Less about the actual soccer, more about being a Portland Timbers fan.
I’m involved in Zarek Valentin’s project to raise money for Pride Month. Profits from the RibbonZ patches are going to New Avenues for Youth and the Q Center. Find out about the project here. In stadium sales are over, but you still have a chance to buy some online.
Jeremy Ebobisse made the cover of Street Roots. In the May 3-June 6 issue he’s got a 2 page spread with an interview inside. It’s pretty much the same interview about the intersection of his social activism and soccer career that we’ve seen in other outlets, but it’s still nice to see him getting more exposure.
UPDATE: He’s also got a nice piece of the same vein in The Guardian.
Continue reading “Jebo in Street Roots”
One the one hand, the MLS launched the Don’t Cross the Line anti-discrimination campaign in 2017. On the other hand, Don Garber seems to be more worried about avoiding a potential NFL-stlye backlash from the MAGA hate, (excuse me, I meant hat…) wearing middle America wallets. His wishy-washy response to the infiltration of white supremacist fans in New York City FC supporters groups and the new MLS Code of Conduct that prohibits among other things, any political language or sign seems to be the MLS equivalent of “There were good people on both sides.” Many people inside and outside of the TA have been wondering how this was going to affect tifo displays in Portland, AKA Little Beirut. With a 12 game away streak starting the season, anticipation had been building. The Vancouver Whitecaps had already ejected Seattle Sounders fans displaying an anti-fascist banner in 2017. Interesting now that’s come to light that the Whitecaps have a human-rights issues. There have been reports of people being asked to remove anti-racist and anti-fascist banners this season too. (Citation needed. Do you have one?) What’s that mean for Portland? We regularly fly banners and flags with political messages. The entire fanbase may not agree with them, but they do define a large part of our supporter’s culture, and it would be hard to fathom the Timbers front office rolling over on this. (Sure, insert your derisive snort if you want to…) Well, now we know, according to this release from the Independent Supporter’s Council.
The Portland Timbers front office has confirmed to 107IST/Timbers Army that they will definitely allow anti-racist and anti-fascist words to be displayed at Providence Park.
Read the full statement after the jump.
Continue reading “STILL Anti Racist.”
One of these figures is a larger than life legend, and the other is Paul Bunyan! Timber Jim outside Providence Park showing off his Paul Bunyan sticker benefiting the Kenton neighborhoods restoration efforts for the beloved Paul Bunyan statue. Get yours at Green Zebra grocery in the Kenton neighborhood. Check out that ring! Then check out the Timber-themed patch that the sticker was based on.
The Timbers front office response left a lot to be desired, but Dino Costa has finally lost his job in Portland. There are limited number of these patches available. A set of 2 sells for $5, with $4.50 going to the Southern Poverty Law Center.