encrusting the ground or a layer of water over ice. ( In this picture, Brian Porter of SJO Irregulars battles for the ball in a 1978 match.)
Instead, there are now 2.5 seasons. The League sponsors a short season in January on artificial turf fields. The primary league season consists of ten games starting in September and ending before Thanksgiving. And a secondary, Spring-Summer season unrolls with ten games between April and July. That season has just ended, and I'm sad to say that no FC77 Club team made it to the top of the heap yet, though our Over40 First Division team, FC77 PBR has a showdown coming up next week. There are playoff matches over several divisions with the results being posted on the GPSD website.

Vicente del Bosque- Conductor de la orquestra de Espana. World Cup

2010-07-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

"And when you have order talent presents itself better." I saw this quote from del Bosque, the manager of the Spanish national team, last week. In my mind that sums up the team's play. Yesterday's game was fine with me though there were a few moments that had me gnashing my teeth. I would have been happy regardless of the outcome. But was happy Spain won. And that Iniesta was clearly onside on the replay. A disputed goal would have been horrible. Back to del Bosque. His Wikipedia biography says he was born in December of 1950. He's a year younger than I am. Amazing.

I haven't heard anyone else comment on this, but if my calculation is correct the World Cup has changed continents, Europe and South America, in alternate series ever since 1962 following Brazil's back-to-back wins. That is until this Copa when Europe won in succession to Europe. Of course, this presupposes that England is willing to be part of Europe. Otherwise it's only a forty year pattern and not near a half century. I don't know that this has any significance, unless it's part of a conspiracy by the powers behind FIFA to make certain no one feels left out. Naw, that didn't make sense even when I said it.

Portland Oregon: more than a century of soccer traditions

2010-07-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I happened across a copy of the Portland Mercury folded open to an article entitled "Who Cares About Soccer?" with a subtitle purporting to present information about "Portland Soccer: Where it is, where it began, and where it's going?" Reading it over I give credit to the writer for coming up with some solid general background on the early years of the game in the US, the generic 'ethnic teams' in the early part of the Twentieth Century story, and then the Portland Timbers and their impact on the local game. Entwined with that was the story about Title IX and its legal enfranchisement of girls' sport on a footing equal to that of boys which then led to an explosion of youth soccer because the equipment costs were low and lots of players were involved. My personal version of that was the Custer Bulldogs, a team formed for seventh graders at St. Clare's school in southwest who had no soccer program. One of the other big selling points for youth soccer at the time was the a particular size or physique wasn't really necessary. Kids of all size and differing skills could succeed. And the quality of volunteer coaching was a complete match.
But back to the core of what I felt reading the Mercury article. Soccer's staying power or legitimacy in Portland or anywhere else in the US isn't an issue. Isn't even worth discussing.

Soccer has been played in Portland for at least 110 years based on what we know. The earliest records unearthed show Portland Municipal Judge Cameron donating a cup that bore his name for the State Championship apparently won in 1902 and 1903 by the “Winged A's” of the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC). Which gives special irony to the Timbers' present digs in the shadow of today's MAC Club. The game in Portland has always included an international connection as well. The Portland champions, Peninsula, opened the 1920 season with an exhibition against English sailors from the British freighter, M. de Larinaga, which was loading flour at the Harbor Wall. The Cameron Cup was still being awarded to teams as the late as the 1930s as best I can tell.
Judge Cameron and his somewhat shady standing in Portland is available for those who are interested.

