This comes to us from American Outlaws PDX Vice President Robert Cross who asked to respond to Brawley's Op Ed. What is your opinion? You gotta have one. Share it below in the comments and mad props to Robert for the argument!

They call our sport the beautiful game. It is with good reason. One may root for club. One may root for country. Some choose both. The vast majority of soccer supporters realize there is a common thread no matter what your allegiance. Passion drives us all.

For me it has been a lifelong love affair. I first embraced the sport growing up in NJ watching Cosmos great Giorgio Chinaglia race around manically, waving his arms after finding the back of the net. There was Paolo Rossi's torrid performance in the 1982 World Cup. A feat I would have never seen if my next door neighbor had not been from Italy. I screamed when Paul Caliguri put USA back in the World Cup in 1990, embraced Giovanni Savaresse of the MetroStars in the early days of MLS, and yelled bloody murder when Torsten Fring's handball on the line kept the NATS from tying Germany in 2002. Ryan Pore’s “Sunflower Goal” got me stuck in with the Timbers Army after arriving in PDX several years ago now. I won’t talk about Coach Klinsmann’s and the boys recent performance as we head to the Hex for obvious reasons. And so it goes.

I share my passion of the sport I love. I do so as a founding member of American Outlaws Portland. I do so as a member of 107ist. I do so as a “founding member” of the 103rd Ballistic Unit of the Timbers Army. Anyone who knows me, knows my love for soccer. If you want to witness it firsthand, stand near me in 103 during a goal celebration and watch out. Those bruises on my body are real.

My expectations for any USMNT match at JELD-WEN is that we put forward a world class atmosphere. The Timbers Army brings our best to every match, for a full 90, no matter what our record may be, no matter whom we are playing, and no matter that GW is still in. I understand that the team before us would not be wearing the “green and gold” of PTFC. I would expect that TA members, traveling AO nationals, AOPDX, and random supporters, would fill the North End for the match and stand side by side. I would expect that we would sing and chant together. I would expect that everyone would be filled with unbridled passion for the match.

Why would anyone expect anything less? Members of the American Outlaws and Timbers Army share far more in common than one would think. Do tell …

· Both groups aim to bring fans together.

· Both groups desire to put forward the best match day atmosphere.

· Both groups are inclusive and attract all kinds of fans

· Both groups are passionate about whom they support

· Both groups are organized but organic and strive to keep it that way

· Both groups adhere to a code of conduct

I would argue that the only real, tangible differences between the TA and AO are whom we choose to support.

I’m not from Gresham, am pro-Cascadia, and pro-American. I choose to be involved in both American Outlaws and Timbers Army because I love the game and want the sport to grow in this country. My fellow AOPDX members, the vast majority of whom are TA/107ist, feel the same.

Do I want a USMNT match here in 2013? Damn straight. Make sure to get the hell out of the way when we score.

With the Timbers 2013 regular season schedule being released recently, finding out when the home games are is interesting, but it's even better to figure out if you'll be able to make travel plans and still see the Timbers play. I've been fortunate to have been able to watch the Timbers lose (or get a plucky draw) at a number of different MLS stadiums now (and let's be honest, "fortunate" implies I haven't been able to make most home games, so I use that term loosely).

Based on my travel experiences, here's my ranking of the 17 away games for the 2013 season. I've used the totally subjective ranking of "if I could only go to X number of away games this season, which ones would I go to?", but even though it's subjective, I've tried to take into account: quality of opponent/importance of game; the quality (or perceived quality) of the stadium experience; the city; the day of the week; and what other away games the game falls around. I have not taken into account which stadiums I've already attended (which would change the list), but I have taken into account the gameday experiences at those stadiums I have attended.

Without further ado, let's Bleacher Report:

1. Sat. April 27 - at Kansas City If you get to do one non-Cascadia away trip this season, make it KC. Their stadium still has a bit of sparkle and is an impressive place to watch a football match. There's even a full bar adjacent to the supporters' section! Add barbeque, jazz museums and Nebraska Furniture Marts to the agenda and this could be a fun weekend.

2. Sat. May 25 - at D.C. United This could be your last chance to see the Timbers play in an original MLS stadium. The game will have a hard time living up to 2011's aggressively entertaining attack-fest, but the District Ultras tifo alone may be worth the price of admission. The atmosphere is always good, the tailgating is well-known throughout the league and Senator Merkley may even show up again.

