Where do you go for news on the Cascadia Summit?

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

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

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.

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.