The general unfolding of soccer in Portland through the Twenties and the Thirties did indeed parallel what was happening on the East Coast with the formation of the ASL and big corporate underwriting. Slate just featured this interesting article on the subject.  But it seemed to have little effect on the West Coast. The east was a long and very expensive trip away. And the east coast teams probably were dismissive of frontiersmen who happened to play. The game in Portland continued to be centered around athletic clubs like the MAC Club and Portland Cricket Club, the ethnic associations but also educational institutions like the state's colleges. And then there were teams with names like Oceanic of less apparent origin. Germania, Clan McLeay, and the Sellwood Soccer club were notable and found their way regularly into the newspapers. And the play was regional. Every year there was competition throughout the Pacific Northwest for a regional cup.
It was in the late Twenties and the Thirties that Hugh Templeton and his brother starred for Sellwood and other select teams. On the field with them were other names more familiar to Portland history like Tom Moyer. Hugh was proud of the club he belonged to and of their achievements. And he and his family kept records of those days, a scrapbook which provides an invaluable window into soccer in Portland.

On May 12th, 1934 a letter was sent to Hugh from H. J. Pallont (I believe that is correct) reading, "You have been selected on the list of players to represent Oregon in the Canadian Soccer Championship game to be played at the Stadium on Wednesday June 13th, kickoff 3PM."
The letter continues with details of player meetings, training quarters, and with an invitation to Templeton and his wife to attend a dance and social hosted by the Canadian Legion.

One of the most compelling items in the scrapbook to me is a photo of the Sellwood Soccer Team in their striped jerseys posing as the Champions of the Rose City League in 1931-32. The inscription reads that in addition to being champions, they are winners of the Meier & Frank and Burnett Cups, and runners up for the Oregon State Cup. Two cup trophies and an inscribed plaque with laurel leaves are in the grassy foreground. Prizes of local soccer history long gone missing, I suspect. ( Another reason for soccer enthusiasts to work with the Oregon Historical Society to create an archive of soccer's history, curated by professionals, for future generations.)
There are four men in the picture who are wearing suits. And who appear to be older by a fair bit. The crew in uniform, including their keeper in a white shirt in front, total thirteen. None of your modern squads carrying a roster of eighteen.

In that photo, they smile out at us from eighty years past, young men now likely all departed. They have a look that anyone who's played the game knows: satisfaction and confidence. Not cocky. Squinting slightly in the sunlight. Glad of their wins and achievements, but more, glad that they had the chance to lace on their boots and play. And glad they will get to go again.

Coming- The effect of WW II on the game. Rebirth in the postwar years. Keepers of the flame. Lost treasures:what happened to the Cameron Cup? Heroes of soccer in the old days and not so long ago. Jim Gorsek. Ted
Zyelinske, Club Germania, Andy Clark. And more. Because the Game is and always will be true PDX.

Harvard engineering students invent a soccer ball that generates electricity.

2010-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

How cool is this? Thanks to that globe-trotting soccer enthusiast, Peter B, for sharing the story. Makes you think the Jabulani design questions didn't go far enough!

A soccer ball to light up people's lives.

Are we entering a new era? Unreality TV

2010-07-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

" LeBron James' TV show The Decision played to 7.3% of U.S. television homes, according to early ratings from ESPN, making the sit-down program in which he revealed his next NBA stop the network's top-rated non-NFL show of 2010." says USA Today online this morning. The article continues " ESPN says the decision attracted more than 300,000 unique viewers on ESPN3.com, one of the largest audiences ever for a non-World Cup match."

I'm not a basketball fan although I pay passing attention to my hometown team, the Portland Trailblazers, now that they've cleaned up their act. So I didn't rush to my local to watch LeBron James initiate a new era of unreality television. If I understand it correctly, James' organization purchased the time, but even if I'm wrong about that, I read that ESPN fell all over itself to get this show. No surprise there.

What I immediately began to wonder about , though, was how long it might be before the light bulb goes on (if it hasn't already) above some ESPN cranium. If we can garner one out of every fifteen US homes to watch a famous athlete announce his "mulling over" where his career will take him next, why wouldn't we start doing these shows as a new segment of "celebrinews" . Particularly when considering the potential in the international marketplace. LeBron might not draw on the bigger stage, but what if we were featuring the next moves of Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney or? Well, the picture is easy to draw. Even with the obstacle of player contracts as they are currently negotiated and owned, the one off show featuring an adored sports personality has great potential to be a new way to make money. And isn't that increasingly what it's all about?