3. Sat. March 16 - at Seattle Might as well kick off the traveling season with a game at our closest rivals. While the Timbers have to make two trips up to Cascadia's lesser metropolitan area, the first Cascadia Cup game of the year should be a good time.

4. Sun. Oct. 6 - at Vancouver This game could fall down the rankings a bit depending on how the Timbers are doing in the Cascadia Cup, and also depending on the time of the game - an evening game may make it harder to get home before the work week starts. Other than that, this is the last Cascadia Cup away match of the season at our B.C. "house", which makes it potentially critically important.

5. Sat. May 18 - at Vancouver Both Vancouvers are listed next to each other because there's not much between the two - this is the first trip up there, and it's May in Vancouver, and it's on a Saturday, which could make it easier for you to get to Canada and eat as much poutine as you can physically handle. This game is better logistically than the October Vancouver game, but I've ranked it behind just because I believe the Cascadia Cup ramifications are more dramatic in October. This is the Timbers' second Cascadia Cup match of the season.

6. Sun. July 7 - at Columbus The United States' "original" soccer specific stadium is already starting to show its age just a little bit, and it can't quite match up to some of the new stadiums in the league. Still, I think it still seems to be a good place to watch a game, even if the atmosphere has been hit or miss in Ohio recently, and the Crew have a chance to be better this year. On the plus side, the game is in July which means a good chance of a thunderstorm!

7. Sun. Aug. 25 - at Seattle Our second trip to the clink, this game is going to be vital towards determining the winner of the Cascadia Cup and is nicely at the end of the summer after a three-game homestand which includes Vancouver. The 7pm Sunday start means you'll get home late, but other than that, a date you really should circle on your calendar.

8. Sat. March 30 - at Colorado Colorado in March again! The weather could be terrible, but the game's at 3:00 and the Rapids supporters have been truly hospitable in the past. If the Timbers start fast out of the blocks, this could also be a chance to see a rare road win outside of British Columbia.

9. Sat. June 8 - at Chicago This game has been getting a lot of talk, but honestly doesn't excite me that much. Despite the fact the MLS Timbers have never lost in Toyota Park, the stadium is of the generic-new variety in the style of Dick's or PPL. On the upside, when the game ends, you're in Chicago. Still, from a pure soccer-watching perspective, there are better options this year.

10. Sat. July 27 - at San Jose Your last chance to see the Timbers play at the intimate Buck Shaw, which also means it's possibly your last chance to nearly destroy their bleacher seats. With two chances to hit up the Bay Area this year, this is the one to go to, especially if you're thinking of doing both San Jose and Kansas City.

11. Sat. October 26 - at Chivas USA It's the last game of the season, which actually could be meaningful with Porter at the helm, and gives you an excuse to get to southern California as the clouds set in for the winter. This may be your best opportunity to visit the Home Depot Center this season - and the Chivas fans are said to be a lot of fun.

12. Fri. August 30 - at Real Salt Lake This game comes shortly after the last away game against the Flounders and is on a Friday - but it's your only chance to see the Timbers play a regular season game at the lovely Rio Tinto.

13. Sat. July 20 - at Philadelphia Some of the Union supporters are class, but the supporters' section is far away from the field. The stadium is nice because it's new, but it kind of feels like you're watching a game in a generic FIFA stadium. It's also in a terrible part of town, which overall makes for a strange away day experience. I would go if your mother lives in Philly, and you'd like to have something to tie your visit home in with.

14. Wed. May 8 - at FC Dallas Having talked with their ticket reps, Dallas are doing their best to make themselves into an interesting place to watch a soccer game. The problem is, the Timbers played there twice last year, and the Wednesday date May (pun intended) only bring out the Texan members of the Army.

15. Sat. September 14 - at Chivas USA We play Chivas USA twice on the road this season. Though it's on a Saturday, this is the less interesting game in my opinion. It could be one of the last nice summer weekends in Oregon in 2013, Chivas isn't expected to be much good, and there are other opportunities to make the Home Depot Center this season. Still, the weekend date makes it easier to make it to than the Galaxy game.

16. Wed. June 19 - at Los Angeles So the Timbers get the defending MLS Champions on a weekday in between two weekend home games. The Galaxy should be good even if it's a rebuilding year, but if you really like to watch the Timbers play the Galaxy in Los Angeles, the schedule makers didn't do you any favors.

