Seattle | Sales on Sounders

Cascadia Clash – When Rose City Meets Rave Green

13 05 2011

The Portland Timbers come to Seattle. The Cascadia Rivalry comes to America. The rumble you feel is not Mt Hood, or Mt Rainier ready to blow, like St Helens. That is the sound of Timbers coming to Qwest Field, for a nationally televised match with Sounders FC . When Rose City meets Rave Green this Saturday, it’s no ordinary Spring Garden Show.

Calling out for national attention, this clash between Portland and Seattle is hosted by Major League Soccer. For a show stopping spectacle, look past the match on the pitch to the supporters in the stands. Both clubs colorfully fervent supporters promise displays not common to any usual American sport. If you own an H-D with 3-D, ultra intense vibration, surround sound-mega-TV, then this match is custom made for your home viewing pleasure. Either that, or be there.

Cascadia Rivalry: Timbers Army, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

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The History

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Saturday night’s match introduces the three-way Pacific Northwest rivalry to America’s growing Major League Soccer television audience. Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Seattle Sounders form a rivalry brewing since Seattle and Vancouver formed in 1974, with Portland a year later. Neighborly soccer ended in only the fourth match between Portland and Seattle on August 12, 1975. In a playoff match in Portland, with 31,523 soccer passionate fans a taste of everything to come spilled onto the pitch. Tied 1-1, the teams went to overtime. Portland earned a corner that Seattle defended but couldn’t clear. Portland worked the ball out to the left flank, where it was crossed into the top of the penalty box meeting a leaping Timber, who arched it in for a game winning header. Announcers barely had time to call the winning goal when fans began spilling onto the field in celebration. Thirty-six years later the passion is not only still brewing, it’s about to start a new chapter in US Soccer History. Anticipation for this weekends match has become national attention more for the passion spilled into the stands as the play on the pitch.

The Pacific Northwest regional rivalry was named, Cascadia Cup in 2004. The history of the rivalry itself dates to the clubs first meeting, May 2nd, 1975. What makes the rivalry unique? Large, consistent numbers of passionate supporters. Seattle’s attendance averaged 16,830 in 1975 while the entire 2010 MLS average was 16,675.

All three teams originally formed in the NASL (North American Soccer League). It was not structured and ran as well as Major League Soccer, but it had many big-time names. The most notable player in NASL history was one of the most notable in soccer history. Pele.

Less Pele and more Levesque.

The NASL folded in 1984, but Pacific Northwest soccer continued. Sometimes from comedic creativity. Club names like Stars and Seadogs played in various types of leagues from indoor to speed soccer. Yet Timbers and Sounders never faded away.

In 1994 the Sounders were on the doorstep of joining the inaugural Major League Soccer season. One issue preventing that was the perceived conflict of having two teams named “Sounders” playing in both an A-League and MLS status. Many people talked about the relationship like a “farm club”. The idea was rejected. Interesting note: MLS added a Reserve League for 2011. From 1994 to 2008, Seattle played in A-League/USL-1 soccer leagues winning 4 championships. Brian Ching and Marcus Hahnemann are two notable players during that era. Yet one name stands above all for assisting in the growing intensity of Saturday’s match. Levesque.

Roger Levesque.

Roger Levesque

At the end of the 2007 season with Seattle in process to move to Major League Soccer, Roger took a short exhibition stint with Vancouver and Portland. His one game with Portland brimmed with animosity. Fans “booed” him every time he touched the ball. Sending the message to Timbers owner, Merritt Paulson that he was not a real Timber. “True Fans Hate Levesque” read the banner hanging over the rail of the Timbers Army.

Strong words for a player known as one of the hardest working players in MLS today. Did he intentionally kick a fallen Timbers keeper in the face in 2003? Did he kick warm-up shots into the stands where Timbers Army supporters stood? I asked Timber fans. I have yet to have two similar answers. What I know for certain, Levesque scores goals against Timbers. Most notable is his 2009 US Open Cup goal scored in the first minute. After scoring on Portland, Levesque ran to Sounders teammate Nate Jaqua, who proceeded to chop him down and fall to ground. A third Sounder joined the choreographed celebration and along with Jaqua carried Roger away like cut lumber. Timbers supporters haven’t forgotten the celebration on their home pitch. How does that one song go? ”R-E-S-P-E-C-T”? Or, is it R-E-V-E-N-G-E?

The Fans

There were no Timbers Army or ECS (Emerald City Supporters) in 1975. But there were large volumes of fans. Fans, like yours truly, ready to promote this unique American rivalry into a third generation.

There may be no recipe for making soccer fans out of sports fans, but there is a recipe for being a soccer fan. Start with a pint of any preference. A simple recipe includes drums, rhythmic clapping, a hint of sulfur infused smoke, sparkling flares layered with a guttural wash of continuous chanting. Add *tifo and the scene is complete.

1974 - 1983

The Rivalry

The first Super Bowl I paid attention to was Super Bow XIII, in 1979 between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. I watched sitting next to my Granddad in his TV room. He was a huge Cowboys fan. He had to be. He was a rancher boy from Texas.

Growing up, when the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks played everything stopped. All you could do was make plans with friends and family to see the game. Climbing Mt Hood or Mt Rainier were the only alternative activities. Every game was close. Never a clear favorite. Season records never mattered when the Seahawks faced the Raiders. Intensity and national ratings were always high. It’s how a rivalry should be. It’s only about one game. It’s “all in”. Chips only come in two values. Complete exhilaration or pure disappointment.

Rivalry passion is at the core of every sports fan. You can love whatever game it is, with whomever is playing all you want, and feel neutral for your passion towards every great player and every exciting team. That is, until your Granddad, spouse, friend. local grocery clerk, bar tender, boss, or guy on the bus asks you the one hardest question. ”Who’s your team?” There is no New York Red Sox, or Boston Yankees. You ultimately pick one. And your answer defines you. Pick the right team and the grocery clerk says, “the ice-cream is on me”. You receive hugs and high-fives. Pick the other team, and find the nearest exit.

This is jargon you’ve read a thousand times before with teams from New York, LA, Dallas, Boston/New England and many more. So, isn’t it time to try something new. Add a new rivalry to the collection of great American sports rivalries.

Classic Greek Theatre

Are you Rave Green, or are you Rose City? Whose chorus do you belong?

Portland Timbers old logo

Yes, this answer defines you forever. Like a marriage proposal to the gods, it doesn’t force your hand to become a sports fan, if that’s not your thing, but it evokes a curious nuance of life that lifts the soul, and lets you experience an event with the greatest commitment of spirit. For 90 minutes there is no recession, no Afghanistan, no hedge fund scammers, and no terrorist insurgents. The decision will lift your soul to something bigger than sport. Your living and dying on every shot transcends normal behavior. Your vaulted, vocal prayers and spirited hand waving burns calories and energizes your hopeful team to defeat the evil others. Then, when the match is over, depending on the result, you boast your mighty brilliance or muse the conspiracies of ridiculous and underserved defeat. Then you go home. A few Sunday chores and your mind turns to the workweek ahead.

The beautiful thing about a rivalry, you don’t have to wait too long until it comes back again.

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Terms & Notes

*Tifo - Tifo is a simple Italian term for banners or flags hung or waved by supporters at designated stadium sections, specific to sporting events.
*ECS – Emerald City Supporters. Largest Sounders FC official Supporters Group. Additional Note: I joined in 2010. For the 2009 inaugural season I was independent of any supporters group choosing an individual team identity and relationship before joining.
*Timbers Army – aka TA, is official Supporters Group of the Portland Timbers.

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Tags: A-League, Alan Hinton, Brian Ching, Cascadia Cup, Cascadia Rivalry, Cascadia Summit, Dallas Cowboys, ECS, Emerald City, Emerald City Supporters, Major League Soccer, Marcus Hahnemann, Merritt Paulson, MLS, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, NASL, Nate Jaqua, North American Soccer League, Oakland Raiders, Pele, Pittsburgh Steelers, Portland Calling, Portland Timbers, Portlandia, Qwest Field, Roger Levesque, Rose City, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Season of the Rivalry, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, The Full 90, Tifo, Timbers Army, USL-1
Categories : The Full 90

Sigi’s Sounders go to Washington

4 05 2011

April 30, 2011 #11 Tribute to Steve Zakuani

The Sounders paid an emotional and heart-felt tribute to Steve Zakuani in last Saturday’s match with Toronto FC. The 11th minute tribute for Zakuani’s broken leg received in their previous match by Colorado Rapids, Brian Mullan, was a salute to Zakuani’s #11 kit number (jersey number). The Sounders valuable #11 left winger was missing from the Sounders *starting XI (starting lineup). Zakuani is beginning the long and hopeful road to recovery. The tribute was topped off in the most perfect manner possible. A 3-nil victory. Offensive and exciting for fans with a clean sheet (no goals allowed) for Sounders Keeper, Kasey Keller.

