Cascadia Beer Summit

16 03 2013
Sounders vs Timbers - Cascadia Rivalry - Image from Cascadia Trifecta

Sounders vs Timbers – Cascadia Rivalry – Image from Cascadia Trifecta

The more I am involved in the Cascadia Rivalry, the more I find my perspective broadening and not becoming cemented to one perspective. My heart is for only one club. But the passion, humor, and history of the rivalry have engaged me to the point of enjoying other people across team borders.

This afternoon I have the opportunity as a Seattle Sounders fan to meet up with a Portland Timbers fan. Although your first instinct is to call Homeland Security. I assure you it is not needed. This meeting is the rational outgrowth of many Facebook conversations between a Teacher and a Banker. A Timber and a Sounder.

He is a Timbers fan who was once a Sounders fan. I am a Sounders fan with family and friends near Portland. We have region, beer, and soccer to bond with. Rivalry support is separate, but raising scarves, and cheering on our respective clubs each week, turns out to not be the only supporter qualities we share.

If Obama had the “Beer Summit”, I guess you could say we will have the Beer Meet-up.

We take part in a unique Facebook group known as “Cascadia Trifecta”. Involving fans of all three of Cascadia’s clubs from Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Jabs are common place, but moments of rational intellect are not filtered out.

Last year the site gained recognition with the creation of a Cascadia kit. The design came from the creative minds and comments of those who regularly participate in the site.

Here is my recent piece in Prost Amerika where I take some of what I’ve gained in my Cascadia conversations. I still wear my Sounders badge on my sleeve, but my perspective has taken on elements of neutral respect.

 

© 2013 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales

 

 


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Bayern, Blues and Border Crossing – Bayern Munich vs Chelsea and Sounders vs Whitecaps

19 05 2012

Cascadia Rivals – Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders FC – Image by Kelly Dews from Cascadia Trifecta

Harmonica. Lederhosen. And a tour bus.

Driver wanted for greatest heist since Pink Panther. Objective:  Champions League, and Cascadia Cup trophies. From Vancouver to Munich. Cross Atlantic travel required, not optional.

Last time Seattle Sounders FC crossed the border to Vancouver, Canada the trip included a memorable 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. The stellar performance earned a priceless Cascadia trophy for the Rave Green faithful to take home.  So dramatic, the loss caused the Whitecaps to close their home pitch.  Forever.

The Major League Soccer era for the Cascadia Cup began in 2011. The first year with all three Cascadia rivals in Major League Soccer. Seattle joined MLS in 2009, with Portland and Vancouver launching in 2011. Seattle won the first MLS edition of the Cascadia Cup. Including two thrilling draws at home followed by highlight worthy wins from both road matches in Portland and Vancouver.

The first Cascadia Cup winner came down to the match with Vancouver. Their final appearance at historic Empire Field. The Sounders pulled together a stellar 3-1 performance against the Whitecaps. The win was enough for the Sounders to go undefeated throughout the Cascadia Cup. It was also the last match for the Whitecaps at Empire field before moving to their current home at BC Place. Which they opened a week later in a 1-nil loss to Portland.

All rivalries are fun. Some are epic. Dedicated Timbers Army supporters drove the Cascadia Cup from Pottland to a match their club wasn’t even participating in. Sounders fans showed how exciting and passionate all three clubs are in traveling to away matches as much as being at home matches. Emerad City Supporters voices were loud and easily heard in Vancouver

Vancouver and Seattle Cascadia ties have a French connection.

Le Toux and Nowak – City of Brotherly Love no more

Sounders FC’s first player signing was Seabastian Le Toux. Le Toux joined the Sounders in 2007 while the club still resided in the USL. Fans latched on to the Frenchman attempting to find an American soccer home. Philadelphia snatched him away in their 2010 Expansion Draft. Le Toux was left unprotected by the Sounders. Clubs can protect eleven players. The rest are available for expansion clubs. Philadelphia made no hesitation in grabbing Le Toux for his tenacious work rate. He immediately became a Union fan favorite. Helping the Union to a successful 2011 season. Making their first playoff appearance.

