—by Mike Coleman
The views expressed here are my own. They are not the views of the Timbers Army or the 107ist.
As most of you know, I’ve not been around the Timbers nearly as long as some of my friends. But that doesn’t mean my love of the club is any less than those who’ve been around since 2001 (or 1975). Sometimes I feel like I live and die by what the club does on the pitch. The Timbers Army are my family, and I know that this thing we have has literally saved lives.
My relationship with the TA and the Club is nothing to be trivialized or trifled with.
So the suggestion that I should, for one night, root for Fishing Village FC is not only ridiculous it’s insulting.
Some readers may say “Lighten up, Francis”.
From where I sit, those people don’t get it; feel free to go root for a club that plays on gridiron lines, and offers refunds to its customers. That's certainly your choice - but, it won't be mine.
Let’s leave logic out of this. Let’s forget that we were up by two goals in Toronto and lost 3-2. Let’s forget that we took 5 out of possible 24 points in the first two months of the season. Let’s forget that Fishing Village FC has put 8 goals in the back of the net in two visits to our park (and, let’s forget in one of those games we were up 4-2 late in the match).
Because, clearly those aren’t the reasons we’re teetering on the brink of elimination from the playoffs.
Take care of business on your own, and you never have to rely on anyone else to do it for you.
But, back to the point at hand: Our owner feels that we don’t have a sense of humor if we found his permission slip ridiculous.
I say this to him: It was ridiculous for our club to sink to that level. To give those scum to the north the satisfaction of seeing our club groveling at their feet.
Let me be completely clear on this: I will not, ever, root for those clowns running around in rave green with their flamethrower goal posts and marching bands.
Even if it means my club's season ends on 10/25.
Sometimes you have to sit with the consequences of your actions.
Do I want the team to make the playoffs? Sure. But, not if it means rooting for the one team I hate more than any other in all of sports.
In case that wasn’t clear enough for you, let me state it differently:
Fuck. ‘Em. All.