For the Sounders offensive and team spirit the victory meant everything. It combined an emotional show for their fallen teammate and for 36,000 of the most exciting fans in US Soccer. The first goal came from eventual “man of the match”, Brad Evans. A cross that bulls-eyed ”Flaco’s” (Alvaro Fernandez) forehead and found the back of net. Adding to his assist in the first half, Brad Evans scored a brace (two goals) in the second half. Monro slotted a perfectly weighted ball inside and to the right of Toronto’s goal. Evans perfectly timed his run up on the ball for a one time strike curling past keeper and into the left corner of Toronto’s goal. His second, a penalty kick.

For most soccer clubs in the world there is nothing that needs to follow that last sentence. Not in Seattle. Never normal and always a story. Penalty kicks are often considered “given” goals. Not at Qwest field. Until Saturday, no Sounder had ever scored a home pitch penalty kick. In tribute to Zakuani and everything that is remotely normal in the world of soccer, Evans scored the Sounders first ever home pitch penalty kick. It was also Evans first professional brace (two goals).

With the #11 Zakuani tribute successfully put behind them, Sounders quickly turn to a midweek match vs DC United in our Nation’s Capital. The brief, and successful one match home stay is sandwiched between four road games. With Philadelphia’s draw and Colorado’s victory behind them, the next two challenges come up quickly. First is midweek opponent DC United, then another short turnaround to face Columbus on Saturday. Little rest and a growing injury report makes both matches part of a daunting road trip. Already including Steve Zakuani, Seattle’s injury report boasts forwards O’Brian White and Mauro Rosales. Nothing comes easy for Sounders.

DC United - Black and Red - MLS Champions '96, '97, '99, '04

Seattle has never lost in our Nation’s Capital. It has become the most successful road stop for Sounders FC since joining MLS in 2009. The Sounders faced DC United at RFK Stadium in the 2009 US Open Cup final winning its first trophy 2-1. A week later, they surprised everyone by coming back for a regular season match and winning again. Last year, Roger Levesque scored a late match winner on a short cross from Montero. The win was part of the Sounders late in form run which launched them into the 2010 MLS playoffs.

In preseason, bench depth was the best weapon talked about when evaluating the Sounders 2011 roster. It will be tested in the next two matches. If Seattle wins one of the next two without taking on more injuries, they will be in good shape for the showdown with Cascadia Rival, Portland.

Heading to Washington DC, it is hard not to think on failing budget compromise, a struggling economy, and recent counter terrorism issues in Pakistan. To paraphrase Sounders coach, Sigi Schmid, *I subscribe to the belief you only have so much energy to give. With so much focused attention on the death of Osama Bin Laden, I propose a midweek break. At 7:30 on the East coast and 4:30 on the West coast the Sounders FC face DC United. It is important to spend two-thirds more energy on your passions and what you love. Even laughter. Osama Bin Lden and terrorism, not to dismiss the value and weight of recent events, are neither what I would consider topics of love, passion, or even laughter. Consider turning to soccer for one night as the beautiful alternative.

Soccer is a simple game. *If you put a ball at the feet of a 3-year-old child, perhaps even younger, that child will instinctively kick. It’s simple, because it is from instinct. Hours of repetition and the ball becomes an instinctive extension of body, mind, and soul. * “While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger”. Soccer is the beautiful, instinctual competitive spirit of the human kind and a recipe for peace. Let’s enjoy the best of who we are rather than focus on the evils that have been defeated.

Never stare into the eyes of Medusa. This weeks battle-classico features a growing cross continental rivalry. If you haven’t turned on a Major League Soccer match recently. It is time. An intense but respectful rivalry is growing between DC and Seattle. Turn your attention to Washington for the beautiful game. It’s instinct really. Focus more on what happens in soccer and terrorism will inevitably fade to black.

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

A few notes and references

* Starting XI = Starting lineup.
* During Seattle’s inaugural season the team went through a long stretch of fouls. Players were irritated with officials, but were also not helping themselves by adding complaints. Sigi Schmid made the point, that he subscribes to the belief players only have so much energy to give each match. Using it on officials is not the best use of that energy. Since that time the Sounders have gone from the team receiving the highest number of fouls to middle of the league.
*Cliff McCrath, five time NCAA Division II Champions with Seattle Pacific University. Also ran a summer boys and girls youth soccer camp on Whidbey Island. I attended three years as a child. His (almost) weekly soundersfc.com show “Nub’s Nuggets” is where he covers one relevant soccer point to think on each week. During April, 2011 he covered the simplicity of teach kids to play. By setting a ball in from of them they will instinctively kick. Make fun games out of repetitive passing and ball control. Then, sit back, and answer questions when they ask. This is a grain of wisdom in why the game is so beautiful.
* “ While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger”. The Shins, Girl Sailor – Wincing the Night Away

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Tags: #11, Alvaro Fernandez, Brad Evans, Brian Mullan, Cliff McCrath, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, Flaco, Fredy Montero, Girl Sailor, Kasey Keller, Major League Soccer, Mauro Rosales, MLS, NCAA Division II, O'Brian White, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Qwest Field, RFK Stadium, Roger Levesque, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Seattle, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, Starting XI, Steve Zakuani, Steve Zakuani Tribute, The Full 90, The Shins, US Open Cup, Zakuani Tribute
Categories : The Full 90

You Never Watch Alone, Part II: Why Zakuani Fell

30 04 2011

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

In match #6, 2010 at BMO Field, Sounders FC went on the road to face-off with Toronto FC, I made a horrible, inexcusable supporter mistake. Seemingly safe from such mistakes, I was at home in Highland Park, a quiet West Seattle neighborhood, in the comfort of my own home. When I broke one of the basic laws of soccer viewership while supporting your clubs away matches. I watched alone. No excuses, I messed up. Sounders lost 2-nil. Not even, “we had more of the game” from Sigi Schmid, helped the sour result. Some people still say that loss was my fault. Freddie Ljungberg left Seattle without saying “good-bye, Ryan”. In soccer, you never watch alone.

Since that match I have reached out to acquire many quality skills in properly watching soccer alone. Required viewing; “The Social Network“. Check. Acquire an IT specialist. Check. He is someone who knows the statistical vocabulary, and freakonomic calculations behind web design. My IT Specialist is, Thomas Breuler, whose growing certifications through, Western Governors University cause me only one minor problem. He owns a restaurant with his wife, Avalon, so I’ll be washing dishes for a long time. Add Twitter account. Check. Add Sales on Sounders Facebook page. Check. Read and heed valuable Sounders supporter words of wisdom and advice for soccer-viewing while alone. Check. My good friend and Sounders Supporter, Todd Hodges said, “the communal exhale in victory, defeat, or draw is a vital part of the release”, when viewing and supporting your club. Not to wax too spiritual, but if you’re connected with everything “out there” then, Todd’s right, you will truly never watch alone.

This time I’m ready. Only a 25-minute bus ride away from joining 36,000. A quick auto-swipe of an Orca Bus Pass, and it’s a Metro dash to Qwest Field. I’ll be in the hive of the Capitol of Soccer in America. Seattle hosts Toronto FC this Saturday, May 3oth at 7:00, from its home pitch, Qwest Field.

“It’s not just the story that’s being told. It’s how it’s being told”. Daniel Mendelsohn, The New York Review of Books, “Why She Fell”.

Julie Taymor, Spider Man, Turn off the Dark director

Mendelsohn, composed a wonderful essay chronicling, Julie Taymor‘s reasons for launching herself into the massive undertaking that is, Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark, the struggling, in process, Broadway musical. Her successful development as a director and creative mind behind other acclaimed productions, like Lion King, opened doors for her to take this type of “leap of faith” risk. In taking risk with such abandon, she literally takes artistic leaps without knowing if a net is below. She creates successful communal release and lands on her feet more than meeting the thud of failure. Unfortunately, the production rehearsals of Spider Man had too many thuds from falling actors without nets. Which caused her recent ousting from Spider Man. The musical has failed to the tune of $65 million. The Sounders would do well in the transfer window with that Broadway Bound Budget. Is Julie Broken? Maybe. Repairable? Proven. Julie puts no less than the entirety of her soul into her work. She will land on her feet again.

Steve Zakuani‘s leg was broken last Friday night in the third minute of the match with Colorado Rapids. Brian Mullan slid with a reckless tackle causing the horrible break to Zakuani. Mullan received a total 10 game suspension and $5,000 fine. It is steep. One of the steepest in MLS history. But Brian has accepted the penalty without challenge. Demonstrating both his wish for Zakuani’s recovery and acceptance for his brief lapse of judgement when launching into his slide tackle.

Julie’s failure and Brian’s recklessness whether artistic or sporting, challenges us to realize a necessary way to play in life is to leap with abandon. Net or no net, leap into risk. The difficult and critical challenge is separating abandon from reckless abandon. Julie Taymor is one of the best at doing so much with so little. The uncloaked actors holding puppets in, Lion King is her genius-mind realized. Brian Mullan has won five MLS Championships with all 5 MLS clubs he has played for. So, even the best can fail. $65 million is not needed to realize an artistic vision. Hard tackles in the 3rd minute of matches while in your opponent’s end of the field are also not needed. The failure in both situations is steep and weighted with heavy retributions. It is necessary to measure who these people are when looking beyond their errors and oversight in recent challenges.

