—by Michelle Frye

The Timbers Army Blood Drive July 27, 2012 in Vancouver was a huge success for Red Cross. We obtained 65 pints of blood which tied the number of pints donated at the April Drive at Jeld-Wen field. These donations will help save numerous lives. Red Cross donor donations are usually crucial in the summertime and this year more so than others as various blood types were at emergency levels which meant they had less than a three day supply. So the Timbers Army rose up again to help the Red Cross in their continuing battle to obtain as much blood supply as they can.

The success of this Drive does not end there. My day started at 9am on Friday picking up donated sandwiches from Subway and brewed ice tea from Starbucks. At 10am the Drive began, as people came through registering, I asked where they heard about the Drive as I was curious. Several came from mass emails sent from Clark County Indoor Soccer from their database. Among those where many Timbers fans and I asked if they knew anything about the 107ists. The majority of them never heard the term before. So my volunteerism at the 107ist table on game days, paid off. I was able to educate several people on what we do for our Communities and to support the Army up in the stands and encouraged several folks to sign up. In fact, one woman wanted to join as she really liked the charity aspect and giving back to the Community but financially she was in a pinch so I offered to pay her first year’s dues if she was really interested. She joined right on the spot and also joined Timbers Army Northern Alliance Charity Chapter (TANACC) Facebook page so she could start volunteering right away. Several others who were already 107ists joined TANACC as well. TANACC is a new Facebook group for those interested in carrying out the mission of the 107ists into Southwest Washington.

We were also successful at reaching the youth. Mass emails went out through all youth soccer clubs in Southwest Washington to those kids who played and were over the age of 16. We had several youth players show up with parental consent forms in hand, ready to donate. So we were able to reach out to those in their early years and hopefully this will be just the beginning for them in giving back to those in need.

Some other little tidbits that made the day so special was one man rode his bike from Portland, two hours each way, and once he arrived at the Blood Drive discovered he forgot his wallet at home which had his I.D. in it which is required by Red Cross to donate. He donated at the first TA drive and really wanted to do this one as well so he was a little disappointed but in good spirits as he made an attempt anyways which was very honorable. Jokingly he said he learned his lesson and will be at the next TA drive with wallet and I.D. in hand. At least he got some good exercise!

Brent Richards also showed up about 5pm or so as he used to work for Clark County Indoor Soccer so he wanted to come by and support the Blood Drive as well as visit with some of his previous co-workers. He was kind enough to do some autographs and take some pictures with folks. We volunteers at the time had some nice one on one time with him to chit chat a bit which was a lot of fun.

We had another couple come out a little later and when asked how they heard about the drive, they said that they saw me on the 5 o’clock news but they didn’t say where the Drive was held so they googled it to find out where we were and came right down. I thought that was so wonderful that they saw a Timbers Army Blood Drive was happening, dropped what they were doing, and immediately came out.

So all in all, this event was a success in many ways, we received 65 pints of blood for the Red Cross which is so desperately needed. We educated people about the 107ists and our mission and hopefully we will see several new sign-ups. We got some 16 and 17 year old kids to fight the fear of a needle for a good cause and hopefully they will continue on and give back to their community by doing charitable acts. I also think we got our first home grown player, Brent Richards, excited to see that the 107ists are doing charity acts in his neighborhood.

I would like to thank Clark County Indoor Soccer for the use of their facility and their helpful staff and it worked quite well with the buses with their large parking lot and the use of their space inside for registration. There was also ample area inside for people to congregate together while waiting their turn to donate, eat some sandwiches/snacks, chat and hang out. I would also like to thank orwaSubway.com who donated six platters of sandwiches for the event. This gentleman owns 18 Subways in Portland and Southwest Washington and is a 107ist as well as many of his employees. He was so glad that I reached out to him as he and his employees do a lot of charity work both in Portland and Washington but never with the 107ists. So he said he would be very interested in partnering with us on future endeavors. Also I would like to thank the Starbucks store located at 1900 NE 162nd Ave., Vancouver for donating gallons and gallons of flavored ice tea for the event as well.