Union coach, Peter Nowak shocked the MLS nation. Trading their leading goal scorer Le Toux to the Whitecaps before the season. The trade was not popular in Philadelphia but has worked well in Vancouver. Now paired with fellow Frenchman, Eric Hassli, they make up one of the more dangerous tandems in the league. Likely the most difficult attacking assignment the Sounders steady-7 defenders have faced all season.

The French tandem  haven’t connected for much yet. But if Wednesday’s wonder-volley by Hassli is any sign of what the Sounders may face, a potential firestorm of French connected goals are on the way for the Whitecaps.

Hassli scored a pin-point volley against Toronto, in Wednesday’s first leg of the ACC (Amway Canadian Championships). The second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final is next Wednesday. The score from the first leg is 1-1. The winner plays in the CONCACAF Champions League.

2012 Champions League Final – Chelsea (Premier League, England) vs Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)

Prior to Saturday’s first installment of the 2012 Cascadia Cup, and across the Atlantic, with a french step-over to Germany is the 11:45 am (PST) kickoff of the UEFA Champions League Final. The Bavarian region of Germany is the site of the largest football match in the world so far in 2012.  The UEFA Champions League Final features English Premier League power Chelsea against Bundesliqa juggernaut Bayern Munich. The match site is in Munich. Bayern’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena.

During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, I looked for a player I didn’t know.  One I had never heard about. I looked for a player to captivate my attention. During the Group Stages, I noticed the French kept deploying some guy out on the right-wing. Nothing fancy. Just hustle and finesse. The guy kept beating midfielders and defenders in 1-vs-1 challenges for no more apparent reason than he wanted it more than the other guy.

I found my man.  Franck Ribery.

I wasn’t alone in noticing Ribery. Bayern wasted no time in luring him from Southern France’s, Ligue-1 club, Olympique de Marseille. Ligue-1 is the top league in France.

In short order, Ribery has gone from being a relatively unknown player to one of the top performers in Europe over the last 6 years.  All with Bayern Munich.

Everyone has a favorite player. Ribery is mine. Whether you are in Chelsea Blue, or Bavarian red-and-white gingham, Ribery is a player to watch. He plays more from Bayern’s left-wing than his French National Team right side. Watch for how positive his possession of the ball is. Always gliding forward. Leading teammates into attacking spaces. Sandwiched with as many as three opponents, don’t be surprised to see him work the ball free, or safely pass the ball out. Goals?  He is one of Bayern’s best goal getters. And still looks for the assist first. His goals, if he gets one, always have flare. The kind that launch every sporting viewer into the air. You may root for Chelsea, but you must watch Ribery.

The Sounders come off a tough loss at home to Real Salt Lake. They still bring fresh confidence. Their 1-nil loss to Real Salt Lake was preceded by a quick succession of 5 matches in 15 days. Over the previous six matches, the Sounders went 5-wins and 1-draw.

Coming into BC Place, Saturday’s 2pm (PST) match with Vancouver Whitecaps, the Sounders have a 7-W, 2-L, and 1-D record. Third in the west with 22-points. Vancouver is 5-W, 3-L, and 2-D.  Fourth in the West at 17-points.

The Western Conference is heating up.  Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes lead the way. With Seattle and Vancouver working close behind. Colorado Rapids, and FC Dallas chase steadily in the 4th and 5th spots respectively. Either is capable of moving higher in short order. The western table fills out with LA Galaxy, Chivas USA, and Portland Timbers. Defending champions, LA Galaxy, have yet to show a defense of their 2011 title. That is no doubt a dormant monster waiting to attack this Summer. Chivas USA made player acquisitions this past week to show they are working to improve as much as rebuild. Portland rests at the bottom. In my humble, and only slightly scientific opinion, they are a hibernating team. If their defense solidifies, shoring up leaks, as seen in the two previous draws, then combined with their offensive knack for early leads, they may become the 3-D creature that shocks the standings.

The unbalanced 2012 MLS schedule means Cascadia rivals will face off six times this year. Sounders travel to Portland and Vancouver twice each. Hosting both only once. A tough road to defend their inaugural MLS Cascadia Cup.