Not to make excuses for their actions.

Julie Taymor and Brian Mullan both failed. This should not be their legacy. These two are among the best of their skilled trades. Their successes outweigh their failures. I’m not making excuses for them, but rather trying to see that how they play the game is with head strong visions. Failure is a hard mask to see through. It’s blinding. How they have played recently is in question. But the final chapters in their stories are long from being published. They play without abandon and without net. They dance the fine line between acceptable and unexplainable. My guess, they are learning even more than most of us how to play alone in such challenging and necessary circumstances that they will once again grace the stage and pitch as champions.

No, these thoughts do not credit Broadway with $65 million. Nor do they unwind the cast on Zakuani’s leg so he can step on the pitch this weekend. For that, I’m angry. I was hundreds of miles from Commerce City, CO and Dicks Sporting Goods Park where Mullan brought Zakuani down. As Twitter lit up with the awful news I wanted to retaliate. I couldn’t watch the replays. I felt a broken supporter in a broken season. I wanted to know why Zakuani fell. Even with improved communication skills, new technology, and communal social mechanisms i felt alone in a lost season. Fortunately, Sreve Zakuani’s words spoken from the heart, kept me from feeling I was watching alone. He spoke to everyone who has ever had to overcome adversity, failure, and feeling alone.

Steve Zakuani #11 - Seattle Sounders #1 draft pick inaugural season 2009

In Steve Zakuani’s own words:

“The long road to recovery has already started and I am fully aware of the mountains ahead of me but I also know that I will go through all of the challenges ahead with a positive attitude using my faith in Jesus Christ as a solid foundation on which to overcome this setback.”

In Liverpool, every match begins by singing “You Never Walk Along”, from the musical, Carousel, by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Who says Broadway and Beckham aren’t as connected as Taymor and Mullan.

Steve Zakuani on Twitter:

24/April: Surgery went well and I am on the road to recovery. “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” Speak to you all soon!

24/April: Overwhelmed by msgs of support/encouragement. Can’t change the past, but I’m gonna control my future by remaining positive! One love!

Sounders FC spirit is low. A five match undefeated streak feels forgotten. Our #11 is not in the starting XI for Saturday. 36,000 fans holding #11 signs up for Zakuani to know beyond any possible cognitive doubt he is not alone in Seattle is our selfless hope to lift his spirits. And hopefully our own.

A win Saturday changes everything. Zakuani’s spirit. Club spirit. Supporter spirit. Everything! That dark feeling of failure, even when comically watching your team alone, could fade into the abstract. Leaving Zakuani and every Sounders FC fan a real feeling of communal pride. It will be a tough match. If there is any MLS team capable of the mental metamorphosis needed to leap boldly into uncharted challenges, it is Sounders FC who will accept the challenge to “turn off the dark”, on Saturday night.

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Dedication and acknowledgments

Not a normal feature on, Sales on Sounders, but match #8 seems like a good time for a dedication and “thanks” to a few important people in the growth and support of this page.

Dedicated to the speedy recovery of our speedy Sounder, #11 Steve Zakuani.

Sales on Sounders first promotion: IT Specialist and Man of Infinite Football Wisdom, (a true Red) Thomas Breuler.

Thanks to the first Seattle Restaurant, Avalon, dedicated to viewing and support of Liverpool FC and Sounders FC.
Thanks also to Todd Hodges, a dedicated Sounders Supporter and loyal Sales on Sounders follower.
Additionally, I wish to thank my brother, Aaron Sales for his knowledge, belief, and direct free kick in the butt to push on.
It takes a critically intelligent eye to shed light on a dark moment. Thank you Dan Gardner. Please read the full NY Review of Books essay, “Why She Fell”, by Daniel Mendelsohn.

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Tags: Avalon, BMO Field, Brian Mullan, Colorado, Colorado Rapids, David Beckham, Julie Taymor, Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS, New York Review of Books, Qwest Field, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Seattle, Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, Spider Man Turn Off the Dark, Steve Zakuani, The Full 90, Thomas Breuler, Todd Hodges, Toronto, Toronto FC
Categories : The Full 90

Re-Union of Expansion Rivals: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders FC

16 04 2011

Peter Nowak, has his club playing with excitement and confidence. The second year Philadelphia Union manager has players buying into his defensively physical, but gracefully eloquent pass and possession style.

The Union are the surprise club of the young 2011 Major League Soccer season. With four matches in their books, the Union lead the Eastern Conference with 3-wins and 1-loss. Defeating potential MLS Cup favorite, New York Red Bulls 1-nil last week is evidence revealing they are no surprise. New York and LA are the two clubs most favored to win the 2011 MLS Cup. Instead the Union are turning into a contender to reckon with.

Philadelphia Union - 2009 Expansion

Squaring off twice in 2010, Philadelphia and Seattle became unintended rivals. Hard to do from across the country. Yet both clubs did enough on and off the field to make Chester, PA and Seattle, WA feel like Cascadia Rivals.

Sebastian Le Toux was left unprotected by Sounders FC in the 2010 expansion draft. Philadelphia Union wasted no time snapping him up. It was widely considered the Sounders first Front Office mistake. Those most vocal were Sounders FC’s own supporters. Le Toux joined Sounders FC as a USL-1 club in 2007. He successfully helped the Sounders knock off MLS clubs in ’07 & ’08 US Open Cup matches. He was the US Open Cup goals leader in 2008. In 2009, his assist in the US Open Cup final vs DC United lead to Reger Levesques winning goal and Seattle’s first taste of trophy glory.

Seattle and Philadelphia are the two previous expansion cities. Portland and Vancouver have joined this season. Sounders FC joined in 2009 and the Union in 2010.

Sounders FC ownership launched a franchise with such high marks it makes comparison unfair for future expansion clubs. Winning the US Open Cup and making the playoffs left Philadelphia in the wake of that comparison. The Union’s new soccer only stadium, PPL Park was not completed. So, for a second straight season, MLS granted Seattle the host city for First Kick 2010 vs expansion Philadelphia. Which meant the Union had to go west for their inaugural MLS match at unfriendly Qwest Field in Seattle, losing 2-nil.

If direct comparison hadn’t already lit a spark under this unintended East v West rivalry, then match play and post match dialogue did. During the match, physical play led to strong yellow cards, an ejection, and an injury to Ljungberg. Union’s coach Peter Nowak felt Freddie Ljungberg dove to get a fouls called. Ljungberg ended up injured for two weeks, which was about as long as their mild banter and jabs went back and forth.

Sebastian Le Toux & Peter Nowak

Traveling east in June Sounders FC took their magnetic media frenzy to give PPL Park, in Chester, PA, a grand opening. Hungry for revenge, Philadelphia felt necessary to prove their quality. Pat Noonan, Seattle’s forward for that match took some of their joy out of the occasion by scoring the first official MLS regular season goal at PPL Park. That was enough to twist Union passion up to 11 on the rock-n-roll meter. From that point forward Union dominated and eventually won 3-1. Even when Montero earned a rare Sounders FC penalty kick, Noonan could not finish.

Seattle goes to Chester, PA hot off their first win over the Chicago Fire last weekend. The Sounders unexpectedly slow start, 1-win 2-losses 2-draws, goes up against the surprisingly successful start for the Union. Undefeated in their last 3 matches, a Sounders first away win would put them right on course. Even a draw would keep momentum building on a stretch of away matches that includes 4 of their next 5.

In this Season of the Rivalry, it is important to look beyond regional rivals. Houston and Seattle still have a grudge in the bank from 2009. Seattle knocked Houston out of the Semi Final of the 2009 US Open Cup. While Houston knocked Seattle out of the MLS playoffs with a stoppage time goal in the second leg of their first round clash. LA and Seattle have an ever rising tiff as well. This shows the maturity and growth of Major League Soccer. A maturity directly related to the quality in all its recent expansion clubs and the supporters groups from their home cities.

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Sales on Sounders would like to recognize a pair of supporter based blogs. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Sounders supporter and blogger at Tat’s in Pioneer Square, prior to the Chicago Fire match. Jacob Cristobal, the editor of, Jibber Jabbin’ Jacob, shows tremendous knowledge of the game, and a sharp eye for key elements of matches. Follow the link above to his site. In addition to great taste in sport, his sense for locating a quality watering hole and amazingly authentic Philly Cheese Steak in Seattle is spot on. Traveling to Seattle and wondering where to grab a good bite? A supporter from Portland or any other soccer city and want to know what to eat and where to go? Tat’s is close to Qwest field, so look no further. In as PG-13 a manner as I possibly can, you only need 8 inches. As good as 12 inches sounds, you can share it but you can’t finish it. Looking to get a fresh intelligent take on the weekly MLS club Power Rankings? Please take a look at Derek Ciapala’s, Weekly MLS Power Rankings. Derek is an LA supporter, but his knowledge of what is shaping up throughout the league is objective and more engaging than most sport site’s Power Rankings.

