University of Portland Pilot women

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

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.

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.

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.