Doesn't affect me particularly since I don't watch television much. But it could increasingly trivialize sport and exacerbate its already limited connectedness to local communities. People in Cleveland were apparently heartbroken and felt betrayed by James' decision to leave. They might want to get a reality check. A look across the Water to the supporters' protest against Man U's American owners and nation-sized indebtedness might do it. Wearing Newton Heath colors is an insignificant protest against the financial machinery. And in Cleveland, the dismay of fans just becomes another 'human interest' story for the "news" to cover.

My guess? We'll see a famous footballer smiling into the camera, looking somewhat chagrined, while announcing that he's going off to play somewhere new. For more money. On a 'show' with a great advance push. Within a year or so. And fans, some fans, will gnash their teeth and act as if it all meant something.

Futbol after 50 FC77 Old Nicks vs Highland Stillhouse 96Degrees

2010-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Why soccer is the world's game

2010-07-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

This link was forwarded to me. Photographer Jessica Hilltout's photos of children playing the game, making their own balls to do so, illustrates perfectly how the game suffuses the lives of ordinary people, children, everywhere. Beautiful. Jessica Hilltout's photos of African children playing soccer.

PRETTIEST MATCH EVER!

2010-07-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon, people may be saying that today's semifinal match between Spain and Germany was the best match of the series. That remains to be seen but I have a hard time imagining that Spain could bring prettier play, cooler style or more thought to the final. I imagine that the Netherlands are likely to try their own wily style in the game in contrast to Germany's attempt to take their time and look for counterattacks against the Spaniards. Regardless, Spain did what they are known for and made futbol look fluid and magical. The goal on a set play from Puyol's head was an exclamation point that ended a sentence some thought would have a question mark. Can Spain play to its potential? The answer is yes.

There were few mistakes. One rush down Spain's flank by the Germans left the backside of goal wide open and could have resulted in a strike. But the shot was stopped. Pedro's run down the right late in the game could well have ended up sealing the game for his team had he passed; instead he held the ball and lost it. Other than that, not much.

I'm looking forward to the final on Sunday. I like both teams and would be happy to see either take the Cup. I really like the fact that Spain's style was rewarded with an appearance. Smash and grab soccer didn't get any rewards in the procession to the final. Maybe word will spread and 2014 will bring us more futbol which provides ninety minutes of breathtaking play. I'd like that.

On related note, I just discovered Run of Play today. A blog about futbol written by a guy who knows how to shake out a handful of words and make them dance. I was impressed with how he said what he said as much as what he said. Let's face it, there are more than enough people out there who know the history of every professional and national player in the bigtime from the day they got their first boots at academy. That doesn't mean their thoughts on the game are interesting. Being able to write well and getting to do it is like getting free play with crayons and all the paper you can use in second grade. This guy goes to the head of the class.

Halftime at the Dutch v Uruguay match!

2010-07-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

What a great first half! An even up game with two beautifully delivered goals. Who would have guessed. Admittedly the patient Dutch have had more of the play and the Celeste (really?) have had trouble with putting balls astray but it's been fun to watch. I'm getting multiple benefits from the experience too. We don't have the full meal deal of cable channels so I'm watching on Telemundo which has been my 'scuola d'el Espaniol' or something like that. It's not as much help to my Spanish spelling as it is to vocabulary development. I like it. Soccer is not a game that requires a lot of commentary. At least if you know what you're looking at. The Spanish commentary was not very helpful in explaining the boot to the head of De Zeeuw when a Uruguayan player executed a bicycle kick. An ugly looking smack though not a falta...um foul as best I could tell. Interesting to me, the Big O still does not list Telemundo's broadcasts in its TV sports listings. I guess the presumption must be that only a miniscule Spanish-speaking audience reads their sports page. Actually, I'm guessing that the audience speaking any language and reading the sports page is going down.