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Tags: Chicago Fire, Derek Ciapala, ECS, First Kick, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Jacob Cristobal, Jibber Jabbin' Jacob, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Cup Champions, MLS First Kick, New York Red Bulls, Pat Noonan, Peter Nowak, Philadelphia Union, Pioneer Square, PPL Park, Qwest Field, Roger Levesque, Ryan J Sales, Sales On Sounders, Sébastien Le Toux, Seattle, Seattle Sounders FC, Sebastian Le Toux, Sons of Ben, Sounders FC, Tats Delicatessen, The Full 90, US Open Cup
Categories : The Full 90

Rave Green Blues: Sounders FC Review, Matches 1-3

1 04 2011

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

What can you take away from Sounders FC‘s first three matches of 2011? The Sounders record looks more like an expansion squad than an experienced one. No wins, two losses, and a draw. Is it time to sing the Rave Green blues? Reflecting on results from last year, the Sounders 2010 season low came against LA Galaxy on Independence day. Losing 3-1, the loss dropped Sounders FC to 4-wins, 8-losses, and 3-draws. The Independence Day collapse also sealed the fate for, Freddie Ljungberg. That was the low in a 30 game schedule. With the addition of two Northwest teams in 2011, MLS has expanded its schedule to 34 games. The Sounders are still nowhere near that 2010 low. Losing doesn’t polish any gold brick-laid road, but the first three matches of 2011 offer more hope for glory than reason to sing the blues.

“It’s always too soon to quit”, said Cliff McCrath, in his Sounders weekly video, “Nubs Nuggets”. His successful coaching career at Seattle Pacific University is not lost on Sounders FC and coach, Sigi Schmid. Sounders FC have a weekly video featuring McCrath’s coaching perspective, and his nuggets of advice in handling adversity while challenging yourself to be successful. Sigi, has taken the same approach, saying a slow start like this is no reason for “doom and gloom”.

Soccer is often more about a mentality of how you play, than it is winning. Success is no doubt critical to a teams viability, and winning the best drug. Yet, isn’t winning important in all sports? A “winning” mentality in sports is just a nice way of saying that winning rights all wrongs. Soccer forces that type of thinking to go outside the box. It starts with how teams earn one point for draws. Draws give teams incentive to keep level with an opponent. Earning its first point last week in a draw against Houston, Sounders FC and fans felt the winning mentality move toward more positive results. Notwithstanding, it is important to review the first two losses. More significant than the draw with Houston, or disappointment in their losses, was the quality of play on the pitch in the first two matches. In Seattle’s previous two seasons, a common criticism was how often they allowed teams more possession. Attacks came in strong frenetic bursts sandwiched between stretches of defending. Against LA and New York, Seattle showed an improved focus on owning possession. More quality passing gave way to better buildup in their attacks. In the first two years, attacks often petered out without any shots. This year has seen no lack of shots, just a lack of luck. Sigi brought this point home saying, “I’d rather have bad luck than no luck at all”. When you are creating exciting chances then it’s only a matter of time before results match up to your effort or a little luck.

What stands out so far, is the Sounders playing style and momentum of their first two home matches. More completed passes, more positive

Los Terremotos de San José - 2001 & 2003 MLS Champions

touches, more possession, more shots. Possession against LA and Houston strongly favored Seattle. Shots on target, twenty-six against Houston, have decisively gone the Sounders way. Both goals given up to LA and Houston came from single momentary lapses in concentration. Correctable moments as the season progresses. Soccer is a long season. The Sounders are well within striking distance of all playoff positions. So the key to survival during this challenging early stretch, is maintaining a positive mentality and repetition. Recognizing an improved team through a losing record is hard work. It’s like trying to pick out hand-packed sausage in a supermarket world of coupon hotdogs. Winning is the easy abundance we strive for. If you’re not first, you’re last.

Going up against a quality team like, San Jose Earthquakes is a tough way to turn things around. What the Sounders can do is continue to out possess through quality passing. Use the possession to build attacks and keep the shots flying. Twenty-six shots against Houston? I guarantee another effort like that will earn a second goal. Even dumb luck agrees.

When Seattle plays with this entertaining quality it has demonstrated so far this year, then win or lose against San Jose, that mentality will build future winning results in 2011. Even when listening to heavy blues as it reaches its pining climax, it makes you want to raise your hands and dance. What the Sounders are playing right now is a quality that entertains the eye, and challenges the soul. It is the aching beauty of sport. The Rave Green blues.

Well, well, well, it’s a little after three,
and I’m on my way to San Jose.
I feel something down inside,
it’s pointing me this way.

Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Oh yah-Oh yah.
Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Ah-ha-Ah-ha.

Well, I’ll curl, I’ll whirl, I’ll hurl
To get a shot on frame,
and if I don’t get a goal
I’ll never lose this pain.

Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Uh-huh-Uh-huh.
Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Alright-Alright.
Oh sweet Pele I’m crazy ’bout my Rave Green blues,
if we don’t score a goal
I’ll be buried in these blues,
these Rave Green blues.

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Tags: 2011 Major League Soccer season, Cascadia Cup, Cliff McCrath, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredrik Ljungberg, Heritage Cup, Houston Dynamo, Independence Day, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Champions, MLS Cup, Northwest Rivals, Nubs Nuggets, Rave Green, Rave Green blues, Rave Green Supporters, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC, The Full 90, US Open Cup
Categories : The Full 90

Dear Santa, It’s a Sounders Christmas Wish

1 09 2010

Imagine it is Christmas Day. Then imagine you are 7 years old, or 5, maybe 6, even 4 will do. Your “Dear Santa”, Christmas wish letter, written in crayon scribbled clarity surely reached the North Pole by now? You ache for Christmas morning. Despite a short dream of marshmallows, candy canes, mom singing Christmas carols, ninja reindeer, and a rocket bobsled. It was a sleepless night. Your aching for morning reaches climax. You explode from your bed into spirals of clothes. In a single thrust and splat you are downstairs. Is there proof he came? The cookie you left him? Oh yes, it is gone alright. The sprinkled crumbs over a short scribbled note written on the napkin you left him, are absolute proof. ”Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas”. Presents are stacked, wrapped in sparkle, flicker, and bows all around the tree. Definite absolute proof. He was here. Now that his presence delivering presents has been proved, it is only about one present. The one you cast your wish for. The one you took time to specifically write him for. The one you wish for above all others. Did he get your letter? Did it get to the North Pole in time? Was it lost in a blizzard? You lost sleep over this one. Over everything else, you want this one. Concept of space and time is useless. You feel swirled and stuck, captured in still life with Christmas tree and aching desire. Then comes the joyful misery of outrageous and extensive morning ceremony. You die a little with each firework-flashbulb-snapshot of pleasantry. Nothing. Your letter was lost. Your letter didn’t matter. Santa never even read it. It is over as quickly as it came. Your wish got lost up the chimney. Then, through the blur of misery and spectacle a voice says, “did you see the one in the corner?” Nothing was missed. This thought confuses you. Is this ridicule? With your cosmic accurate radar, ultra powered precision laser beam, and brain inserted sonar present detector there is no possible way you missed, “the one in the corner”. Like a police officer on duty, you oblige the voice, turn to the corner and walk toward it like a cowboy in a sundown showdown. There will be no ridicule here. A child’s lost wish is on the line. Bundles of bows and torn sparkle paper from the other, mostly fun presents, are pushed aside. Static electricity, hair standing, you are frightened by the impossibility there is one left in the corner. You surge forward, “could this really, truly be the one”? You muse the possibility, for an instant. Shreds of ribbon and paper fly. In thrill and delight you reveal, a box. A box? Death by ridicule. You faint. You have lost all desire to ever, ever wish for anything ever, ever again. Again the voice. ”Well, aren’t you curious what’s inside”? No decorations and lots of heavy tape. The plainness disappoints you. The words “Dining Room Dishes” in thick black marker confuses you, especially in a morning of super fantastic spectacular. In certain defeat you stare down the box. You poke and pick at the tape with one finger. Then two. three, both hands join in the sudden scratch and tear of fury from lost hope. The last shred of tape torn away. The flaps of the box pulled back. Christmas tree lights shine inside the box like hundreds of flashlights pointing the way in a dark cave. Peering inside, doubt and icecap like disappointment slowly melt away. Something larger than love swells all around you. It is come true. This is your Christmas wish.

I have not had the glorious pleasure of celebrating the passing of that moment to a son or daughter. Challenges in having children has been a dark life challenge. Yet, in this 41-year-old frame, I’ve found my child’s age in my own unique sports franchise. No imagining or wishing. It is real, and I am part of it. I didn’t inherit an existing team. One entrenched in the local community for generations. Instead, I’ve been part of starting one. In Seattle, there is a long settled belief that we are a likely candidate for Soccer Capitol of America. Our fan base was tops when the Sounders joined the NASL in 1974, and the entire league was crumbling in certain decline when we left a decade later in 1984. We have been ready and waiting ever since. Waiting for our Christmas wish to have a “top flight” club. No “A-League”, no “USL“. We have wanted only what we felt was the right kind of soccer. ”Top Flight”, “Premiership”, “Major League”.