Also, big thanks to all the volunteers who helped plan, organize, spread the word and volunteered at this event! This whole experience was one big blast for me and feel honored to have hosted this one!

—by Chris Rifer

I’ve had Sunday’s match circled on my calendar since the Fiasco in Frisco two weeks ago. If that match wasn’t over by halftime, it was in the 48^th minute when David Ferreira found Jackson for the Hoops’ third goal. The Timbers never showed any sign of life, and after the match the boys in green pointed out the obvious in admitting that some had quit on the game.

While the Timbers got exactly what they deserved that day in Dallas, let’s be honest, Dallas rubbed Portland’s noses in it. Dallas was going directly at goal for all 90 minutes, despite the result never being in doubt. Their last goal came in the 81^st, when Dallas was already 4-0 up. And to really rub it in, Dallas inserted Timbers-reject James Marcelin in the 78^th minute.

Now, personally, I don’t have any moral objection to what Schellas Hyndman’s boys did that day. If the Timbers didn’t want to get beat 5-0 and let James Marcelin take his rightful place in garbage time, they should have done something about it. They didn’t.

On Sunday they get a second chance.

The Timbers are in the midst of their darkest period in at least the last four years. There is nothing positive to take out of the last month of soccer played by the Morrison Street boys.

But players over and over have said they still believe they have a decent team. They still believe that can play good soccer. They still believe they can get results.

Well, now is the time to prove it, boys. Dallas punked you two weeks ago. And after that they rubbed your face in the dirt.

If the Timbers have any professional pride, there is only one result on Sunday: A multiple-goal victory. With tackles flying all over the plastic pitch Hyndman will complain about after the game.

If the Timbers want respect from anybody in the league, they don’t just need to beat Dallas on Sunday. They need to embarrass them.

No Pity.

Art Takeover is a poster show organized by Factory North and the Timbers Army with all proceeds going to Harper’s Playground.

Original Timber’s Army-inspired poster designs from 30 local designers/artists will be on display and sold on Saturday, August 4th, at Coava during normal business hours, and during a special after-hours event featuring beer, wine, cocktails and snacks provided by many our generous sponsors. Each poster will be hand-pulled, numbered and signed by the artist.

All proceeds from poster sales will go to Harper’s Playground, which is working to build an all-inclusive playground where people of all abilities can play together at Arbor Lodge Park.

—by Matthew Talley

Ladies and Gentlemen...We are capos.

Contrary to popular belief, we are not cheerleaders.  We are not ambassadors.  We are not your buddies.  We are the men and women who give everything we have within us to ensure that YOU support the Portland Timbers through thick and thin, and we are nothing more or less than that.

Much has been made of us this season.  We're not the "in crowd."  We're not "glory seekers."  We're not "dancing monkeys."  We're folks who pay for our season tickets, and turn our backs to EVERY match to make sure that the boys in green hear a unified Timbers Army supporting them through Hell of high water.  And we are damn glad to do the work we do.

In the past 3 weeks, our team has lost ten points in the playoff hunt, and we've gone minus ten in goal differential .  PTFC is spiraling towards the Wooden Spoon.  The players have lost their fighting spirit, and no longer play for pride.  The Timbers Army has become more of a spectacle than a supporters group.  And complaints on social media have ranged from "Our team sucks" to "Gavin Out," to "My capo was mean to me" have been doled out aplenty about like candy on Halloween in a rich neighborhood.

But through it all, the capos continue to give their all for the club, their town, and the TA.  And it's about time I do the same.  I became a board member in the past year, and I have been so focused on being a nice guy, I have shunned my duties as a capo, which is not to be The Nicest Guy in the TA.  I'm supposed to be a motivator.  I'm supposed to be a fighter.  I'm supposed to give it my all, even when the scoreboard says I should quit.  And it's about time I start doing that.