I was also happy to find out that the matches were midday. After facing 6:30 am games early in the tournament, it's throwing me off my schedule to be watching at noon. Foolishly I had sent an email off to a friend suggesting we get together 'someplace open real early with coffee and rolls where they might have the game on.' Oh well.

Time to get back to the game.

So what is the German coach's name?

2010-07-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Those pesky foreigners! Always trying to trip up the press by changing things around. Joachim "what's his name" is the latest example. FIFA's take is Joachim Low....no umlaut? For the LA Times though it's Joachim Loew with an 'e' Nobody seems to be making a move toward Lowe the other way around. Too bad 'cause there's a potential sponsor opportunity there. "Lowe's team hammers Home Depot." I can see it now. Spellcheck?

Luis Suarez world's best keeper?

2010-07-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

Okay there's funny and then there's cold....really cold, icy even. Poor Luis Suarez not only has to sit out the key game against the Dutch tomorrow but he's also forced to take a ribbing --see the link--from Maarten Stekelenburg, the Dutch keeper (who also plays with him at Ajax). That's friggin' Arctic I'd say. I'm actually rooting for the Orangemen myself because I'd like to see them in the final but still...have a little mercy! My heart is with the total underdogs, Uruguay simply because they're there in the final four. And missing Suarez. Though scoring goals hasn't been their ticket to getting through in this tournament. I think Stekelenburg will find itching powder in his jock at some future date in League play.

Number one rule of Blogging...

2010-07-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

OK...probably the number one rule of blogging is to have compelling content that will actually drive readers to your virtual doorstep and make them want to come back. But even if you've got that nailed, you can't be dyslexic on a blog. Particularly with the titles of your posts. Just looked at a blog this morning that not only renamed the South American nation known for cocaine "Columbia" but then wrote in the header about the "Columibans". Nice...

True confession though. I keep spelling Alex Nimo's name like Little Nemo in the Disney movie. Even though I know better. And I do not trust spellcheck at all. For anything.

2010-07-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Rarely recorded in previous accounts of the Portland Timbers' experience we have here a shot of one of the popular yet less visible pursuits. Particularly on Thirsty Thursdays there are almost as many people lining up to drink cheap beer as are watching the match from the stands.

Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps

2010-07-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July already and the weather gods still haven't committed to summer. Last night I joined 9,000 of my closest personal Timbers soccer supporters and my friend, Mark, to watch the Portland Timbers play the Whitecaps. The rivalry here goes back almost as far as the one with Seattle, but the mood last night didn't quite seem as intense as all that. Both on the field and in the stands subdued felt like a more apt emotion. Not that the play lacked intensity. I thought the green-clads put on a passionate display and played a prettier game of football than I've seen in the Park for a good while. They worked hard to keep the ball on the ground and move it around, even in tight spaces. There was good movement off the ball and the defense was solid. Keel was back as was Cameron (glad that earlier removal on a stretcher apparently didn't involve serious injury) and Purdy.

Dansu finished up the back line. They were solid, giving Vancouver few decent chances. At the other end, Keita was back ( I suspect that Dike needed a break after working so hard in the Seattle game) paired with DeMartin. Keita demonstrates his intelligence on the field and his hunger for the strike. And he launched his share of shots. DeMartin, while demonstrating some good skills comes across more like a midfielder than a forward. At one point in last night's match, Keita struggled to position himself with three Vancouver defenders as a long ball came down. The big man succeeded and took the ball with his chest, turning so it bounced to DeMartin just to his right. Easy for me to say from the stands, but DeMartin looked surprised and instead of crashing through with his body to collect it, a move that could have put him unmarked in the box with the keeper and the ball, he did not react and the ball was cleared. As I say, easy for me to evaluate from the thirtieth row. Regardless, Portland knocked out a rainstorm of shots, none of which went in. At the end of the night, the crew took home a tie and a point but it felt disappointing because their effort was excellent. Luck does have its role in the game, and there were several examples last night when pointblank shots were just barely deflected. It could have been 3-0 easily.