While Europe celebrates a new champion, Cascadia will feature two offenses heating up.  One distinctly French, and the other more South American. Don’t move your UEFA chair. Order another pint and take in the nervy and wild 2012 Cascadia Cup ride.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Whitecaps and Sounders – Cascadia Rivalry – North American Soccer History

11 06 2011
The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry - Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

Out of the Fire and into Cascadia.  Last week, Kasey Keller, Seattle’s Goal Keeper extraordinaire pulled out another brilliant performance from his satchel of well aged magic.  His effort was key in bringing Sounders FC a well-earned point for their nil-nil draw in Chicago. This week Seattle hosts its Canadian Cascadia rival, Vancouver Whitecaps.

Saturday at Qwest Field is another historic milestone for the Sounders and US Soccer. A rivalry since 1974, the Cascadia Clash with Vancouver and Seattle has been promoted to its most prominent level yet.  With Vancouver Whitecaps FC joining Major League Soccer this year, along with Portland, the complete Cascadia Rivalry is now more than ever an international experience.  If you’re hooked on tweets, this week is #Vancouverweek on Twitter.  And with the rapture behind us, one would think little could capture our social network attention more than babies and cats on You Tube. The complete release of Cascadia unleashed on North America is officially a strong competitor.

If Portland is our backyard, mudslinging half-brother, Vancouver is our gentlemanly, and worldly cousin.  At first glance, Sounders and Whitecaps cause a gentler Cascadia rumble than the more eruptive Sounders and Timbers edition.  With Vancouver’s sporting brethren, the National Hockey League, Vancouver Canucks vying for the Stanley Cup.  Vancouver fans are well versed in bone crushingly intense team sport.  Seeing usually gentlemanly and courteous athletes be complete sportsmen one minute, then drop gloves, fight, and bite fingers the next, is more common in Vancouver than Seattle.  In Vancouver, they know their sport.

Alan Hinton

Alan Hinton - From Derby County to Cascadia

If you ever want an amazing athlete, coach, and entertaining sports personality to emulate, or influence future youth athletes, then Alan Hinton is my personal recommendation.  His Cascadia legacy in the Vancouver-Seattle rivalry extends both sides of the border.  He is one man standing above all others in making the Whitecaps and Sounders rivalry what it is today.  He knows the rivalry inside out, having been on both sides.  A natural-born storyteller, he retells many of the rivalries great stories and has played many of its most significant roles.  Including playing for Vancouver, coaching for both, and now as a TV and Radio Analyst with Sounders FC.

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Both teams formed in 1974, joining the NASL (North American Soccer League).  Alan Hinton joined Vancouver in 1978.  Originally from England, he played for arguably one of the greatest English Premier League coaches, Brian Clough at Derby County.  His 30 assists for the Whitecaps in 1978 are still a high level achievement even by current soccer standards.  In 1980 he joined the Seattle Sounders earning 25-wins 7-losses.  If you want insight, intellect, and great humor, then you want to know Alan Hinton.  ”When the season schedule is released the first thing you do is look for when you  play the Whitecaps”.  ”When I was at the Whitecaps we almost always beat the Sounders.  When I was at the Sounders we always beat the Whitecaps”.  

Sports are events bringing large numbers of diverse groups of people together.  People hungry to find some tiny bit of soulful commonality.  Something that truly binds us all together.  Soccer is our worlds best team sport example.  Alan Hinton is the wise and colorful voice who has made this regions best sports rivalry one of its best long-standing sporting events.  He has helped transform this rivalry into a can’t miss event.

On Saturday night, the rivalry turns 37.  So, on Twitter I gave this rivalry week another hash-tag name.  Instead of #VancouverWeek, I prefer #AlanHintonWeek.

In the three team Cascadia rivalry, Vancouver has the only league title.  In 1979 they won Soccer Bowl ’79 and were NASL Champions.  The Timbers and Sounders both reached NASL finals but neither won.