2010 US Open Cup

Finally, unwrapped in confetti and fireworks in March 2009, the Sounders jumped out of a plain box sports league, Major League Soccer. From the start Sounders FC leapt in with international expectations never sought by any US team from any US sport. Success in Seattle is a self-imposed demand stated above even the most hopeful wishes other franchises have started with. Winning an MLS Cup league title is not good enough. Sounders want to be number one in the world. The first US team to win a FIFA Club World Cup.

As the Sounders battled through the 2009 US Open Cup, every owner and supporter sweated with grasped scarves and crossed fingers. Would we have winning action to support our wishful words? In the Sounders final two USL seasons leading up to MLS expansion they made their presence felt in the US Open Cup. Reaching the semi-final in both 2007 and 2008. Knocking out a handful of MLS teams in the process. Then came the start of the 2009 inaugural Major League Soccer season. Sounders FC started league play going 3-0 and were swept up in a whirlwind of Rave Green hysteria. Quietly, they began US Open Cup Play-In qualification rounds. With none of the same excitement and press as the inaugural matches the Sounders qualified for the 2009 US Open Cup. The matches were played at 5,000 seat Starfire in Tukwila. The matches sold out but didn’t have the same newsworthiness. Plus the team was really copying its previous USL achievements. They pushed all the way to a third straight semi final. The opponent was the powerful Houston Dynamo. It appeared a pat on the back was all that was in store for our young MLS franchisee. Late in stoppage-time, tied 1-1, his head wrapped like a wounded soldier, Nate Jaqua scored the winning goal. ESPN did not show Nate’s dazzling winning goal on Sports Center. It should have. Because forget that it is soccer, forget it was in Tukwila, forget it is only the US Open Cup, it was one of the more entertaining and exciting highlight worthy sports finishes. After heated debate over where the final would be played, a slighted Sounders FC ownership had to bow to the whims of Major League Soccer’s lovechild DC United. They would fly to RFK stadium to face the leagues most beloved and storied franchise on its home pitch. Seattle went on to win 2-1. Two hundred Sounders fans flew to DC and nearly out roared United’s 20,000. Winning the 2009 US Open Cup trophy in our inaugural season sent a message to the league that Sounders is more than talk.

With the 2009 US Open Cup victory, Sounders FC gained its first opportunity at international glory. A 2010 CONCACAF Champions League Play-In match vs Isidro Metapan. A decent stepping stone for a franchise entering only its second season. Sounders defeated Isidro Metapan in a 2-leg play-in series for CONCACAF Champions League qualification. Winning at home 1-0, and drawing away 1-1. The Sounders won on aggregate goals 2-1. This placed Seattle into the CONCACAF Champions League group stages. The Sounders drew Group C with Saprissa, Marathon, and mighty Monterrey of Mexico. Easily the “group of death” of the 2010 Champions League. How delicious. How wishful. Only season two, and the Sounders play their first meaningful international matches. The US Open Cup may be as plain-box a tournament as we have in the US. Little exposure, and “dining room dishes” written on top of the box. Yet, if you have an ounce of competitive passion in you and believe you know what love for sport is, then this tournament is the best American Christmas wish US Soccer has to offer.

The US Open Cup started in 1914. One of the oldest tournaments of its type in the world of soccer. However until Major League Soccer started in 1996, when DC United won the US Open Cup, no team you or I ever heard of had won the tournament. It allows professional and amateur teams to compete. Since 1996 when MLS joined, only one non MLS club has won. The Rochester Raging Rhinos won in 1999. The Sounders were close in 2007 and 2008. No other professional American team sport has a competitive tournament like this. Tournaments where, let’s say, Durham could potentially face the Yankees. In soccer it happens each year in the US Open Cup.

I wished for this. An imagination gift. A plain box club in a plain box league. Add a Rave Green shirt, a few fireworks and confetti to the sheer magic of 35,000 + fans. It became everything I wished for. That one hidden gift in the corner.

In November 2007 I paid $100.00 to become approximately the 670th supporter to reserve 2 seats to a team with no name. No colors, no players, and not even a completed ownership group. Drew Carey, while not the primary owner, brought a spark of personal touch rarely seen. The “Scarf Seattle” campaign turned the concept of a brown box start-up franchise inside out. Even when Beckham plays, no MLS attendance reaches 30,000. With the second season completed, the Sounders are closer to an average attendance of 40,000 than most MLS teams are to 25,000. The Sounders are closer to 40,000 than the LA Galaxy are to 30,000. The Galaxy even have Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Yet this Sounders team grows on something bigger than love. It is connected from city to owner to player to supporter, and anyone who has waited on an unopened wish. The team loves its fans back.

(Below section was written prior to the the Sounders 2nd US Open Cup Final appearance in as many years against the Columbus Crew.)

Tomorrow, the Sounders have a chance no team in American sports history has ever had. The chance to open that surprise, wished for package in the corner. The Yankees have not opened anything like it. The Cowboys never even looked to see if such a wish was there. The Steelers have long since had their heads down counting rings. The Red Wings, all too often thawing octopus. The Blackhawks still dazed and confused by the end of their Stanley Cup drought. The Giants are more excited about a possible future Super Bowl in winter in New York, and Red Sox folk are all still writing and publishing stories about how bad things were before they got so great. Even Jordan never found this plain brown package in the corner. Tomorrow, Seattle Sounders FC, in year two make their fourth straight US Open Cup semi-final appearance against Chivas USA. A win for Seattle not only gives them a chance to defend their 2009 title, but to do it playing in front of 36,000 Rave Green supporters at Quest Field. An additional match not on the schedule at the start of the season. This could be the cake match. The wished for gift that only seems to appear as a child. A childish franchise, the Sounders have an opportunity to play for Everything any team could ever hope for. Wednesday, September 1st 2010, could be the day. Why? A second US Open Cup is a second ticket to international competition in Champions League 2011. Reach the Knock-Out stages after Group play and the sky is the limit. World supremacy could be achieved.

It is sport after all. So from this plain brown box gift in the corner there could just as easily be a broken Christmas day child’s toy. Or it could also be proof that as adults sometimes something bigger than love, or common understanding exists and springs true from the most unlikely places. Tomorrow, I ask you to believe. Even if it is for Chivas USA. They are 5 years old, and they’ve never won anything. Believe in this game tomorrow. It is our country’s cup. Our US Open Cup. This is our history and be part of opening it up. My 5 year-old nephew started Kindergarten today. I want him to live his dreams. Maybe I can set an example for him tomorrow in the most unexpected place. The brown box sport in the corner marked in thick, dark marker, “Soccer”.

2009 US Open Cup presented to supporters by owners in march to regular season match

This picture is from the Sounders 2009 US Open Cup. Not an AP photo or from the Getty archive. This is a photo from my Sounders photo album. Our owners let us have it to march with in celebration of our 2009 Open Cup victory. I think of it as Christmas Day 2009. An average Rave Green match-day with a bunch of usual Sounder FC supporters, marching to an ordinary plain box regular season soccer match.

Love,
Sales on Sounders elf

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Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, Christmas, CONCACAF, CONCACAF Champions League, Dallas Cowboys, David Beckham, DC United, Detroit Red Wings, Drew Carey, English Premiere League, Houston Dynamo, Isidro Metapan, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open, Landon Donovan, Major League Soccer, Marathon, Michael Jordan, Monterrey, NASL, Nate Jaqua, New York Giants, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers, Premiership, Rave Green, Rave Green Supporters, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Saprisa, Scarf Seattle, Seattle, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Sounders FC, Sports, United Soccer Leagues, United States, US Open Cup
Categories : 2010

Portland Calling

30 06 2010

The thump of drums, shower of chants, sling of chainsaw, wash of smoke-bombs, flares, and crazy flag waving fans are not English soccer fans. It’s Timbers supporters from Portland. All American baby. No English derby, this is Emerald City Supporters of Seattle against Timbers Army of Portland. Vuvuzela will be burned. This rivalry may look like an English Football Derby, but it’s American as apple pie. It’s the defending 2009 US Open Cup Champion, Seattle Sounders FC vs Portland Timbers. A rematch of Seattle’s 2-1 US Open Cup victory over Portland in 2009, played at the same site as this years rematch at PGE Park in downtown Portland.

The US run in the World Cup was pretty fun. On a scale of 1-10 the Algeria game was an emotional 11. The game play itself was only an 8. Then what is a 10, Mr. Sales on Sounders, you ask? Well, thanks for asking. My friends, the answer is simple. It is one of the oldest professional club rivalries in American soccer. In classic English football terms it is a “derby”. Tomorrow, Sounders FC travel to PGE Park, squaring off with Portland Timbers and their outrageous supporters, the Timbers Army. A much-anticipated rematch of Seattle’s 2-1 US Open Cup victory over Portland last year on their way to winning the 2009 US Open Cup. A great achievement in the Sounders inaugural season.

