Tonight, the Timbers gave a good accounting of themselves and soundly beat Dallas 2-0 in the final match of the season, accruing 49 points. I've got to say that it has been one heart-palpitating, groan inducing, high and low season. No shortage of excitement. But at bottom, we weren't able to do what Coach Porter said early on needed to be done---we couldn't hit 50 points. And that slim margin was enough to make tonight the end of the season. Our team is good---very good at their best--and I have my season tickets paid for because I expect to be there to see them go even further next year. But they are not yet where they can be--not yet the champions I see the potential for, not yet the electrifying and consistent team that will be remembered two decades hence as legendary. I want to believe that they can hit that mark--and so I'm in for the long haul.
As for this season, I give a solid shout out to the guys who have been there start to finish. I give my best wishes for healing to Will Johnson, I hope that injury isn't an end to your career. And I look forward to coming back to share more joy next year.
In 2015, we'll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Portland Timbers' futbol, a span that covers two thirds of my life. An occurrence that led to me playing the game for nearly forty years myself. And with any luck, still getting out there when that forty year mark arrives. I marvel at that statistic. Who would have said, back in the early days when Don Megson coached and Jimmy Kelly was the 'wee lad' and Eric Beck recorded 'Green is the Color', that there would be Portland Timbers with a long and proud tradition and a universe of supporters who have RCTID inked on their bodies and their brains?
I love it. See you next year!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
My favorite competition- the US Open Cup
The 2014 Lamar Hunt Open Cup came down to a fiercely contested battle between the Seattle Sounders and the Philadelphia Union. The Union suffered some bad luck--knocking the wood on attacks that most of the time would have garnered a goal. But at the end Seattle drove the spike into the heart of the game under the interplay of Martins and Dempsey. I'm not saying anything original in noting that these two may be the most dangerous duo in MLS.
Regardless, the match in Chester PA was exciting. The Sounders have now netted their fourth Open Cup title. That compares to historic teams' five Open Cup titles back in the days when soccer was mostly played by recent immigrants sponsored by big corporations.
Let me reiterate---I love the Open Cup. It's genuine American futbol as it's been around since 1914. And even this year, a team of nobodies beat an MLS side in the stages. Futbol should be an aspirational game. On a given day, a bunch of guys from Bohunk can man up and pull of the big upset.
Regardless, the match in Chester PA was exciting. The Sounders have now netted their fourth Open Cup title. That compares to historic teams' five Open Cup titles back in the days when soccer was mostly played by recent immigrants sponsored by big corporations.
Let me reiterate---I love the Open Cup. It's genuine American futbol as it's been around since 1914. And even this year, a team of nobodies beat an MLS side in the stages. Futbol should be an aspirational game. On a given day, a bunch of guys from Bohunk can man up and pull of the big upset.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
What kind of soccer blog doesn't have any posts during World Cup?
The simple answer is a blog written by a guy who's got way too much on his plate to be pounding out copy at midnight even if it is in the aftermath of an historic World Cup match, Germany v Brazil, in the semifinal of this 2014 tourney.
I made a tough decision today to leave work for two hours and take a long lunch, not something I do easily, in order to watch the Germans play Brazil. My read was that this would be the monumental match of the competition, maybe better than the final. Even without Neymar, the Brazilians aggressive swaggering style was a force to be reckoned with. And the Germans, though seeming vulnerable in their draw with Ghana, still were my pick to go to the final and bring home the trophy.
I set out toward a bar I was sure would carry the game not far from where I work. I arrived to find it was closed. On the car radio, the news announcer was noting that the match had begun. No worries, I thought. I'll go down to the Bucket Brigade on Powell. They'll have the match on. And it's early in the game I won't miss much. You can imagine my surprise when I walked into the bar and scanned the big screens. The score was 3-0 Germany. I took off my glasses and squinted thinking something was wrong. But that was indeed the score. The rest is history--perhaps the worst pummeling in the World Cup ever.
This evening I had a chance to go back and look at the missing twenty some minutes I hadn't seen. I was surprised to see that Brazil was strong, organized and attacking. Even after Mueller's first strike, they came thundering back--a certain tension in their eyes when the cameras panned across the faces-- but no sense of panic. The second and third goals though were like banderillas sticking into the jugular of Brazil's confidence. Without any solid leadership to rally them, the Brazilian defense unwound. And at the end, the match had clearly become legend. A 7-1 drubbing of the host nation in World Cup is not likely to happen again in my lifetime. Unless, of course, the gambling consortiums pay enough money in the dark corners of the game.