17. Sun. April 21 - at San Jose If you're going to make it to the Bay Area this season, this Sunday game against the Earthquakes doesn't really fit into the schedule well - the Timbers play them at home a week before, so there's no novelty factor, the game is on a Sunday, and Kansas City is the next weekend.

Hope to see everyone out at an away match this season!

—by Chris Rifer

Last week we recapped a busy week in the Timbers front office in Part I of the Morrison Report’s Omnibus Offseason Edition. But the headquarters on Morrison Street wasn’t the only one that was busy.  The MLS front office had a whale of a week as well, releasing the 2013 schedule, preparing for a draft that is quickly losing relevance, and dodging questions about why its trying to trademark the term “Cascadia Cup” in Canada.  Let’s discuss, shall we?

Cascadian Imbalance

The 2013 schedule came out with absolutely no surprise.  As promised, it was a mirror image of 2012.  The disappointing part, though, was the League’s refusal to fix a glaring – and easily remedied – problem in the schedule.

When the MLS announced the format of its imbalanced schedule in 2012, I assumed the League would take the extra effort to ensure Cascadian balance.  While perfect balance is impossible under MLS’s current format, relative scheduling parity can be achieved by making sure that each Cascadian club has three home and three away Cascadia Cup matches each year.  It doesn’t take a John Nash to figure out how to do this.[1]

Yet, somehow, the MLS decided to make it so either Portland or Seattle will play four at home and two on the road each year, with the other playing the inverse. Last year, the Timbers were the recipients of the good fortune, which – if we’re being honest with ourselves for a moment – was key to liberating the Cup from the Wharf in the North.

So, before the 2013 schedule came out, I harbored a fool’s hope that MLS would right its mistake from last year and balance the Cascadian schedule.  No dice.  Maybe MLS just wants to let what went around in 2012 come around in 2013, with plans to right this obvious wrong before 2014. If so, while I would modestly dissent on there’s-no-better-time-than-the-present-to-fix-your-screw-ups grounds, what’s fair is fair, and Timbers supporters can’t complain too much about that.

While I’m sure this sounds trifling to the League office, it’s important.  Under the current format, absent a year in which the unduly burdened club is a clear Cascadian hegemon, [2] or a year in which Vancouver isn’t Cascadianly challenged,[3] either Portland or Seattle will be at a distinct disadvantage, Vancouver a slight one, and the homebody a massive advantage.  My prediction is this homebody will take the Cup with Metamucil-like regularity.

The Cup can certainly withstand another year of this.  But if, as I predict, the competition becomes too predictable, it will eventually wilt.  Sure, the rivalry between Portland and Seattle will endure, but the uniquely awesome three-way competition will eventually wither.  That would be just as unfortunate for the League as it would be for Cascadia.

But the League is nothing if not stubborn.  The problem didn’t get fixed this year.  If it doesn’t happen next, we may be in for the long haul.  Let’s hope that’s not the case.

SuperDraft’s Kryptonite

There’s a palpable wah-wah feeling around this year’s SuperDraft.  Around Portland, that’s in large part because the likely highlight of the global online stream of the draft for Timbers fans will be the shots of Gavin Wilkinson, Caleb Porter, and Merritt Paulson playing a spirited draft day game of Scrabble.

But the talent pool this year is also way down.  While there are surely multiple causes, one major contributor is the emergence of prominent homegrown signings.  This is a fantastic development for the League and North American soccer.  Simply put, better academies mean better talent and better soccer, both on the league level and the national team level.

It, however, is also a major potential source of competitive disparity in years to come.  As young players are shepherded into academies at younger and younger ages, the homegrown signings will largely follow regional lines.  Simply put, the Timbers are going to sign kids from Oregon and southwest Washington, the Red Bulls from New York, and the Galaxy from Los Angeles.

The danger here is obvious.  There is much more talent in L.A. than Kansas City.  If the Galaxy do a halfway decent job of developing their academy,[4] they will have a continuous pipeline of some of the best talent in America, whereas Sporting will have to largely look overseas to stay competitive.