2009 US Open Cup - As special recognition to Sounders supporters owners had fans take cup in March to the Match

Sounders FC celebrated many historic firsts in their 2009 inaugural season. Top among these achievements was their 2-1 victory at RFK Stadium, against DC United in the US Open Cup Final. Taking home their first title and hardware helped establish the Sounders as the winning club they are building to become. More importantly it opened a door for them in season two to make their first attempt at ascending the highest obtainable height for any club worldwide. This soccer Everest, is the FIFA Club World Cup. Clubs qualify by winning their regions Champions League. The Sounders region is CONCACAF. The same region the US Mens and Womens National Teams qualify through to reach the World Cup. The FIFA Club World Cup is annual, while the World Cup is every 4 years.

Portland Timbers old logo

In last years US Open Cup against Portland, Roger Levesque scored a stunning, and for Timvers fans, heart breaking first minute goal. Levesque was already one of the most hated players in Portland for having scored the most goals against them from 2005-2008. The final 3 years Sounders were in the USL-1 division with Portland. In his first minute goal, Levesque added kindling to the Timbers fire by adding a celebration mocking one of Portland’s famed rituals. The Timbers have a Lumberjack for a mascot. He takes his chainsaw, revs it up and cuts wood, spraying sawdust and smoke into the beer bellowed air of the Timbers Army. Levesque, being savoy and spiteful, had a teammate act like he had a chainsaw, and proceeded to cut Levesque down. Levesque fell and was dragged away by other teammates. It was a well choreographed goal celebration. One that stirred conversation going into the rematch. With Portland joining MLS next year, Timbers fans already believe they are as good as the Sounders, and don’t need much motivation to try and prove it.

The Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders rivalry started in 1974. Last year, even with the teams in different leagues, the US Open Cup match, and Levesque’s goal only had added intensity over past rivalry meetings. The game earned a featured two page picture in Sports Illustrated a week later. The game will draw even more attention this year, including TV coverage. US Open Cup matches are rarely televised as the competition has little advertising. The intensity of this rivalry and the rematch are some of the best inexpensive advertising the US Open Cup has had.

“Why so serious”? Said the Joker to Batman, in, The Dark Knight. Well, the US Open Cup will never be bigger than the MLS Cup. But as people begin to understand soccer more they will see the value in this competition. It allows potential young stars to gain recognition and compete with older former players, top amateurs, as well as MLS regulars. Even though a small rural county team may never win the cup. It is every few years that just such a team will knock out an MLS team, and forever place that team and its community in a spotlight. I invite everyone to support this type of true community sport. I hope 10 years from now towns all over the US will compete to host a US Open Cup match. It is “so serious”, because winning it is one means for a US club to potentially reach the status of best club in the world. The winner gains an opportunity to play in the CONCACAF Champions League. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League earns a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup. By the Sounders winning the 2009 US Open Cup, they make their first attempt at ascending this great soccer Everest this year.

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

This is one of our country’s oldest competed for trophy’s dating to 1914. In 1999 one of the outstanding patrons of the modern competition, Lamar Hunt, was recognized by adding his name to the competition. The competition is open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams from amateur to professional. Prior to joining Major League Soccer, the Sounders had not won a US Open Cup, but had a winning record against MLS clubs. They knocked Chivas USA out of the 2008 US Open Cup 5-1. Upsets for some reason, well beyond my comprehension of soccer, exist in this sport more than any other I know. Earlier this year in Spain’s Copa del Rey, (Spain’s version of the US Open Cup), Real Madrid lost 4-0 to Alcorcon. A team well below Real Madrid’s

Agrupación Deportiva Alcorcón - Founded 1971

world status. Could you imagine Boise State beating the Dallas Cowboys in a pre-season game? Never, ever, ever. Well, it happens every year in soccer in almost every country. This last winter I watched Manchester United get knocked out of the FA Cup, on their home pitch, by a second level team.

For Club and For Country

FIFA = Federation Internationale de Football Association

The 6 regions of FIFA
AFC – Asian Football Confederation
CAF – Confederation Africaine de Football
CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
CONMEBOL – Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol
OFC – Oceania Football Confederation
UEFA - Union of European Football Associations

National Teams and Clubs play in the same region. For example, the US Mens and Womens National Teams play in CONCACAF, the same FIFA region as MLS clubs Seattle Sounders FC and LA Galaxy.

And we wonder why World Cup refs can’t get calls right. Who the heck even knows all the regions? No wonder US sports stick to conferences like “North”, “South” “East” and “West” The toughest one we deal with is BCS. Nice and short, unfortunately no one knows how it actually works. Well, that is other than how it works annually to deny the University of Utah and Boise State their due National Championships. Oh, but that’s for a muse of another day. FIFA is an association established under Swiss law, located in Zurich. The President is Sepp Blatter. As far as I can tell, your chances are better to meet the Pope than Sepp. Unless of course, you are Bill Clinton or Mick Jagger. Until that happens, the closest your thoughts and comments will get to anyone in FIFA, including Mr. Sepp Blatter, is with my Sales on Sounders comment link below. Have at it.

Post Match

When a soccer match comes to Penalty Kicks a few things are certain. Any player still standing after playing a nearly full 130 minutes is physically and mentally running on empty. The full 90 played out with a few minutes tacked on for stoppages completing the first half, and again at the end of regulation time. No winner decided. Two extra time periods of 15 minutes each elapsed, again without a winner emerging. So, all that is left is guessing right, or guessing wrong. Simple really.

In 1994 an Italian guessed wrong in the World Cup. Chances are you don’t know his name. Baggio stepped up for his PK, (common name for Penalty Kicks) one of the brightest, high-profile Italian stars in European soccer, and his brightest moment was upon him. Italy and Brazil squared off in the Rose Bowl, in Passedena, for the 1994 World Cup Final. If Baggio hits his PK, Italy knocks out Brazil. Confidence is what Baggio is known for as much as any player on the pitch that day. His shot is confident and strong. A little too strong. His shot sails over the crossbar. Brazil win another World Cup. I was in Nak-Nek, Alaska working at a fish processing plant. I saw this Italian go down to the ground. I thought briefly, “ah too bad for him”, then I jumped up and down with everyone else enjoying the Samba Kings celebration. His star status shot from the sky. In the harsh world of soccer, he’s no big deal anymore. The less likely Brazilian hero, who made his shot, is Dunga, who is coaching the 2010 Brazilian team to another likely appearance in the South Africa final. When such an intense and grueling sport comes to guessing right, or guessing wrong, it’s fair to say, the outcome will always be unreasonably unfair to someone.

Portland matched the Sounders ability for 130 minutes. The Sounders took a 1-nil lead in the 13th minute, but Portland fought hard for the equalizer in the 38th minute. That was the end of the scoring summary. Penalty Kicks would decide the fate of both teams. The winner advancing in the US Open Cup, and the loser out. The coin toss chooses advantage. The first team to shoot has that advantage. Portland won the coin toss. Each team gets five penalty kicks. Team with the most made, wins. If still tied after five, then it keeps going until one makes it and the other misses. Keller took the advantage away from Portland making the first save. Seattle hit the next three shots. In the fourth round of PK’s Keller again guessed correctly, making the save. Patrick Ianni only has to make his shot and Sounders win. Like Baggio, his shot goes high and off the crossbar. Portland makes their last shot. Zach Scott for Seattle is last to go. He guesses correctly, missing the Portland keeper and Sounders advance. It’s glory for Sounders. How unfair for Portland at home. I’d almost feel bad for Portland, except not much has gone well for Seattle in 2010. So a little fortune in guessing right feels like just rewards.

Scoring Summary

13th min, Seattle - N. Jaqua, (goal), Montaño, (assist)
38th min, Portland – B. Dike (goal), Pore (assist)

Final – Seattle 1 – 1 Portland

Penalty Shoot Out
Seattle
1. N. Sturgis (Goal)     4. P. Ianni (Crossbar)
2. F. Montero (Goal)    5. Z. Scott (Goal) – Winning PK
3. S. Zakuani (Goal)
Portland
1. R. Pore (Save) 4. R. Smith (Save)
2. D. DeMartin (Goal)   5. R. Lopez (Goal)
3. M. Danso (Goal)

Penalty Kick Final – Seattle (4) – (3) Portland

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Tags: "why so serious", Agrupación Deportiva Alcorcón, Alcorcon, Algeria, BCC, Bill Clinton, Boise State, CONCACAF, CONCACAF Champions League, Dallas Cowboys, Emerald City Supporters, FIFA, FIFA Club World Cup, FIFa World Cup, La Liga, Lamar Hunt, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Major League Soccer, Manchester United, Mick Jagger, PGE Park, Portland Timbers, Real Madrid, Roger Levesque, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Seattle, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Sounders FC, Sepp Blatter, Spain, Sports, The Dark Knight, Timbers Army, United States, United States Soccer Federation, University of Utah, US Open Cup, vuvuzela
Categories : 2010

You’ll Never Watch Alone

18 05 2010

Sounder 'til I die

Soccer is such an intense sport. The ref checks his watch and blows his whistle to start a match. The next moment to take a breath and relax is after the ref blows his whistle for halftime. After a 15 minute break, the ref again plays his whistle to begin a second 45 minutes of wild short breathing. One team, or sometimes both press intensely just to draw even. One team may cast breathless prayers to endure a slim lead and win. While the other scrapes, bleeds, and fights to avoid the despair of a narrow loss. Every game reaches the end of full-time when 90 minutes is played. Yet soccer refuses to end so politely. Each match is followed by 2-5 suffocating and cardiac pulsating minutes of stoppage time. So unless you have a manual defibrillator, it’s good to have someone around you to watch a full match. Soccer should have a disclaimer: “Please, what ever you do, don’t watch this alone”. If someone says, “yah, I’m just gonna go home and watch the match alone.” You should instantly jump into action, take their keys, grab a scarf, and let them know, “it’s all right, I’m here to support you and watch with you.” Because when the refs final whistle sounds, it is either pure survivalist jubilation, or complete lifelessness.