My knees hurt.  My voice continues to weaken as weeks go by.  I miss the USL days, and I miss the friends that I used to stand with before I was a capo.  And I am so damn frustrated at some folks in my sections whose top priority is getting "their spot" in the TA and posting photos of their bros on Instagram that they forget that the Portland Timbers are playing that day.  And you know what?  That is my fault, and I need to get over it.

I haven't been tough enough.  I haven't been merciless.  I haven't gone a full 90.  I have showed pity on the folks who want to take in the "TA Experience" more than they want to give their all to the club.  Those are my failures, and when I think back to the 2012 season, this is what I have to live with.  But no more.

I'm giving my all to the Timbers for the rest of the season.  And Sections 102 and 103, I'm coming, and Hell is coming with me.  I'm going to scream.  I'm going to shout.  A profanity or two might slip.  And if you're a "statue" and just "want to watch the match," I'm going to point out you out, mock you, and not relent until you sing a song, shuffle to Tetris, or pogo until I am satisfied.  You bought a ticket.  You came down to the lower bowl.  You wanted to be a part of the TA, even for just one night.  Now you're going to do what my fellow capos and I say.

Again, we're not the "in crowd."  We're not "glory seekers."  We're not "dancing monkeys."  This is who we are:

Sunday: You might brag about how bad you are.  She is everything that you brag about being.

Camm: He takes the temperature on the field.  And unlike the weatherman, he gets it right, every time.

Timberista: A true gentleman.  You'll miss him dearly when he's gone.

Bickle:  Living history.

Pong: The best of us.  The capos wouldn't be who they are today if it wasn't for his acceptance, teaching, and passion.

TimberJoe:  Want to know why the capos are so together as a group?  Ask him.  He did the heavy lifting this off-season.

Cowbell: My capo.  I would follow that guy to the gates of Hell.  Why wouldn't you do the same?

IceFunk: That's no bro.  That's a guy who grew up in the Timbers Army, created his own section when there was nothing, and leads it like Patton.

Milo: This man is the future.  Follow his lead.

Patch: 200 level and the top of 102/103.  This is not a spectator sport. You're Timbers Army too.  And he will remind you of that.

We are capos.  You might not like us all the time, you might not want to do what we say, but you will respect us.  Because we will make you bend to our will to support the Timbers no matter what happens on the pitch.  You didn't elect us.  You inherited us.  And we will be here long after a great many of you cash in your season tickets and tell stories of fondness and lorn at dinner parties about that time when you were a part of the Timbers Army.

We are capos.  We'll never quit.

—by Andrew Brawley

Anyone claiming to be Timbers Army is well aware that the 2012 Timbers’ season has fallen short of pre-season expectations. For some unknown reason, the team just can’t seem to pin down that magic recipe that will propel the team back into the playoff hunt. So here we are, more than half way through the season, holding up the bottom of the table, tied with Toronto FC, who claimed the record for worst season start in MLS history, and 14 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

As the approach toward last night’s match vs. Chivas USA rolled on, the first sign of what should be a real concern for the Timbers front office became evident: season ticket holders were selling their tickets and having to compete for buyers.

Folks, the marketplace appears to have spoken.

Since the announcement of MLS adding Portland to its portfolio, the Timbers were the hottest ticket in town. This was no surprise, as such an occurrence is natural for most expansion teams. Add to it that the Timbers already existed in various forms since the 1970’s, and that the Blazers were still feeling the hangover effects of Greg Oden, and you can see why Timbers owner Merritt Paulson had no qualms with making such an investment in our market.

Since opening day, getting tickets to a Timbers game meant you had to: A) be a season ticket holder; B) be at the front of the line at the box office; C) click very fast on Ticketmaster; D) buy from a dirty, filthy scalper, or E) wish illness on somebody who had tickets, forcing them to sell to you.

I hate to say it, but those days might be over.

It’s not like the Timbers have to worry too much about maintaining a sellout streak. Anyone attending Blazers games in the past year can attest that a technical sellout certainly doesn’t mean every seat was filled. It just means that every available ticket was distributed, either via point-of-sale or promotional means. When you consider stadium capacity, minus season tickets and single-match tickets already sold, there’s not much ticket inventory left for the remainder of 2012. I have no doubt the Timbers can maintain their sellout streak this season, and can probably do so with minimal numbers of tickets being given away for promotional purposes.