So, how do we reform the way MLS brings young players into the league? Well, the first thing I would do is phase out the SuperDraft in favor of a more market-oriented approach.  You see a North American college player you like?  Go sign him.  MLS could still provide incentives to sign North American high school and collegiate players through the use of salary cap discounts for every such player signed to their first MLS contract.[5]

Then, to incentivize academy development, MLS could essentially borrow restricted free agency from the NBA.  Any other MLS team can come in and sign any other team’s academy player, but the parent club gets the first right of refusal on the same terms as the signing club.  The parent club would still be at a significant advantage in retaining its own product, but not to the absolute exclusion of the rest of the League.[6]  This would mitigate the geographic competitive bias the current homegrown system is likely to produce, while maintaining the strong incentive to build academies and develop top talent at home.

What was that, Don, you don’t like the fact that this deprives you of the opportunity to stream your midday, midweek draft live on the Internet to the entire globe?  Fear not, fearless leader.  You could still hold a combine for academy and non-academy MLS prospects in early January, and make the first day to sign these youngsters to an MLS contract sometime in the next week.  So, instead of having GCA tweet about uncompetitive games, you would have national media covering both the combine and, more importantly, the bidding wars going on behind the scenes.  Then you would have the MLS equivalent of NCAA football’s national signing day.  That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Oh, if only it would happen.

Onward, Rose City!

Portland, OR., Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, WA. — January 10, 2013 —The supporters groups in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver jointly oppose Major League Soccer’s claim of ownership of the Cascadia Cup trademark. The three supporters groups have jointly used the Cascadia Cup mark for many years and have been the rightful owners of the mark. In response to recent statements and actions by MLS, the supporters groups recently formed a new entity, the Cascadia Cup Council, which acquired the supporters’ groups trademark rights in the Cascadia Cup mark. The Cascadia Cup Council will ensure that the mark remains in the hands of the very supporters who created it.

The Cascadia Cup Council recently filed a U.S. federal trademark registration application for the Cascadia Cup mark, and a registration application will likely be filed in Canada as well. The Cascadia Cup Council also intends to formally oppose Major League Soccer’s attempt to register the trademark that the public recognizes as a fan-created competition that predates Major League Soccer in Vancouver, Portland or Seattle.

Not only does the Cascadia Cup Council believe they rightfully own the trademark to Cascadia Cup but they also are of the belief they are the appropriate entity to protect the mark from third parties that are unaffiliated with the supporters groups in the Pacific Northwest.

—by Chris Rifer

I hope nobody took a long holiday vacation. In as busy a week as the Portland Timbers have had in the last two years, the Portland Timbers have added a designated player to their roster, introduced a new coach, had their schedule unveiled, and stood idly by while the MLS made a brazen attempt to trademark the term “Cascadia Cup.”  Oh, brother.

If you have been under a rock for a couple weeks,[1] well, you have some catching up to do. Luckily, The Morrison Report has you covered. In Part I of the Omnibus Offseason Edition we tackle the additions of Valeri and Porter and the funny things that people said when those additions were announced. In Part II this weekend, we’ll cover MLS-oriented issues and a little bit of Timbers potpourri.

Welcome to Chez Valeri

There is no such thing as too much of a good thing.[2] So when one guy named Diego was serving the Timbers well in the midfield, Caleb Porter and Gavin Wilkinson decided to add another.

Enter, Diego Valeri, former Lanus number ten and occasional Argentine national teamer. In a move that was sussed out by the TA’s own Sheba weeks prior, the Timbers on Thursday announced the major creative signing that had eluded them for two years.

While Valeri’s signing was exciting enough, the Twitter drama began shortly after the announcement when The Oregonian’s Geoffrey C. Arnold speculated that Franck Songo’o may be on the outs, bro. Arnold may prove to be correct,[3] but I don’t see the Valeri move as being the primary causal factor. Songo’o’s position in the team was imperiled the moment the Timbers traded for Will Johnson, who essentially stripped Songo’o of the benefit of his incumbency at left mid.

That said, Franck is a good player at a very decent price, which makes him of value to both the Timbers and potential suitors. In this respect, however, he is similar to Eric Alexander and Sal Zizzo, both of whom have proven to be productive players but who at the moment appear to be relatively unlikely to crack the XI.[4] In this way, the addition of Valeri just added a chef de cuisine to an already very crowded midfield kitchen. In this kitchen, Zizzo, Alexander, and Songo’o represent three chefs de partie who other restaurants may just desire as a sous chef. Accordingly, don’t be surprised if the Timbers dangle all three of these guys on the trade market, and see what offers come their way.