I made a critical mistake for Round six vs Toronto FC, I chose to watch the match at home, alone.

The match started at the soccer early hour of 11:00 a.m., due to its being located North of the border in Ontario’s Maple Leafs country. Crazy east coast time. In all fairness to Toronto, arguably the hockey capital of the world, their soccer supporters consistently sellout matches and have a season ticket holder waiting list of almost 17,000. Apart from Sounders FC, they are the most impressive fan supported MLS club. For that reason, Toronto was awarded the 2010 MLS Cup Final similarly to Seattle receiving the championship bid last year as recognition for its tremendous fan support.

Toronto FC, "Reds"

At the squeal of the refs whistle, signaling a halftime breather, the score was nil-nil. Seattle played its best half of football in their young 2010 season. Yet, once again they were not rewarded with a deserved goal. Fast, precise passing, mixed with quick attacking buildup resulting in multiple chances on goal. The frustrating and all too common problem, was finishing. If real-estate is “location, location, location”, then soccer is finishing, finishing, finishing. I should have watched with family or friends, or someone else, anyone else, because a well-played game + no goals x passionate fan watching alone = problem, problem, problem.

The ref tweeted again starting the second half. Again, the ball continued to land at the doorstep of Toronto’s goal, with no result. As the beautiful game is often viewed as a delicate balance between total-oops and heavenly perfection, it would be the Sounders sure-footed star, Osvaldo Alonso who would miss a simple clearance that would bop and hop to the foot of Toronto’s marksmen, Dwayne de Rosario, who simply and brilliantly curled a shot past Keller to the right side of net. Like all faithful Sounders fans, I still felt there was hope. There was time and breath left in the refs whistle for Seattle to earn a draw. But I wasn’t thinking clearly, because I was watching alone. Tyrone Marshall let a pass get away, which led to an instant Toronto FC counter attack, that all too easily led to a second goal. Still not thinking clearly, and at a much more angered and fevered pace, I grabbed the remote control. I was finished watching. I tried to change channels and ditch the game, even before the ref blew his final whistle. I wanted to Star Trek out of the intensity of losing a soccer match. Effectively committing the very worst type of sports watching foul. Angry and alone TV surfing.

The whole time this frustrating match was going on, my wife laid quietly relaxing on the couch. Relaxing, Facebooking, and allowing me to “enjoy” some soccer time. She was there for moral support, but not involved in the game. She checks in occasionally asking if goals have been scored or any nasty fouls. She’s there for me as the good spouse. My much better half. But she is not there for the match. For that, I’ve left myself all alone. In desperation, and clouded aloneness, I mistakenly think she’s the one to turn to for help to escape this losing match. Deep down inside, I know this is a red card offense. Nonetheless, I try to trick honesty, and slyly turn innocently to my wife for a station suggestion. ”Hey hun, what would you like to watch?” All I need is her simple and usual suggested channel to turn to and escape my teams fatal match in Toronto. She’s slightly caught off guard, “huh?” In being caught off guard she gives me one last chance for redemption. A moment to pause before turning and stay with my team to the end. Instead, I force the lonely decision and insist she give me a channel to run away to. “Hey hun, what’s that show you like?” I’m trying with sweaty handed desperation to change channels. Like some sort of bad karma loop, I only continue to find Sounders vs Toronto FC. I’m waiting on bated breath for her channel suggestion. She’s usually so happy to watch almost anything other than soccer. I’m ready for her to give rapid-fire suggestions for home improvement, gardening, cooking, travel, reading with Sarah Palin, something, anything! . . . . . Nothing.

As a husband, I believe my wife in a polite but amused manner, enjoyed watching me sit there in growing frustration with the remote and my teams impending outcome. Finally, after several minutes of furious but unsuccessful channel changing, the soccer gods took solace on me and the remote finally accepted one of my angry channel requests. The match for me was over. The referee had not puffed the final whistle. Instead I chose to call the match myself.

The channel changing exercise was designed to make me feel better. Instead, I sat there alone watching another station. My wife still happily and quietly surfing the internet on the couch. What I wanted was someone to recognize my Sounders frustration with me, and say, “it’s OK, Ryan. The season is young. We played better than they did, and simply gave the game away in the end. We can correct that in the weeks ahead. Overall we had the majority of the game and actually it was our best passing game” O to muse alone.

Then comes the voice. No, not Sigi, not Keller, and not my wife, of all people, the voice of reason came from Ljungberg. Freddie Ljungberg, is as smart an élite team-sport athlete as you will find in the world. You may not always agree with his choices, but he brings a great deal of poise and maturity to all his decisions. He knows he is good. He knows he is élite. He also never plays for anyone other than his team. He is nothing if not all about team. Win or lose. At the end of the game he said, “so now we know hot to play like this and so we will win next time”. That was not a coaches answer that was a players answer. That was Ljungberg’s answer. Everything he does on the pitch, every bump, fall, pass, shot, foul, shout at the ref, dive, or assist he gives is all for the team. Someday soccer will be taught the way he plays.

So, as I started to sulk away from the Sounders in Toronto, Ljungberg talked me back. “Ryan, this is your team. You never turn away, you never walk alone”. Especially in anger. That only gets you carded by your remote. You stand and support your team from the day it drops to its lowest low, to the day it rises to heavenly brilliance in its glowing heights of confetti, banners, and cups. This is Sounders FC. This is the marriage of franchise and fan. This is stay until the end. The full 90. That is exactly what Ljungberg said to me, privately, watching alone.

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Dwayne de Rosario, Freddie Ljungberg, Kasey Keller, Major League Soccer, Osvaldo Alonso, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Sarah Palin, Seattle, Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, The Full 90, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tyrone Marshall, You'll never walk alone
Categories : 2010

A Thursday Night Frisco Affair

22 04 2010

Round 5 vs FC Da llas

Sounder 'til I die

Before 2005 FC Dallas were the Dallas Burn. Their home is Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Welcome back to Sales on Sounders for a rare mid-week work night clash of the Red Stripes and Rave Green. The player to watch on Dallas is Jeff Cunningham. He is probably the most likely player in MLS to score two goals a game. The Sounders did a fantastic job keeping him under wraps last year. That will be crucial again in this match. Surprisingly, he has struggled at the start of this season. Meaning he’s over due. He tallied 17 goals in 2009, and has over 120 in his MLS career. He’s still an outside consideration for Bob Bradley’s US World Cup squad in South Africa this summer. However the Galaxy’s Edson Buddle is building a strong case for his consideration. Either way, Sounders defenders will have their hands full. Cunningham is a striker with that rare talent for consistently finding the back of net. Another player to target is Atiba Harris. Harris scored at X-Box pitch last year. FC Dallas is good at putting on an offensive show. But their defense struggles at times. They are more likely to give up a couple of goals and win 3-2 than pull out a 92nd minute Fucito Finish. This is a mid-week showcase match, so expect to see Dallas a steal of the Sounders limelight.

Keys to the Match

Nicknames; Hoops, Red Stripes, Toros, Burn, The Branders, Dallas 96 Without Nate Jaqua, or any tall target up front, Seattle will have to create chances built from possession. The best defense on the road is pass possession moving the ball deep into the attacking third of the opponents half. The simple wrap on Dallas is that they have a team that likes to score. If they get in a groove they are as likely an MLS team to knock in 3 or 4. If frustrated, slowed, pressed, and challenged hard, they will cave. They can be exposed, and if the Sounders own ball possession and press Dallas, then Sounders will get the better chances to finish. In full stride, Dallas can control the pace and keep a steady attack. With the Sounders pressing forward this aspect of Dallas’s game will go away. Expect Sigi to bring Ljungberg back into the midfield. He and Alonso can work to lengthen Dallas’s midfield by feeding long passes to Montero and Noonan who will likely take forward positions. Montero will likely be asked to take the high position and Noonan, a more back-to-goal, possession type forward. If Noonan is successful, he could help take pressure off Ljungberg for setting the table. If Noonan can set up a few good central attacking chances, then Zakuani can widen the Dallas defense allowing him to cross in or work the ball in himself. As much as speed is usually a Sounder strength, they have a second game on Sunday. So expect the speedy runs to only last about 35-40 minutes. That means those long passes forward from our midfielders need to be on target. That will strengthen our counter attacking options and allow pass possession to be more valuable than speed.