The return to more intentional and organized play was the highlight in my book. Next Saturday we'll see if they can begin to take that next step....stretching the netting!

It must be the grass from Oregon

2010-07-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

No...not that grass! The fields for World Cup are partly seeded with good ol' Willamette Valley grass. I'm thinking that's gotta be the factor that accounts for this year's World Cup matches being so broadly more exciting than those of some recent cups.
So. To illustrate my point, Germany became the UberTeam by crashing through the Argentinians for four goals this morning before I'd even had my coffee. I didn't see it, but I saw the replays of Maradona's anquish on the sidelines. It may be repayment for the Mano del Dio. Apparently the ten earlier goals were more a reflection of individual talent against lesser opponents than of a well-crafted tactical machine that would hold up under pressure.
I did tune in for Spain's battle with Paraguay and was completely rewarded. It was one of those moments when I almost wished that both teams could advance. Paraguay was gritty, played as a team, did not give up, and had opportunities including a goal called back for offside. Paraguay's Alcaraz, who plays for Brugge and has been an anchor of the country's stout defense, was in agony after giving up the original penalty. The Paraguayan keeper, Villar, faced with a Spanish penalty kick, managed to stop it (admittedly only on the second go) and escaped a possible red card as he flung himself after the loose ball and took down a Spanish attacker just wide of the goalpost.
Spain, by comparison, struggled to find its form in the first half as Paraguay threw itself in the way of the normal Iberian fluidity. In the second half, though, the Spaniards looked more poised and patient and increasingly their style showed. A moment of serious heartburn occurred when Pique was called for pulling down his mark in the box on a setpiece. The replay in slowmo fully justified the call. And the ensuing PK (a PK from Pique?) looked like it would put the South Americans ahead but Casillas made an extraordinary save, holding the ball close.
It wasn't until Villa's strike late in the game that Spain took the lead and were able to bring the suspense to an end.
But again officiating stuck its grimy finger into the regular run of things and affected the outcome. The penalty that Paraguay escaped? Batres, the Center from Guatemala, called back the first penalty which had gone in the net. The reason, he indicated, was that players had encroached before the ball was kicked. And it appeared that was true. But ironically, a brief replay of the penalty at the other end of the pitch showed that players appeared to be encroaching in that instance as well. The problem of inconsistency is heightened when the ref's decision took a goal from Spain but also might have given Paraguay a second crack at the net.
Not quite the Shakespearean drama of the Ghana v Uruguay match, but this one was full of emotion and demonstrations of great heart on both sides of the pitch. I'd say it was among the best matches I've seen in this competition. And there've been quite a few.
So my predictions for the final four? Only half right. I got Spain and the Netherlands. But I'm content. And as I look at the clock I realize I've got to get on my pony and head for town! The Timbers are taking on the 'Caps in an hour. I need to be there.

The kind of World Cup matches I'd like to see more of!

2010-07-02T17:53:00.000-07:00

The Nederlanders were as solid as they needed to be today. The early Brazilian goal, a lovely through ball down an open lane as big as a freeway, didn't dishearten the Orange side at all. They'd already come back in the pre-tournament from being down one to Hungary. That didn't unsettle them although it took till the fifty-sixth minute to come back and take the lead. Dutch grit was plenty in evidence in this game against the Brazilians. My good friend and longtime soccer observer, Mark, noted recently that Brazil's play no longer is the beautiful game for which they were famous. That observation proved true today as Brazilian players early on took to banging the orangemen around. I think there were six early fouls. And the Dutch may have wanted to demonstrate that they'd had enough after Robben hooked and spun to the ground in the right corner. It was shortly afterward that Sneijder arced his long cross into the box, completely flummoxing Julio Cesar and the Brazilian defender jumping next to him. When Orange tallied a second time with a flicked on cross from Robben at the corner, the South Americans came unglued. Four minutes later, Felipe Melo was stamping on Robbens lying on the ground earning him a red card. Kaka's face reflected petulance. And the clock ticked down. Without question the Netehrlands got some luck on their side. Brazil, until the players began to express their frustration, was dangerous. But the result was satisfying. And I thought I'd seen one of the most exciting matches of the Copa so far.