Vancouver Whitecaps - NASL logo - Soccer Bowl '79 NASL Champions

Finding success in Major League Soccer will be a bigger challenge for Vancouver than in the NASL.  Parity in the league makes matches tightly contested, so no one team has dominated the sport since Houston winning repeat MLS Championships in ’06 & ’07. Sounders FC set a high bar winning back-to-back US Open Cup titles in its first two seasons.  Vancouver would like to feed off that energy.  Some first season issues have posed challenges in their transition to MLS.  Coaching changes and ticketing issues with supporters have been two obstacles.

Stadium seating location and pricing for their Southsiders Supporters group caused an initial stir.  Much of which Vancouver’s front office has resolved.  But it has left lingering communication concerns between the teams Front Office and its Supporters. More recently their coaching change has been the bigger issue.

As bright and entertaining as the Whitecaps have been on the pitch, they have struggled in getting results that satisfy their ownership.  Teitur Thordarson was the coach that helped build the Whitecaps into a successful USL team on its way to Major League Soccer.  Tom Soehn, former DC United coach was brought in as their Director of Soccer Operations.  In Vancouver’s first three MLS months, Thordarson delivered a 1-win, 5-loss, 6-draw record.  A thrilling 4-2 inaugural victory over Toronto FC didn’t yield more wins.  Continual close matches were ultimately not the result their Front Office wanted.  Tom Soehn is now the interim coach.

1974 - 1983

With high expectations to turn things around, and little room to fall further, the Whitecaps come to Qwest Field hungry to prove they are the talented high-flying team everyone witnessed in its inaugural match.  The first edition of the MLS Cascadia Rivalry between the two historic clubs in front of a sold out stadium, and national audience is the best chance they will have.  The Sounders are in equal need of joy for recent efforts and fan support.  So the match is sure to be the most hotly contested weekend match.

Off the pitch, Vancouver Week has been more nostalgic than the backyard mudslinging building up to the Portland match.  Come game time, that politeness will disintegrate. Vancouver’s Designated Player, Eric Hassli has accumulated 3 red cards.  The Sounders wont try to antagonize him into a 4th, but they wont stop him from losing his cool either.  That threat of his boiling intensity will keep fans on their seats wondering if Vancouver shows its dangerous potential.  An upset in front of 36,000 at Qwest field would put their season right in one match.  Sounders FC is fully aware, but can not afford to sit back and defend from that happening.  Sounders FC needs all 3 points for a win.  A single point for a draw is no help.  They will play for the win, which will defensively give the Whitecaps opportunities to counter attack.  Tonight could be a tightly contested 1-0 victory for one lucky team or it could turn into an eruption of Cascadia goals.

I’ll spill my bias:  3-2 Sounders FC.

Contributions:  Jacob Cristobal,  http://www.critiqulous.com/   For a little added excitement, here is the new “All In” Adidas commercial featuring the Portland-Seattle edition of the Cascadia Rivalry.

Sounders FC, weekly feature, “Round Table”, hosted by Tony Ventrella, with guests Matt Gasch, Alan Hinton, and Emerald City Supporters President, Greg Mockos.

© 2011 by Ryan Sales – http://www.salesonsounders.com


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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.

The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry: Timbers Army, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

Commercial

Hey, you like our coffee.  You use our technology at work and home, even on the go. You order our wine.  You enjoy our diverse taste in food.  You download our music. And now you love our TV show, Portlandia.  A second season is on its way.  Now come try our soccer.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

The History

NASL

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

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.

* * * * *

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.

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales


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A Slice for Portland Timbers – Inaugural Home Match vs Chicago Fire

13 04 2011

 

Rose City

Portland Timbers - 2011 Inaugural MLS club badge

Portland plays host, Thursday night, April 14th for Major League Soccer‘s national spotlight match vs the Chicago Fire.  Portland’s famous downtown PGE Park, is remodeled and expanded into shiny new JELD-WEN Field.  Another exceptional soccer only stadium accomplishment for patient and successfully expanding Major League Soccer.

Rose City turns, “Portlandia”, crazy for its inaugural Major League season home match.  As wildly fictional, and comically pleasing as the hip TV series, “Portlandia” has become, the inaugural season Rose City soccer club provides an equally exciting, non-fiction, real world contrast.  Yes, Timbers are hip, cool and posing sexy in plaid. Their fans are real deal soccer.  No fiction.  No comedy.  No Pity. You want soccer supporter chant, then go Portland.  You want nice and polite people, then park and walk the Pearl District by day.  Because JELD-WEN Field will be rocking with barely controlled intensity, and a wild ruckus fever come 8:00 kickoff.