However, it looks like the varnish has worn off. Last night’s crowd was a bit more typical than what you might see at a “premier” game against Seattle or Los Angeles. With the Timbers recent on-pitch woes, and the opponent not exactly being one of high profile within the league, it’s safe to say that the appeal of last night’s match was far lesser than where it could have been if the Timbers were performing within pre-season expectations.

While the volume of hardcore fans increases with each loss (which are now mounting up rather quickly), there’s one thing that speaks louder than even the most passionate fans: the bottom line.

This weekend saw supply finally catching up with demand. If current trends continue, supply will be greater than demand, which means there may be unsold tickets, which could lead to less revenue generated at concession stands, the team store, etc. Less sets of eyes watching the Jumbotron and staring at above-urinal posters during matches, or watching local TV broadcasts, means unhappy sponsors who paid for advertising and sponsorships with expectations of CPM’s (cost-per-mille, or cost-per-thousand) that are not being met.

Everyone in the Timbers universe (players, fans, front office, media, etc.) wants the Timbers to succeed. But anyone who thinks the Timbers can and/or will succeed without proper business acumen is only fooling themselves. Sports is a fun industry, but it’s still an industry, a.k.a. business. I don’t believe we, as fans, are so naïve to think otherwise. However, there will eventually come a time when ESPN and NBC Sports review the upcoming MLS schedule, look at Portland’s matches, and say “oh, the Timbers Army? Been there, done that. What else do they got there?” Unless there is a product on the pitch worthy of national attention, could we blame them for taking their traveling camera crew elsewhere?

And it’s not like we necessarily want to be the focal point. I bet if you asked any Timbers fan what they would prefer to be the reason for a Timbers match being aired on national TV, every single one of them would prefer that reason to be for the team itself, and not what’s going on in the stands. (Maybe that would be a valid poll for season ticket holders.) The Timbers Army has had quite the run of press coverage this year. We’d happily trade all of it for improved performance on the pitch. We know what we do is fun and interesting because we’re always interested in making it fun. But do we feel that we should be the focal point of the Timbers’ share in the global sports marketplace? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

As a season ticket holder, I began this season prepared to renew for 2013 with an increased price tag. I was expecting that to happen in correlation with a successful season. Even without a playoff spot, a successful season can still be had. Now, I’d be hard-pressed to accept a price hike without some kind of serious discussion and/or argument with my ticket rep.

New talent is expensive. Existing salaries will only go up. Overhead never gets cheaper. Maintaining an existing customer base is far cheaper than creating a new one. This is Business 101. Merritt Paulson is a smart man. He has an MBA from Harvard. He has the drive to win. He has the means to achieve his goals. So I will part with this question:

Can Merritt achieve his goals with the current assets, infrastructure and management in place?

 

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

In the afterglow of last Tuesday's friendly vs Aston Villa ("afterglow" in this case is defined as "a game after which we didn't all feel like drinking bleach to rinse out the rancid taste"), there's more English-soccer-related news that might interest you. No, not the Olympic tournament that kicked off yesterday (featuring Team Good Britain—downgraded from Great after giving up a late equalizer to Senegal today), I'm talking about Fantasy EPL!

Last year's EPL top goal scorer and leading fantasy points man Robin van Persie. He's the most expensive player, and probably worth it...but where will he play?

If you've played before, you know how it works; and if you were on the Timbers Army league last year, you'll automatically join it as soon as you set up your team.

To join the Timbers Army league, go to fantasy.premierleague.com; once you've registered your team (it's free), go to Leagues > Join a League > Private League. When asked for the code, enter 210575-60962.

EPL kicks off on August 18, so you have plenty of time to craft a perfect team, without any players from [insert team you hate here], and with a really clever name and a color scheme that says "way too much time spent playing fantasy soccer."