I think Zizzo is probably the one the Timbers would most readily part with. Both Alexander and Songo’o can play multiple midfield positions.[5] On the other hard, of the three, Zizzo looks like the only one with a better than longshot chance of starting.  Don’t be surprised, however, if the Timbers trade one or two of these guys. The team still needs a right back and, if a high enough pick were offered and a prospect catches Porter’s eye this weekend, the Timbers might jump at the chance to get back into the draft to lock up another off budget Generation Adidas player.

Hey Porter

In even less surprising news, the Timbers introduced Caleb Porter as the new head coach on Tuesday morning at Jeld-Wen Field. After being hired nearly five months ago, Porter finally made his official debut appearance wearing Timbers green.[6]

With one exception, the introductory presser was notable more for how much Caleb said than what he said. As he showed in his occasional press conferences at Akron, if Porter is asked a question of any specificity, he will often give a surprisingly forthright, think-out-loud answer that runs a few seconds longer than his boss would probably like.

The most prominent example of Caleb saying more than prudence may advise was in his answer to a question about Kris Boyd’s fit in Porter’s system. Caleb answered that he had a hard time seeing how Boyd fit, especially because he expects his forwards to defend and, you know, move.

This may have been an example of a rookie coach unaccustomed to answering difficult questions under pressure.[7] But a little bit of me has a hard time believing Porter wasn’t given a pointer or two beforehand on how to handle a question about the elephant in the Timbers’ boot room. Not to mention, it’s not like Porter had a negative slip of the tongue amidst of a long answer about how Kris is a great scorer whose nose for goal fits in any system.  No, Caleb dove right in, swam a couple laps, and stole Boyd’s swimsuit on the way out of the pool.

The answer, though, brings simmering questions about Boyd’s future in Portland back to a boil. We may get a hint when Trencito Valencia's purchase is announced. If Trencito is still a young designated player, then he and the Diegos would take up all three DP slots. All indications, then, would be that Boyd is on his way out before the roster compliance date.  If the Timbers have negotiated Valencia’s purchase price low enough, it very well could be that it’s worthwhile to keep the DP tag off of him.[8]

So, what about Boyd? Well, there are a few options. First, and I think least likely, the Timbers could welcome him into camp with open arms, keep him around, and see what he offers in 2013. To be frank, I don’t see how this helps anybody. Second, the Timbers could find a willing buyer within the next month, ship him out on free transfer, and likely swallow a good chunk of his million-and-a-quarter salary in 2013. This requires a taker and, as explained in footnote nine below, may not make that much sense for Portland financially.

Third, however, the Timbers could use their once-per-offseason get out of jail free card on Boyd, which allows a team to buyout one player’s contract per offseason and have it come off the salary cap for the subsequent season.[9] This possibility makes some sense if Porter’s Boyd bashing session was something less than absent minded. Namely, Porter may have been sending a message to Boyd that he better take the Timbers’ buyout offer. By making it clear that Boyd was out of favor here, he creates a strong disincentive for Kris to return. Simply put, at the age of 29 – and after two years completely off the European footballing map – Boyd can’t afford another season without production. If he toils in Portland for a year and then, at 30, tries to return to Europe, he wouldn’t receive a serious offer. So, after being told he’s persona barely grata on Morrison Street, Boyd may prefer to take a buyout from Portland for a fraction of his 2013 salary, and try to resuscitate his European career now.

Nonetheless, Gavin’s coy response to the follow up question clearly shows nothing yet it settled with Kris. Stay tuned.

Onward, Rose City!

At the January 2013 107IST Board meeting, the board carried out its annual reorganization, election of officers and appointment of committee chairs for the 2013 calendar year. The board welcomed back Jeremy Wright and Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson as well as welcoming newest board member Mike Coleman; elected officers; and established committees for the 2013 calendar year.

The following board members were elected to board offices for the 2013 calendar year:

• President--Scott V Swearingen
• Vice President--Jeremy Wright
• Secretary--Sherrilynn "Sheba" Rawson
• Treasurer--Joanne Couchman

 In addition to the election of officers, the board appointed the following board members as chairs or co-chairs of standing committees:

Communications--Chaired by Abram Goldman-Armstrong and Garrett Dittfurth, with Abe focusing on Whipsaw and on internal communications and Garrett focusing on public relations, with additional members to be approved by the board for a one-year term

Community outreach--co-chaired by Nando Machicado and Sheba Rawson, with Nando focusing on soccer-specific community outreach and donation requests and Sheba focusing on volunteer coordination and other (non-soccer-specific) community outreach, with 3-5 107IST members to be approved by the board for a one-year term

Ethics--per the bylaws, this committee has the vice president (Jeremy Wright) and secretary (Sheba Rawson) serving, along with three 107IST members to be approved by the board for a one-year term.