Bold prediction: Seattle puts on an ESPN Game of the Week 3-2 goal display.

Post Match

There are times when my personal support for this team will possibly blur my vision. But know this about me first; I believe in the growth and development of soccer in America for men and women at a first class professional level, even more than I support the Sounders. Country before club! That said, is the topic of water-boarding still inappropriate? Is Goldman Sachs short selling tactics something to shelve for future consideration? Is Iceland affected by global warming, or just really, really upset that they are not invited as the 33rd country for this years FIFA World Cup in South Africa? Did Jason Yeisley intentionally dive to gain the late game stoppage time penalty kick for Dallas? You better believe your European, flight delaying, volcanic ice cloud he did. Should the ref have used his side linesman? You better believe your bank reform laws, he should have. Penalty kick #1 was a rare John Kennedy Hurtado mistake. A missed clearance and poor decision. Penalty kick #2 was a ref that needs work.



Once again, Seattle is relegated to the MLS test lab. It feels like we are sometimes punished for our technical playing style, and strong fan support. The MLS needs to improve, and in order to improve they need current, relevent material to demonstrate the necessity for change. Since most MLS clubs play a clustered, physical defensive style the league is short on samples. So, when you get a tactical team that prefers constant pressure to build an attack over defending, like Seattle, the league almost appears to roll its sweaty hands together and say,
“Ah, here is our chance. Prepare the lab gentlemen, we have a living Rave Green specimen”. That is the life of sports right?

To make the playoffs the math is still in the Sounders favor. With 5 rounds played, there are 25 to go. At 3 points per win, that puts 75 points still up for grabs. The minimum playoff target number is 45. After 5 rounds, with a 2W-1L-2D record the Sounders are sporting a reasonable 8 points on the season. Confession: I wrote that last bit just to relieve my head of the Texas size penalty call by the Lone Star Ref. To forget that this happened, this supporter and the team must lick their wounds quickly. Toronto is next. They are a road match looming ahead on Sunday! A loss there could hurt. A draw or win could make this stretch of stoppage time, Ref-alooza matches seem like an early season obstacle to reach towards a greater accomplishment. What is beautiful about these last 3 matches going to stoppage time, is that there is no more exciting Club Soccer being played anywhere in America. Put down your NBA playoff schedules, set aside your NHL Stanley Cup craziness, forget about the NFL draft, MLB is early, the Sounders are the real deal in American sports right now. If you aren’t checking them out, then you are missing out. The only other sport with games as intense as the Sounders is Congress.

Here is my first completely, honestly, totally, non bias poll.

And lastly, you make the call. Here is a link to the clip of Jason Yeisley going down. Was this a Yeisley dive? Or did the Seattle defenders cause a reprimandable offense impeding Yeisley’s progress and making the refs PK call valid?

Yeisley goes down.

Post your comments and let me know what you think.

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Tags: Atiba Harris, Edson Buddle, FC Dallas, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Jason Yeisley, Jeff Cunningham, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Major League Soccer, Nate Jaqua, Pat Noonan, Pizza Hut Park, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Seattle, Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, Steve Zakuani
Categories : 2010

Iron, Lion, Zion, Real Salt Lake

14 04 2010

Round 3 vs Real Salt Lake

Sounder 'til I die

Everything is a little irie these days in the high Wasatch Mountain air at Rio Tinto, the home field of the unexpected 2009 MLS Champions, Real Salt Lake. The Claret and Cobalt had a pomp and circumstance home opener. Their 2009 MLS Championship banner unveiled and championship rings distributed. Rio Tinto has indeed been a kind pitch to RSL serving up a 13, and now 14 game undefeated streak at home. They have still never lost a home opener. Barely!

“Iron, Lion, Zion” the Bob Marley song, is joyously chanted after every RSL home victory. Against the Sounders, the undefeated home opening streak, and high irie air looked to be left unfilled of Marley’s song. After a full 90 minutes with Seattle leading 2-1, the 2009 MLS Champs home opening win streak, and 13 home match undefeated streak all looked lost. Faced with the reality of no crowd pleasing Marley ditty, a sad eyed look crept over Leo the Lion’s face (the RSL mascot). The side ref held up the stoppage time sign with 4 minutes. A little more than usual for an MLS match, but not unusual, and this is Real Salt Lake where they are the champs. So why argue, right? On the footballing Isle of Britain, where Sir Alex Ferguson decrees stoppage time at Manchester United matches, 4 minutes would be considered a shame, despicable, a real insult to the fans and to the game. Visitors coming to Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home pitch, believe Sir Alex has so much pull that eventually the stoppage time sign held up by the side ref will read “until we score”. But this is the kinder, gentler MLS, so 4 minutes is kind. Irie and kind.

For 90 minutes Sounders FC frustrated RSL. Even being outplayed in stretches, the Sounders showed they were resilient and would endure the champs. Four added minutes seemed a short exhale to relief. Three and a half of those four zipped by. There would be one last corner for Real Salt Lake. No panic in Seattle, because after the corner, Keller boots the ball down field followed by the refs end of game bright whistle tweets. Then, Rave Green joy celebrated on the champs home pitch. Who would question this calculation of confidence? Because in soccer there is no “buzzer beater”. No ‘hale Mary” pass. There is also no US sports team as high and irie in altitude and attitude as this Real Salt Lake team. The talented, but undisciplined step cousin of Real Madrid. You know the one I mean. The cousin with the window open every time you step in his room. Even in winter. The one that says to you “dude chill” and “check this out”, more than you are comfortable with. The one who never studies but passes everything with flying colors and says “dude you just got’ta put yer antenna’s out there, and stuff, all kinds of crazy great stuff will come to you man” You know the type right? OK, OK, OK, maybe that’s personal, but you still like, totally know what I mean, right? Excuse me for a moment, pffffft, pffffft, pffffft, . . . heh . . . eh-heh . .. … .. . ….. .eh-heh eh-heh, ahhh yah !!!

The 94th minute came. A corner to Real Salt Lake. Their man from Argentina, Nelson Gonzalez goes to Seattle’s right corner. He fires a cross into the box, hitting a ball swinging slightly away from goal that finds his Costa Rican teammate, Alvaro Saborio, who jumps into action and cracks a header from the center of the box past Keller, and into the left corner of Seattle’s goal. End of game.

They “gon’na be Iron, like a Lion in Zion”. Wait, wait, wait, hold the music. This is a 2-2 draw, so why are they singing? Are there no rules in Salt Lake? They celebrate everything that is good and beautiful about soccer and no one is telling them to come back to reality. This was a buzzer beater plus hale Mary corner from a Real Salt Lake team so Irie, it doesn’t know it can not do what it is actually doing. This team keeps saying “dude check this out”. They won a championship winning only 11 games and lost 12. Yes, lost more than they won. A Western Conference team that barely made the playoffs. They were outcasts in the bizarre MLS Playoff alignment, which placed them into the Eastern Conference. Their first round foe, the 2008 champs, Columbus Crew. Somehow they got past Columbus, and the Chicago and won the Eastern Conference trophy. Are you a little buzzed yet? Yes. You heard me right. You are reading me correctly. Real Salt Lake, a Western Conference team is the reigning Eastern Conference champion. It is certain they will never defend this title. They went on to the MLS final against Landon Donovan and Beckham, and eventually won in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of soccer drawn at 1-1.

I am a Sounders fan, Rave Green to the core, but hey, let them sing in Salt Lake. Any team that can invent a last second game winner in soccer when there is no such thing. Especially when the outcome is a 2-2 draw and not even a win. That high mountain creativity deserves victorious celebration. So yes, this dude abides, for Real Salt Lake. I say let them be “Iron like a Lion in Zion”!

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Alvaro Saborio, Beckham, Bob Marley, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, CONCACAF Champions League, Kyle Beckerman, Landon Donovan, Major League Soccer, MLS, Nelson Gonzalez, Real Madrid, Real Salt Lake, Rio Tinto Stadium, Robbie Findley, Ryan Sales, Sales On Sounders, Seattle, Sir Alex Ferguson, Steve Zakuani, Tyrone Marshall
Categories : 2010

Sales on Sounders

Cascadia Clash – When Rose City Meets Rave Green

Commercial

The History

Less Pele and more Levesque.

Roger Levesque.

The Fans

The Rivalry

Classic Greek Theatre

Sigi’s Sounders go to Washington

You Never Watch Alone, Part II: Why Zakuani Fell

Re-Union of Expansion Rivals: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders FC

Rave Green Blues: Sounders FC Review, Matches 1-3

Dear Santa, It’s a Sounders Christmas Wish

Portland Calling

You’ll Never Watch Alone

A Thursday Night Frisco Affair

Yeisley goes down.

Iron, Lion, Zion, Real Salt Lake

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