Good luck and may the nerdiest nerd win!

Victory!

We won 12-6. Kinda we were in the driver's seat for most of the game. They did score the first goal, but the lack of subs for their team really hurt them.

Final Score: Coat? FC 12, opponent 6

Goal scorers:

Mike Kuh 3

Reid Storm 3

Milon Good 2

Jade Bryant 2

Josh Lawrence 1

Hansell 1

Because supporting the Timbers is as much an act of creativity as it is an act of faith....

Because we all love to find new ways to celebrate our team and our town....

Because maybe the gameday playlist was getting a little repetitive....

Because Seattle fans need new songs to steal....

Your Capos and Drum-and-Trumpet Corps have whipped up two new chants, which we’ll start using on Saturday, July 28, against Chivas.

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The first is a short rouser adapted from a chant performed by fans of the Japanese J-League team Kashima Antlers:

KEEP IT UP

Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-ohh!

Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-ohh!

Keep it up, Rose City!

Don't let up, no pity!

Keep it up, Rose City!

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-ohh!

to this melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nomZM6zcxdM#t=1m09s

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The second is a Timbers Army original based on “Bella Ciao,” the classic Italian tune of Anarchist rebellion. The lyrics are adapted from Chumbawamba’s version of the song. (As far as we know, no other supporters in the world sing this famous melody; read more about the song here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_ciao)

BELLA CIAO

We are the Timbers, the Portland Timbers,

Green and Gold, Green and Gold, Green and Gold, Gold, Gold!

With our friends now, up to the city,

We're gonna shake the gates of hell!

Next time you see us, we may be smiling,

Green and Gold, Green and Gold, Green and Gold, Gold, Gold!

Maybe in prison, or on the TV,

We'll say the Timbers brought us here!

to this melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaomLvwS8Rw&feature=player_detailpage#t=28s

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Learn ‘em, love ‘em, share ‘em, and print up the lyrics and bring ‘em to the game to share with your Timbers Army neighbors in the glorious reserved seat-free sections of the North End!

Thank you to the more than 60 Timbers Army volunteers who went to Oregon Food Bank on Saturday; after a mere two hours we had helped to pack and sort roughly 30,000 pounds of food, which will go into emergency boxes and to the people most in need. Two hours of your time helped get food to literally hundreds of people who otherwise might not be able to feed themselves.

TA Volunteers after their shift at OFB West in Beaverton. Can you spot your friendly neighborhood capo? (Photo by Richard Sheals)

It hurts to know that Oregon is among the top five states in the nation in hunger and #1 overall in childhood hunger (that's #1 as in last place), but it's an amazing feeling to know so many people who are willing to help.

If you missed this time and want to volunteer with future TA @ OFB days, send us an email to get on our mailing list. We'll have another outing sometime probably early November. In addition to directly helping people it's a lot of fun and a great way to bond with your fellow TA and SPREAD THE LOVE.

—by Chris Rifer

There comes a point where you just don’t know what to say. For me, that point comes after the letters required for the phrase “déjà vu” start to fade on my keyboard. After all the “Groundhog Day” metaphors are played out. After the team has lost, yet again, in uninspiring fashion on the road. So yeah, I’m there.

Sure, there are things that you could look at from Wednesday’s matinee[1] and feel positive about if we hadn’t already been tempted by them in the past. 86% passing! 14 shots! 21 open play crosses! In light of the barren ineptitude of the Real Salt Lake and Colorado away fixtures, some might see progress in that.[2]

But the simple reality is that Wednesday, in the only way that counts, was exactly like the rest of the Timbers’ recent road results: a loss. And a bad one, at that.

Portland’s fate was sealed in the 16^th minute,[3] when Ryan Smith undressed Steven Smith on the Goats’ right wing, sent a ball into the box that was deflected by Troy Perkins, and found Miller Bolanos sitting at the back post for an easy finish.

From there, the Timbers went on to have some control of the match. With the exception of a Pablo Cardozo 74^th minute chip that will go down as one of the misses of the season, Chivas didn’t create much of anything dangerous.