But then I turned the television on (I had been watching the ESPN3 stream of Brazil v Netherlands) and discovered, to my surprise that there were still seven or eight minutes left in the neck and neck match between Ghana and Uruguay. I don't think I've ever seen quite as dramatic a contest as the end of this epic struggle. Clearly, both teams were exerting themselves mightily and were playing ferocious defense without giving up efforts to string their passes into the opposing goal. To my eye, Ghana began to gain momentum in the waning minutes, three or four times putting a ball on the feet or chest of an attacker in front of Uruquay's goal only to be repelled each time! The teams, clearly weary and foot heavy, battled again for more than thirty minutes because there is added time to the added time. Valiantly. Still trying to maintain their shape, to get back and cover, to move off the ball, to think creatively no matter how parts of the brain scream 'stop running'. Yes, there are dives in the game and a shameful practice that is. But there are also moments of true agony. Gyan, the Ghanaian forward, scrambling hard to get the strike that will save it all with a full run down the right wing. Goes down in the corner as he rotates to cut back. Uruguayan players complain. But the replay shows the tackle crashing into the back of his lower leg as his foot plants and turns. This is no game for poseurs.

And then, with stoppage time at 120+ and slipping away, Ghana had a shot at point blank range! The shot was blocked, but, immediately volleyed back. Muslera, the Uruguayan keeper, was lost from the first shot, but two defenders stood on the goal line and one, Suarez, cleared the ball with his hand! Chaos ensued. Senor Bencerenca, the official, gave Suarez the boot for the handball and pointed to the spot. Immediately millions focused their attention on Asamoah Gyan, Ghana's #3, who steps to take the kick. Certainly the Black Stars will win! A Uruguyan player, maybe Suarez, is walking away in tears with a teammate trying to comfort him. Gyan strikes the ball. Muslera dives left! The ball rises, centerline, hits the crossbar and heads to heaven. Gyan missed! He looks skyward and turns away putting his jersey between his teeth. He was given the chance to bring Africa to the next level. And he missed. Prince-Boateng tries to comfort him. Muslera reaches up and kisses the crossbar. He does it again. The referee signals the end of extra time. The game will go to PKs. I do not think I can recall a more dramatic moment in watching futbol for thirty five years. Incredible.

And probably we all know the rest of the tale. How Gyan recovered some of his self-esteem with a well-placed shot. But ultimately it was Muslera who was the hero, stopping two of the Black Stars' kicks and anchoring the win for the Uruguayan side. The battle could not have been won and lost on a much smaller margin of difference. A single penalty kick, perhaps taken a little in haste and affected by the immense pressure of a continent's hopes riding in the balance. I hope that Asamoah Gyan can believe that he is a hero and not a goat. It's like the old rhyme, "For want of a nail the shoe was lost....etc." Except I think that was about an English king and that's an entirely different story.

The link is to You Tube footage of those closing moments. I suspect this will be a classic.

The Dramatic Final- Ghana vs Uruguay

When it was all over, I thought about our Portland Timbers losing on PKs the other night to the Flounders. And it occurred to me that things could be much much worse. One could end a World Cup run of legendary character with a single kick. It happens.

The Morning After...

