It's over. Dunzo. Outta here like last year. And to put it in the most eloquent way I can think of...it totally sucks. The oldest existent soccer rivalry in the country has gone the way of the dodo and even though I'm not a supporter of either club --at least not officially, but I do have my preferences-- I have to say I'm kinda bummed for a few different reasons.
Aside from the void that the disappearance of this semi-annual display of passion and vitriol from the fans creates in the American soccersphere, I still wonder how Seattle's defection to the bigs will affect Portland, their other close rival Vancouver and USL 1 as a whole. Seattle's leap may not hurt them so much right now, but if Portland or Vancouver are on the money with their expansion bids I wonder how long the last man will stand alone in northwest with the nearest rival being Minnesota or the expansion Austin Aztex.
Jakob Anthony (who contributes to the quite nice Unprofessional Foul blog) has put together a nice eulogy on the northwest rivalry for Goal.com. It's a great recap of the game which had over 12K in attendance --probably about the same amount that will show for the DC-RBNY grudge match this weekend in NY--, the history and the potential future of this epic beef. He also drops a nice little bomb that I wasn't aware of: Portland's incoming mayor is a former Timbers Army member.
21 comments:
He's incorrect, our INCOMING mayor is suppose to be former TA. That said, he now has a scarf in his window, and has expressed alot of support to getting this done. The hold-up has been Tom Potter, our current mayor who basically suxs a person and is against spending a dime for anything that isn't a school or "required" service...
Jesus H. Christ, why don't you just ask the freakin Portland Timbers to marry you already. I've never seen this much USL soccer love.
OMG!
a minnesota mention on my fav soccer blog!
i am totally freaking out right now.
Already married. And ever since Rochester quite being the big dogs of USL this is pretty much the best story in the league. Although Montreal fans might have something to say about it (in French though so I don't know what they're on about).
Thank you for all the coverage this past week. It was an amazing experience in person. Take a minute out of your day and watch these two videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn3Q3Nft4g4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbiglIIgP0
RCTID
Yeah I love the coverage of a good rivalry and great fans but obvious bias gets annoying.
obvious bias?!?!!? look at the highlights from the ref last night. that's some bias BS right there...
Well, then ericj, I guess to avoid the annoyance you should stop frequenting this blog, eh?
It's a fvcking blog. If there isn't bias there's no goddamn point to it.
-- Herr Doktor Professor Bickle
PS: Thanks to TOR management for highlighting a remarkable rivalry and a bittersweet but mainly glorious night. 12K for US minor league soccer? You cannot stop us. We are The Rose City.
Win or lose, we support our boys. Every time, always, in any league.
RCTID
SF, how dare you compare the rivalry between the Sounders and Rose City with the "rivalry" or DC and Metro?
There is no "rivalry" between DC and Metro. It's more like a college linebacker constantly beating up on his blind, smelly, affeminate handicapped neighbor.
Geeze you guys should stop being so reactionary. I love the blog which is why I check it multiple times a day. I also understand why he loves the TA because they seem like a great supporters group. It just does not seem like the Timber fans need their ego inflated anymore than it seems (based on the ones here) it already is.
Son's of bitches shiteattle stole the whale from the coffin. I saw them snatch it and run.
All of the USL love is great!
As I predicted yesterday, you and the TA would be disappointed.
Not surprised to hear one of them blame the ref. Typical. Could it be the Timbers stink this year?
Anyway, I suspect you will see Seattle play both Portland and Vancouver in friendlies next year to keep alive the cup tradition.
We love our little brothers to the south almost as much as we like beating them. And our crazy, commie cousins to the north ain't so bad either.
We invite them to join the more than 20,000 a game next year in the bigs.
and it's just like shittle to accuse the ta of finding any reason to justify a loss. that ref was not consistent. scot thompsons's straight red wasn't right. late challenge, sure. yellow card, definitely. but not a straight red. and notice that when rodriguez took down bryan jordan from behind IN the box, we were not awarded a pk. what about our goal that was called back? i've talked to different people from different sections who all said that ball never went completely over the line.
oh, and good luck next year in the mls. it would be nice to see the flounders knocked down a few pegs. 20,000 a game? i'll whitecrap my pants to see you hit the 20,000 mark more than a handful of times. you can't even sell out starfire. what's the capacity there again? 2,000?
Ah 20,000 people at a shittle MLS game...can't wait for 19970 soccer moms and thier kids and 30 ECS...gotta love that atmosphere!!! Do you think they'll bring in a bouncy house for the little kids to play in during the game?? Hope so!! And that smoke machine will make it just so amazing! YAY!!! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW FUN THAT WILL BE!!!
RIP
i'm glad that you mentioned vancouver because while seattle and portland are bitter rivals, vancouver completes the northwest trifecta of teams in the USL and the 3 teams annually compete in the cascadia cup within the USL schedule. (while i have your attention, i'll take the time to mention that the sounders have won the last 2 years, and vancouver before that. seattle's win over portland last night won't help portland's standing in this year's cup.)
and besides your preference for portland (for reasons i can understand, but i'm seattle born and bred, and i have to support my sounders), i love the blog sf. keep it up. (COYW)
@anonymous at 6:16
Typical Shittle bandwagon-jumper doesn't even realize that the season series went 1-1-1 and the Timbers had a 2-1 aggregate goal advantage.
There is no doubt that Shittle will enjoy a year or two or even three of bump from the advent of the club.
But there will be a wee supporters group poisoned from the inside by the legacy of the Pod. Whereas the TA would keep growing if the Timbers were knocked down to PDL. Fact.
Keep living the dream.
Oh, and you can shove Paul Allen up your ass. Sideways.
-- Bicklicious
My favorite part was when the Pod won the game...no, sorry, they were the ones getting out yelled by some 15 year old girls in the corner...all 20 or so of them.
Your team might win some games but, much like a serviceable horse can carry a wagon of sh*t, the horse doesn't improve the sh*t. You can have Qworst Field with your 15,000 extra gawkers and Beckham fans, but you'll never have a park filled with as much passion and true support as you saw on Thursday. Console yourself with whatever barbs you want to throw but you know that, when you looked over at the North End of PGE Park, you knew, deep down, that you and your group were always going to be second class as long as the TA was around.
Enjoy MLS, sh*theels...
Now, SF, I'll stop using your fantastic blog for this fascinating conversation. Thanks again!
Rose City 'till I Die!
Great crowd, lovely tifo display, and an absolutely electric atmosphere. When they snuck the coffin into the park and we passed it hand-over-hand down the Shed, my head nearly exploded.
It was a shame to see that poor red card decision in the first half, to see our defensive and spiritual leader being shown the door so early. But shit happens, c'est la et cetera. We'll be back out there today to support the boys against the Battery, and we'll be there every game from now until forever. Until I am swallowed by the uncaring void and planted in the cold earth I will bleed green and white.
So what if we suck? We're gonna win the league.
I can't help falling in love.
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