Then again, neither did the Timbers. Portland repeatedly put themselves in an enviable position in the final third, but time and time again were clinically deficient.

In the 19^th minute, Kosuke Kimura tried to pick Kris Boyd out in the box, but the Timbers only effective goalscorer couldn’t quite get foot to it to deflect it past Dan Kennedy.

52 minutes in, Eric Alexander—perhaps the most effective Timber on the afternoon—found Darlington Nagbe in the box, but the chronically confidenceless youngster made a mess of his header in steering it off frame.

Half an hour later, Steven Smith found his countryman in the box on a long ball forward, but Boyd couldn’t direct the over-the-shoulder ball inside the far post. Finally, perhaps mercifully, Smith sent his stoppage time effort from twenty yards wide of the far post.

The season on the field that started with ample optimism has become irretrievably lost. It has become the type of season that, when the Timbers win the league, you’ll turn to the person next to you and say “Do you remember when…?” And because we are Timbers Army, your neighbor will say “yeah, that’s what makes this feel so good.”

So, on Saturday, you’ll find me and I’ll find you doing the same thing we’ve been doing for a while now—heading to our local watering hole to watch our Timbers take on Dallas. And after that we’ll show up at Jeld-Wen Field to sing our throats raw for the team we have on the field now and in the expectancy that our day will come.[4] Because it will. I just don’t know how and don’t know when.

Timbers Grades

Troy Perkins, 4 It would have been a nice save, but Troy could have done better on the concession. In this rough patch the Timbers have needed a savior. While Perkins certainly hasn’t been at fault for much of anything, he hasn’t exactly been the anointed one, either.

Steven Smith, 3 Was helpful getting forward, but his crippling mistakes in defense are becoming a habit—especially on the road. That’s not unexpected for an MLS newbie, but it curiously seems to be getting worse.

Hanyer Mosquera, 5 Solid, if unspectacular game for Mosco. Still the Timbers’ least hypertension-inducing defender.

Futty, 4.5 Seemed a little bit lost, and the Timbers struggled to control their box a little bit, but ultimately wasn’t culpable for anything that did damage.

Kosuke Kimura, 4 Was lucky not to concede another penalty after he took a swing at the ball and looked to kick a Goat in the face. It may have been his best performance, however, and he may be the best crosser on the team right now.

Jack Jewsbury, 5 Pretty neutral match from Jack. The midfield was a lot more sure-handed on Wednesday than they were against LA, but that had more to do with a swap in partners than Jack’s effort.

Diego Chara, 6 Did the simple things simply. Looked to be a step off the pace at times, but that’s understandable considering he hasn’t played much recently. Still a massive improvement in the center of midfield.

Eric Alexander, 6 If there is a guy on the team that has benefitted from Spencer’s sacking it’s Eric. By yanking him in and out of the lineup, it’s clear Spenny got in EA’s head. Should stay in the lineup. If he can start putting shots on frame, he could be a bright spot going forward.

Darlington Nagbe, 5 Had a very Darlingtonesque game. Uses his body and pace to earn space better than just about anybody I’ve ever seen, but then lacks the confidence to make anything of it.

Kalif Alhassan, 4 Really personifies the Timbers’ home-away disparity.

Kris Boyd, 5 Can’t fault him for failing to make anything of the few chances that came his way. All would have been pretty shocking finishes.

Franck Songo’o, 5 Franck was fine, and got himself involved fairly well. But I can’t remember the last time a Timbers sub really made a difference.

Sal Zizzo, 5 Sal was also fine, but this move was curious. EA had been among the most effective Timbers, and the Zizzo sub seemed predetermined, not based on the course of the match at all.

Danny Mwanga, 4 This was the right move—as Alhassan looked lost in the middle—but ultimately Mwanga didn’t make much of a difference.

Preseason Prediction: Chivas 2, Timbers 0.

Actual Result: Chivas 1, Timbers 0.

Onward, Rose City!