Game-day ops--co-chaired by Nando Machicado  and Jerry Makare with Mike Coleman

Member benefits--co-chaired by Mike Coleman and Matt Talley, with additional 107IST members to be approved by the board for a one-year term

Merchandise--co-chaired by Scott V Swearingen and one non-board member 107IST, nine members total on the committee

Travel--co-chaired by Harper Morgan-Werner and Jeremy Wright, with additional 107IST members to be approved by the board for a one-year term

In addition to committee work, the following task forces will be in existence to get other non-committee work done:

Membership--co-chaired by Harper Morgan-Werner and Bruce "Obi" Eaton

Gisele Currier Scholarship Fund--chaired by Sheba Rawson

(For brief biographical information about board members, along with photos, email links, and committee assignments, check out the Board of Directors page)

If you are a 107IST member and are interested in serving with any of the committees listed above, feel free to contact the appropriate board member indicating your interest, availability, and expertise.

Congratulations to all Board officers and committee chairs. We look forward to the work ahead!

—by Garrett Dittfurth

From the Cauldron

KC Cauldron hosting the ISC Annual meeting in advance of the 2013 MLS Season

Who: Independent Supporters Council of the United States and Canada (ISC)

What: Annual meeting of representatives from soccer supporters associations across the US and Canada

When: Jan. 24-27th

Where: Livestrong Sporting Park.

(October 26, 2012) – The Kansas City Cauldron, Sporting Kansas City's largest supporters group, will host the Independent Supporters Council of the United States and Canada Annual Meeting. Representatives from supporters groups across North America will come together in Kansas City. The ISC conferences in order to identify and promote the needs of soccer supporters. As the organization is comprised primarily of supporters from Major League Soccer markets; that is the main focus of the discussions. Supporters groups from all levels of professional soccer such as the NASL and USL Pro are welcomed and encouraged to join the ISC.

“We are excited to be hosting these meeting here in Kansas City. It gives us a chance to showcase the ever growing soccer supporters culture in this city as well as the fantastic facilities created by Sporting Club at Livestrong Sporting Park. At last year's meetings we took on some large projects that are coming to fruition now. We look forward to sharing those projects soon. It is inspiring to see people from across the country put away rivalries in order to accomplish a common goal. ” Sean Dane, The Cauldron

The ISC has invited MLS officials to join them in order create a stronger working relationship between supporters and the league.

More information about the ISC and its members can be found here:

http://www.soccersupporters.org/about/faq

More information about the Cauldron can be found here:

http://www.kccauldron.com/about-kc-cauldron/history.cfm

—by Andrew Brawley

In short, yes. I think so. But allow me to place this asterisk right here.

*

That asterisk represents a series of caveats, “yeah, but…’s,” and a few other items that need to be considered.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Timbers Army has become the torch-bearer among American supporters groups. We worked hard for it. We love being in that position. We will do everything humanly possible to maintain that position.

However, the TA doesn’t rent itself out for children’s birthday parties, sporting goods megastore openings, James Beard cooking events, etc. Nor should it. The TA exists to support the Timbers and its surrounding communities.

So what is expected if a WCQ match is held at JELD-WEN Field this summer? Does everyone expect a Timbers Army appearance? I surely hope not. It’s not a Timbers match. It’s a US Men’s National Team match. It wouldn’t make much sense to be chanting about “the boys in green” and setting Seattle ablaze without the Timbers out there in front of us. (OK, maybe the part about Seattle could still apply…I’ll get back to you on that.) Call me crazy, but I think forcing a bunch of TA chants to encourage our national team on the pitch is rather lame.

JWF has hosted a couple US Women's National Team friendlies over the last couple years. I attended the match vs. Canada in September, 2011. Do you know who was in the North End? Quite a few TA folks, who were very heavily outnumbered by girls ages 8-to-17. It was a completely different atmosphere in the North End, and throughout the entire stadium. And you know what? It should have been that way. Even the most grizzled, aggro members of the TA weren’t about to push these girls out of the way just so we could sling out a few TA chants. We all stood toward the top of the 200’s and witnessed the scene. Sure, it was a bit weird, but we understood our place and accepted it.