“Take No Pity in the Rose City”.  Ask directions to Powell bookstore.  Ask how good Voodoo Doughnut really is.  Ask when the next city bus is coming.  You may well have twenty Portlandians help you with bus times, directions, which five books to buy, the dozen doughnuts you “MUST” have, and possibly offer their bikes to you if buses are running late.  You will feel an instant residential citizenship to Portland. Unless you commit one of the three evil grudges.  Three things you never do:  Ask directions to Starbucks, ask anything about Seattle, or mention the name, Roger Levesque.  If you do, you will wake up feeling more Voodoo than doughnut.

Portland Timbers inaugural ad billboards and local models.

For many people, soccer gatherings with excited soccer supporters only equals, “hooligans”.  A term no longer considered appropriate or even humorous to Seattle and Portland supporters. Both clubs supporter groups recently went above and beyond to show class efforts in demonstrating how a few guidelines allow for intensity and passion to be demonstrated with a kind of excitement you can describe as fun and controlled. Not disconcerting and reckless. Prost America Soccer, published on their site a list of “Do’s and Don’t's” that Portland Timbers supporters put together for Thursday nights inaugural season home match.  A bit contrived, it sends a definitive signal that passionate soccer fans know how to behave as first class supporters.
See:  Timbers Army send out right signals to newcomers, by Prost Amerika Soccer

As intensely bitter as the Sounders and Timbers rivalry is, Thursday nights instant classic is a rare opportunity to put all rivalry aside.  Portland represents the best example of a passionate small market sports franchise city.  Their growth is the growth of Major League Soccer and more importantly, the growth of soccer in America.  While Sounders FC established new standards for launching a sports franchise, effectively rooted in the growth and success of Major League Soccer, Portland represents the first of what hopefully becomes expansion for an additional 10-20 similar sized American cities.  Cities too small for NFL, are perfectly situated for 20,000 soccer only stadiums over the next 10-15 years.   Seattle’s self-proclaimed “Capital of Soccer in America”, and Portland’s self-proclaimed “Soccer City USA”, surprisingly don’t conflict.  In all fairness to both clubs supporters, the proclamations are fair reflections of their supporters truth and dedication to the growth of the league.

Timber Jim, begins sawing logs in earnest on Thursday night.  It’s the first match since 1982 where Portland Timbers are playing in a top-tier professional American soccer league.  Major League Soccer has been on a slower rise than the former NASL. The league has risen at a deliberately controlled pace keeping profitability and growth on a leash.  Portland and Vancouver, both 2011 expansion teams, represent the 17th & 18th teams in MLS.  Montreal Impact, will be the 19th addition next year.

Timber fan Don’ts:  Use any pompoms, have a dance squad, or use colorful laser-beams mixed with electronica dance music for player introductions. Timber fan Do’s: Stand and chant for the full 90, intimidate opposing teams with flag waving and smoke, have a Timber with a chainsaw, who cuts to excite the crowd, including complete round cut slices each time a goal is scored.  The fortunate goal-poachers raise these slices above their head at the conclusion of home matches.

Will you learn anything tomorrow watching the Timbers inaugural home match?  I hope not.  I truly, madly, deeply hope you do not learn a thing.  I hope you are entertained.  I hope you watch the best reality TV ever produced for a mid-week prime time slot.  I hope you realize how quickly soccer comes to conclusion compared to Major League Baseball, Golf or all other American sports.  I hope, like a delicious dish of dessert, you realize how wildly unpredictable this team sport is.  I hope you cherish the creativity of the game and its surrounding atmosphere.  So much so, you want to take in the live experience for yourself at a match like the one Portland will host Thursday night.  In your home town.  I hope you want to be like Portland.

Say it with me, “Take No Pity In The Rose City”.

Timber Jim with chainsaw


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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

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

Alcorcon

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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Categories : 2010


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