2010-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

At five thirty last evening, I was waiting to meet up with my group and hand out their tickets when I spied my friend Roger. Like me, he's been going to Timbers games for some decades now. I hailed him and he told me he'd confronted a moral dilemma on the way to PGE Park. "I saw two sizeable groups of people dressed in Sounders gear heading the wrong way. I asked myself what was the right thing to do. And decided since they had two hours to find the stadium, I wasn't obligated to jump in and give them directions." I assured him that he was on moral solid ground, and besides, they were probably just looking for a bar to "refresh" before the match.

When the team finally took the field last night, the lineup choices were interesting. Think that Dike and Taki both contributed a lot as did Nemo. Seemed as if Ryan Pore was a a little on edge. And Cronin as well. Sitting in the stands and waiting for the game to begin, several of us talked about how much attention was given to not letting in an early goal. I guess the thirteenth minute isn't real early, but it was dismaying to let one in before we'd found our pace in the game. I liked the team's aggression out of the gate. Was good stuff. I still wish Dansu would distribute the ball out of the back with more control. On that score, I was impressed with Ross Smith's play. As an aside I noted that Smith's retro shorts have attracted notice from folks other than me. Open Letter to Ross Smith on Soccer City USA is an example. I couldn't help but notice that his display photo for the Timbers' shows him with a kind of kewpie hair style. What are they trying to do to this guy?

Kasey Keller? Can't minimize how much his poise contributes in a shootout situation. Oh...and I was disappointed that the team wasn't able to do more when the Sounders went down a man. It was clear toward the end that Dike had burned through his reserves of energy, a great effort. I might have given him a break earlier. Keita didn't have time to get his stride coming in as late as he did. Well...I'm not in charge. Easy to make decisions after the fact.

Oh...it was great to see the Army in full roar. And many more of them filling the Army sections. The new season ticket plan (yes I got mine) having Timbers Army designated sections and tickets is a great idea. The quibble I have is the outliers from the Army who are not sitting with the group but feel obliged to go through all the ritual moves the Army does with little regard for the people sitting around them. If you're a six foot tall guy standing up and holding your scarf over your head with ten rows of people behind you trying to see the goal we're attacking, you are going to be a nuisance. All of those of other folks are your fellow Timbers fans; getting mad at them when they ask politely that you put your scarf down is lame. So put your friggin' scarf down!

I think the real test for our side is coming up Saturday when the Caps revisit. Can we put together a good competition and win against a fierce rival in a game that counts? Can we avoid making the twenty or so passes to the other team that cause people like myself to grit our teeth?

God, I hope so. If there is a god of soccer, I hope he or she can spare a little kindness in a busy football week for the Boys in Green. Peace out!

Counting Down...

2010-06-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last June we gathered a crew of twenty or so Timbers friends, had a little warmup gathering at Albina Community Bank in the Pearl, and took a walk up to PGE Park hoping to see our boys whomp the visiting Sounders. Sadly it didn't turn out that way. Here we go again! 7:30 tonight we'll see if we can't put the jimjam into their attacks and get a win.

My World Cup final four!

2010-06-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm going out on a limb here. What a great final eight! I love the fact that Ghana and Uruguay have both made it through, unexpectedly, and one of them will go on for sure since they play each other. My money's on Ghana. They played well against good opponents and an African team in the final four would have a certain righteousness. Okay, I've been saying the Dutch will come on and make a good show in the tournament, and this is the moment to do it. I know all the smart money is on Brazil, but I'm going to roll with the Dutch sneaking a goal in and hanging on. I've gotta go with Argentina for the victory against Germany. I think it will be a great game, but the Argentines are on a roll and they have had a strong tournament. Germany, even with an increasingly steady effort in the last game, doesn't have enough guns to stop the South Americans. So...the last game I've gotta call Spain just because I'd like to see them play more. I think Villa's goal against Portugal was a sign of their capabilities though Spain's scoring wasn't as exuberant as either Brazil nor Argentina. That's it! Ghana. Netherlands. Argentina. Spain. We'll see. Regardless, the games will be excellent.