(No, I did not attend the recent USWNT match vs. Ireland because my bank loan application for tickets wasn’t approved…but the same scenario applies.)

This issue came up yesterday during the TA Annual General Meeting, where a 107ist member asked about how the TA might support the upcoming Thorns FC season. 107ist President Scott Swearingen responded by saying [I’m paraphrasing here] that like the origination of the TA, any organized support for that team should form organically, and not via forced means courtesy of the 107ist. However, the 107ist would absolutely be open to helping out any organically developed support efforts in the future.

I don’t think Mr. Swearingen could have responded any better. I would much rather see an original concept of a Thorns supporter group, rather than a copycat of the TA. Simply swapping out the word “Timbers” for “Thorns” is not only syllabically incorrect, it’s beneath us. Even though many members of the TA will concurrently support the Thorns, I don't think I'm alone in thinking the Thorns club deserves better than that.

Which bring me back to the WCQ’s. The TA-fueled atmosphere doesn’t apply for anything outside of Timbers matches. What does apply? Why, that would be the atmosphere provided by the American Outlaws, of course! U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!

At the risk of sounding like a communist, I will openly declare that I’m not the biggest fan of AO. I find their schtick repetitive and stale. I find this U-S-A chant particularly annoying. The whole organization could use some new blood at the national level, in my opinion. Plus, I’m not aware of any significant AO presence within Portland. They list the Thirsty Lion as the official local chapter bar, so they got that going for ‘em. I’m sure they exist around here in some capacity, but this being the wacky counter-culture land known as Portlandia, I’d be surprised to discover it’s more than a couple dudes out in Gresham. We’re not anti-America here in Portland, but we’re certainly pro-Cascadia around these parts, and we’re known for doing things a little differently. If it's going to be the same AO-led effort here in Portland, color me not-too-stoked.

So what will we get if we find a WCQ match in Portland this summer? A large TA contingent will be there, but not in organized fashion with our arsenal of chants. There’s a decent chance that someone from AO will show up, but how does that group organize a North End without any major presence already in existence in this city?

I have zero doubt the stadium would sell out (barring any exorbitant cash-grab tactics like we saw with the recent USWNT friendly). I don’t doubt the crowd would be loud and supportive of the US team. However, if the expectation is for the atmosphere to be an exact replica of a Timbers match, without any actual effort put in place beyond just the TA, perhaps we should discuss lowering our expectations a bit.

PS – none of this matters anyway. Since JWF has turf, and not grass , seeing a WCQ in Portland anytime soon is unlikely. Anyone with a lawn to maintain around here knows why turf is preferred. Nuff said.

 

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

—by Andrew Brawley

The results of the recent 107ist Board election were announced today. Congrats to Jeremy Wright and Sherrilynn “Sheba” Rawson on their reelection, and to Mike Coleman for winning the open seat. All three do amazing work, and I have every confidence they will continue to represent the Timbers Army in the best way possible throughout their terms.

Upon the announcement of the results, I noticed some Twitter chatter (which, honestly, represents all that it just and true in the world) about the disappointing percentage of voter turnout among the 107ist membership. To play Devil’s Advocate here for a brief moment, I’ll reply with a quote from Socrates*:

“Be careful what you wish for.”

I would NEVER dissuade an eligible voter from doing so. But to encourage non-voters to vote just for the sake of voting doesn’t really help matters, either.

Everyone has their own reason(s) for paying the $25 annual membership fee. Just the same, there are others out there who have reasons to NOT pay the $25 fee.

Let’s be frank here. Some people only pay the annual fee so they can get tickets to Seattle/Vancouver away matches. Some might only want the occasional discount pass to the Adidas store. Some might really love our tifo and wanna see it continue. Some might be tired of the guilt trip we give them for NOT being a member.

Whatever their reasoning, if that’s all they want in return from joining 107ist, then so be it. Their fee is helping the community in ways that more active members get to dictate. Unless they see something happening they don’t like, causing them to not renew their membership, odds are good they’ll continue to renew and business can proceed as usual.

I compare this scenario to the recent election. On top of voting for the Presidency and other offices that I feel do affect me on a regular basis, I also voted for the lone candidate running for my local water district. Why did I vote for that person (whose name escapes me right now)?

