Timbers logo spotted onto back of Paleo Ranch jerky in Iowa. The company is based in Vancouver, Wa, but they must have pretty good distribution. I’m trying to imagine your average Iowan’s response to seeing that on the back of their beef jerky, probably something along the lines of “What’s a Portland Timber?” The shelf life of beef jerky is probably fairly long, considering that Paleo Ranch is no longer an official sponsor.
– Thanks to Eli Nicholes for the photo.
I had chance to help pull up the tifo for the first time. Glorious! How, you ask? In the chaos before the opening day kickoff, I was walking back to my section and I overheard someone say they are short handed. What luck! This year I also got back in the swing of volunteering at the tifo painting sessions. Somehow I went the entire 2016 season without helping, and I missed it. If you’ve got an extra hour or two to help out, I highly recommend it.
2016 hangover is officially over. What happened in the off season? Not so surprisingly, we learned that Nat Borchers and Lucas Melano would not be returning, while Rodney Wallace’s return to MLS did not go as many hoped. We raided Saprissa for David Guzman and Roy Miller. An all too familiar preseason, season-ending injury to Gbenga Arokoyo sealed the fate of Jack McInerney. We managed to keep Darlington Nagbe off the Celtic roster, and saw him return to the USMNT after Klinsman got fired. We added a former teammate of Diego Valeri in Sebastián Blanco, a player who in preseason already looks like he’s been with the team for a year. Meanwhile, completely unexpected Superdraft acquisition Jeremy Ebobisse has been quietly tearing it up in the CONCACAF U-20 Championships. Developing talent or developed talent? It’s an odd numbered year, so we’re already in a good spot, but things sure are looking rosy! Bring it on!
I added a Timbers and Thorns patch gallery to the site. It’s a work in progress. So far, 209 entries, which includes patches designed by the Timbers organization, No Pity Originals, and unaffiliated supporters. There are lot of gaps in the information, but this is a good start. Patch culture, designing and trading is a strong subgroup of the Timbers Army community. Check out the Patch Gallery. You may notice one of the categories is called “Merritt Badges” instead of merit badges. It’s not a typo, rather a reference to owner Merritt Paulson. And just like merit badge you get in a Scouting program, you have torn these too.
Stumptown Footy with news and analysis of roster changes and the expansion draft.
Timbers Announce First Round of Changes from 2016 Roster; Trade for International Roster Slot
Read it: Stumptown Footy
MLS Announces Expansion Draft Protected Lists
Read it: Stumptown Footy
Ahh.. Nutmeg News. Thanks for this.
Despite Excitement Over MLS Cup Win, Sounders Fan Decides To Not Re-Watch Game
Read it: The Nutmeg News
Well that sucked. The Sounders winning the MLS Cup is the doggie doo icing on the crap cake that was the 2016 season. Absolutely zero shots on goal, but they win in the PK shootout. It’s as if Toronto won the popular vote but the Sounders weaseled in via the Electoral College. I knew I could count on The Nutmeg News to bring levity to the situation.
Sounders’ Victory Spawns Protests As MLS Supporters Say “Not My MLS Cup Champion”
Read it: The Nutmeg News
There are 2 new tattoos in the Timbers Tattoo Gallery from Adam Ross and Alan Mutter. This brings the total to 42. Tell your friends to submit theirs if they aren’t in there already!
It’s MLS Cup Day. What a difference a year makes.
Even if Seattle wins, it seems their first MLS Cup will be overshadowed by the Timbers having done it first. It’s not just me that thinks so!
Portland’s 2015 MLS Cup triumph has spurred Seattle’s run to the final
Read it: EspnFC.com
Cascadian pride or Seattle/Toronto hate? It’s a tough decision for both of the Cascadian sides sitting this Cup out. The TA gets the headline photo in this article.
The enemy of my enemy: How other MLS fanbases are rooting in MLS Cup
Read it: MLSsoccer.com
I had not planned on posting about this, but it sort of naturally fits here. Leslie Jones is a divisive figure in comedy. People either love her or hate her. I had been warming to her recently, but last week’s appearance wearing a Sounders jersey during the closing credits of SNL has me reversing course. On second thought, she is a comedian, so maybe this was supposed to be funny.
The enemy of my enemy: How other MLS fanbases are rooting in MLS Cup
Read it: MLSsoccer.com
I have suspected Alexi Lalas of having an anti-Timbers bias, but it’s possible he just doesn’t like Cascadia. Alexi’s third reason on why Toronto should win today is something I think we all can agree on.
Alexi Lalas gives 3 reasons why Toronto FC will beat the Seattle Sounders FC in tomorrow’s Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup.
Watch it: FS1 on Facebook
Speaking of insufferable…
One Win From Championship, Sounders Fans Ready To Seize The Crown Of Insufferability From Chastened Timbers Fans.
Read it: The Nutmeg News
Forget the mainstream Soccer media. The Nutmeg news offers all the concise game day analysis you could ever want.
Battle Of The Phallus: Seattle And Toronto Battle It Out To Determine Exactly Which Side Is The Cock-Of-The-Walk.
Read it: The Nutmeg News
Caleb Porter was spotted in Costa Rica doing some scouting. The reporters on hand asked hime the usual questions about who and what he was scouting for, and he gave the expected nonspecific answers, until about the 5:30 mark when the subject of Rodney Wallace was brought up. Surprisingly, Porter said they were still in contact, and he had in fact received a text from him a couple days earlier. Porter’s delivery made it seem like it was a purely social interaction, but it’s unlikely he would tip his hand in the event that it wasn’t. Still he did say “Who knows, maybe down the road we’ll get him back,” albeit with a big grin on his face. If you read Spanish, you can get the story at YashinQuesada.com, or watch the video after the jump.
Merritt Paulson posted a tease of the 2017 kit. From what we can see, it looks like a modernization of the beloved alternative retro kit we were forced to ditch for the 2016 season. Stoked! This is the first time since the Chevron that I haven’t been immediately turned off on first viewing. Of course that hasn’t stopped my from buying in the past…
PTFZine is back! Going through some changes, both design and content wise. Working on it live, so expect it to look wonky until it doesn’t! If you’re wondering why, see this post.
Who writes this stuff anyway?
Random Timbers Tattoo
Check out the Gallery
Timbers Patches
The Patch Gallery has moved to PatchPatrol.com. Visit it to see the more than 2,300 patches in the gallery.