Other impressions of this Copa del Mundo?
I am really appalled at the use of a laser pointer to distract or disable Russia's keeper in their game against Algeria. I was watching and saw the green circle playing across his face as there was a setup for a corner kick. I thought immediately that this kind of action can destroy sport.
I am really happy to see the new, young talent on the USMNT get playing time in a World Cup. I was not all that interested in the conversations about Landon Donovan's presence or absence. I was happy that the team did as well as it did. But my biggest hope was that we'd begin giving a new generation of players time on the field--we'll need them in four years. And more. I think that decision by Klinsmann is a profound one that will pay dividends.
I'm hoping that the final is Germany v Netherlands.. I think Messi is a great player, but I like the passion the Dutch have shown in getting their aging team through so far. I think they'd be the perfect foil to the German organization and poise. And, of course, that would mean that the tango for the 3rd place finish would be between Brazil and Argentina, a match that would be dripping with emotion.
I made a tough decision today to leave work for two hours and take a long lunch, not something I do easily, in order to watch the Germans play Brazil. My read was that this would be the monumental match of the competition, maybe better than the final. Even without Neymar, the Brazilians aggressive swaggering style was a force to be reckoned with. And the Germans, though seeming vulnerable in their draw with Ghana, still were my pick to go to the final and bring home the trophy.
I set out toward a bar I was sure would carry the game not far from where I work. I arrived to find it was closed. On the car radio, the news announcer was noting that the match had begun. No worries, I thought. I'll go down to the Bucket Brigade on Powell. They'll have the match on. And it's early in the game I won't miss much. You can imagine my surprise when I walked into the bar and scanned the big screens. The score was 3-0 Germany. I took off my glasses and squinted thinking something was wrong. But that was indeed the score. The rest is history--perhaps the worst pummeling in the World Cup ever.
This evening I had a chance to go back and look at the missing twenty some minutes I hadn't seen. I was surprised to see that Brazil was strong, organized and attacking. Even after Mueller's first strike, they came thundering back--a certain tension in their eyes when the cameras panned across the faces-- but no sense of panic. The second and third goals though were like banderillas sticking into the jugular of Brazil's confidence. Without any solid leadership to rally them, the Brazilian defense unwound. And at the end, the match had clearly become legend. A 7-1 drubbing of the host nation in World Cup is not likely to happen again in my lifetime. Unless, of course, the gambling consortiums pay enough money in the dark corners of the game.
Other impressions of this Copa del Mundo?
I am really appalled at the use of a laser pointer to distract or disable Russia's keeper in their game against Algeria. I was watching and saw the green circle playing across his face as there was a setup for a corner kick. I thought immediately that this kind of action can destroy sport.
I am really happy to see the new, young talent on the USMNT get playing time in a World Cup. I was not all that interested in the conversations about Landon Donovan's presence or absence. I was happy that the team did as well as it did. But my biggest hope was that we'd begin giving a new generation of players time on the field--we'll need them in four years. And more. I think that decision by Klinsmann is a profound one that will pay dividends.
I'm hoping that the final is Germany v Netherlands.. I think Messi is a great player, but I like the passion the Dutch have shown in getting their aging team through so far. I think they'd be the perfect foil to the German organization and poise. And, of course, that would mean that the tango for the 3rd place finish would be between Brazil and Argentina, a match that would be dripping with emotion.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Technology: Laser pointers and Goal line calibrations
The World Cup has a role in the continuing unfolding of technological marvels in everyday life. The two that jump to the forefront for me are the harassment via laser pointer which obviously was aimed at Russia's keeper in the match with Algeria. This is a development which could wreck soccer as we know it. Lasers, easily obtained for a pittance, could destroy the integrity of the game if unchecked. At the other end of the spectrum, goal line technology which has been heatedly debated for many years now is making its world debut in Brazil. As a fan watching, the calibrated measurement seems helpful, particularly in those instances when the ball's speed confounds the eye. If FIFA is convinced that the technology is reliable, I think it's a plus. But it is all about the reliability. And the images presented are only digital representations of the physical universe. As such, they are able to be manipulated. So, as always, we trust.
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