A)     They were the only person running.

B)      There was no other alternative.

C)      Who the eff really cares?

As a human, I need water. Quite often. I drink it. Bathe in it. Make hot tea buttered rums with it. I think water is great, and I look forward to its future availability. However, until there comes a scenario where my water starts to taste bad, smell bad, become unavailable, or suddenly cost double, I’m not gonna put much energy or thought into it. They get their share of my property tax payment, I get water to use as I wish, and both parties are happy with the way it all works.

It’s the same situation with 107ist. It’s a well-oiled machine that works well. We realize it’s not on auto-pilot due to the hard work of undervalued individuals. But, unless something stops working or totally sucks, you’re not gonna see a major response. Be thankful for that.

If I were a board member and suddenly saw an unexpected number of people show up to a general meeting, half of me would be stoked, while the other half would head for the hills. (One of many reasons why I would make a terrible board member.)

If the actions of the board caused distress, the “do nothing” faction could become motivated enough to unify, put their own people in charge, and do exactly what their party wishes: nothing. I’m not a fan of the do nothing faction, and I’d be bummed to see that happen. And while it’s an unlikely scenario, it’s not an impossible one.

One of my favorite sayings from my Masonic youth group days is this: “you get out of it what you put into it.” It totally applies here. If all someone wants to get in return from their 107ist annual dues is $25 in savings at the Adidas store and partner bars/food carts, then so be it. Those who pay the $25 dues in addition to their own blood, sweat and tears in the form of volunteering, tifo coordination, etc., obviously you’re getting far more out of it.

Neither person is wrong, or more right than the other. It just is what it is. If the name of the game is to increase volunteerism and community involvement (which I’m not alone in feeling that it should be), then come up with a system that rewards those who put in the effort.

One idea: if Seattle Away tickets are the biggest motivator for driving membership, then perhaps a points system should be put in place, rewarding those who participate with priority access to the prized away match / bus tickets.

Some will love this idea, while others will hate it. If the Board wishes to encourage participation, it’s up to them to implement a plan. Just remember: with every action…reaction….blah blah blah. I’m going to the Adidas store to finish my Festivus shopping.

 

*- not really

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

—by Stephan Lewis

We are very excited to announce the first presentation in what we hope will be a series celebrating the rich cultural history that we celebrate in the Timbers Army. Resident historian and scholar Tracy J. Prince, PHD of the PSU Humanities Department, has offered to give us a presentation of some amazing historical photos of the earliest days of Portland and the creation of the Goose Hollow Stadium from Multnomah Field to what is now called Jeld-Wen Field.

The Timbers stadium was built at the epicenter of the now infilled gulch/hollow, where Goose Hollow got its name. Come learn the history of the creek that carved out Tanner Creek Gulch—the natural amphitheater where the stadium was built; the tannery that once occupied the site—with tannery vats still buried underneath the stadium; the Chinese farmers who grew produce on 21 acres around the gulch; the Native American encampments in the gulch where Alder Street runs today; the squabbling Irish immigrant women who fought over their intermingled flocks of geese that roamed freely through the neighborhood; and hear stories of the Goose Hollow Gang and their exploits as the original OG of the Hollow. Historian Tracy Prince lives in the neighborhood. She dug around in Oregonian, Oregon Historical Society, and private collectors’ archives to find many never-before-seen photos of the earliest days of Portland for her 2011 book Portland’s Goose Hollow. This research has given her keen insight into the history of our sacred place as TA and she is excited to share it with us.

As the community outreach efforts of the Timbers Army/107ist have been continuing to grow, we have been developing a strong relationship with the Goose Hollow neighborhood, the home of our beloved Timbers. As a part of this, we have been helping to fund a street sign capping project in the Hollow to help designate its boundaries to both visitors and residents. The manufacture of the signs is complete; however, there is still a shortfall in funding for the installation costs. We are hoping to further close this gap with your help. The event is free, but we will happily take donations for the streen sign capping project, along with donations for raffle tickets for TA swag.

Hotel deLuxe has generously offered to host this event in their screening room. The hotel has a bar across the beautiful lobby from the screening room for refreshments and an intermission will be included to allow for top-offs. NOTE: Although the event is free, the screening room has a seating capacity of 100 so, space will be limited. Be sure to sign up to save your spot.

Here's the link to the (free) Eventbrite sign up

Hope to see you there!