&masdh;by Lucas Grzybowski

I had a good time at the 107ist stadium tour this afternoon. As some of you know I've been blogging about the renovation on my personal blog, and I was just at the Park two days ago so I didn't see anything new. But a lot of other people got their first glimpse of the new digs, and had the chance to grill the construction foreman to boot.

It was a nice afternoon at the new/old ball park, which as soon as tomorrow may have a different name, and which one month from tomorrow will host its first ever MLS game. It's almost here!

Thanks again to the Timbers, 107ist and Papa Murphy's for today's tour. Here's a panorama I took on my phone, compared with roughly the same shot from the first stadium tour, in November (click both for big versions):

If you attended a Portland Timbers match in 2010, the chances are pretty good that you saw a table set up in the concourse with a couple volunteers chatting up strangers about the game, handing out chant sheets, and maybe even signing up a few new 107ist members.

We're looking for 107ist volunteers this season to help cover an expanded presence in the stadium to show off what our organization has accomplished and help bring new fans into our group. There are no requirements for how long you've been a fan or whether or not you have an official title. If you want to talk to other Timbers fans about why you're excited to be part of this, that's absolutely what we're looking for.

Things will start moving quickly after Colorado away. We'll start putting up some sign up sheets for shifts in individual home matches, figure out exactly where our tables will be placed (West Stand 107ists are strongly encouraged to volunteer), and maybe even have a volunteer-only meet and greet a week or so before the Chicago home opener to answer your questions and make sure you feel comfortable representing us in the park.

Thanks everyone. RCTID.

US Men's National Team and D.C. United striker Charlie Davies on his recovery and future. It's worth a watch if you have some time.

This is really as formal of an announcement as we will have about the Heritage Cup. We have decided we do not want to participate in this supporter driven tournament as we feel it adds no value to the Cascadia Cup and may actually devalue our historic competition in that it is the same thing +1. We do respect the history that our four clubs share, but aren’t interested in participating in a four way competition at this time.

Below is the answer we have given those who coordinate the Heritage Cup.

While we recognize the effort put into this endeavor, the board of the 107ist (Timbers Army 107 Independent Supporters Trust) do not feel that we want to be involved with the project at this time. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have worked with Seattle and Vancouver fans over the past decade to build support for the Cascadia Cup, and do not feel that the Heritage Cup competition would be distinctly different enough to warrant our participation. If the Tampa Bay Rowdies and rumored resurrection of the Cosmos in NY were to be included we would reconsider this position, and most likely sign on to the Heritage Cup. As our president Dave Hoyt puts it " If there was a Cascadia +3, then I think it could be seen as a legitimately different rivalry cup."

—by Garrett Dittfurth

By now I'm sure most of you have seen the MLS supporters Top 5 MLS all-time tifo. I have to admit I'm scratching my head a lot about including the Charlie Davies display in the top 5.

In no way am I trashing the nice gesture the team from up North made for injured USMNT striker Charlie Davies. It was a great thing to do. How in the hell can a display of 30K printed out pieces of paper paid for by Drew Carey be counted as one of the best tifo displays in MLS history? Drew Carey didn't even think it up as it had already been done 10 days before at the USMNT World Cup Qualifying match in Washington, DC, October 14, 2009.

A very nice gesture to be sure. One of the best in the history of the league...hardly. Anyone have any thoughts?

—by Lucas Grzybowski

Today is Tuesday, which means tonight is Tuesday night (still following me?), and that means Quizzy Trivia at 107ist partner Bitter End Pub.

Some of you may know me from various online forums as Totalnerd (or occasionally Nerdski). This isn't just an empty moniker; I've been using this alias since college, when my friends and I used to get together on Friday nights and read Latin. I'm also a die-hard fan of Jeopardy!, and at one point my obsession was so bad I used to tape episodes (as in magnetic video cassettes to watch later if I couldn't be in front of a TV at 7pm. Trivial Pursuit? Yes, please!

So yeah, I love trivia. With that in mind, it's strange that I've never been a big fan of bar trivia. Either the questions are too esoteric and specific, or people are too competitive (see: David Brent); for whatever reason I just never enjoyed it. So it was a pleasant surprise last week, when I finally made my way to Bitter End for the new weekly trivia, that it was a lot of fun. It's low key, no hyper-competitiveness, and the questions are funny (a frequent theme last week was "Sheen or Gaddafi?"). I played with Team Rectum (I think that's what they were called), who won for the 3rd consecutive week.

I'm definitely going again tonight, and plan to make it a regular Tuesday thing. Rumor has it this week will see the entrance of a Suns of Ricky team into the fray. Get ready to be PWNED, Team Rectum!

The fun starts at 7:01pm, and is hosted by Quiz Mistress par excellence Sabrina Miller. It's free to play, and the prize is $5 in bar cash to each member of the winning team (up to 5 ppl). So grab your 107ist cards and get stuck in, nerds!

Reaction to Kenny Cooper’s stoppage time goal, which gave the Timbers a 2-0 win over sounders in a preseason Cascadia Summit match in Tukwila, WA.

Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer

This is the second post from guest blogger Bradley Stonecypher

I have read quite about about the debate of turf versus grass. There are some purists out there that are disappointed about the decision of turf for PGE Park. After watching Arsenal playing at Leyton Orient a couple of weeks ago, then watching the RSL vs. Columbus match the other night, I must say I am leaning more towards turf than grass. I think I would rather see a game on turf than on dust and dirt. I know Oregon is famous for its grass...ok, get your mind out of the gutter...I mean green grass. But I also know that the maintenance cost of grass is rather expensive, and that expense would come out of my pocket with increased prices at the gate and probably at the concession stand as well. I am blessed to be able to afford my seats, but I also understand that the Timbers want to make this affordable for folks and I think turf allows a little bit more affordability.

Watching Arsenal destroy Leyton Orient at Emirates Stadium today, I wondered about what the cost of maintaining that pitch is. I am sure it is in the millions a year. That pitch is immaculate. I would rather have that money to spend on players.

When you look at PGE Park, it gets very limited sunshine, not to mention I think there would be serious drainage issues as well. It makes business sense to be with turf. I would like to get your opinion on the matter, pro or con, but let's keep it civil. If you are for one or the other, please tell us why.

Important information for all this weekend.

Dear Summit Attendee,

The moment is upon us. We are less than 48 hours away from the Cascadia Summit this weekend. These are exciting times and we hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are.

We will also be sending you a detailed itinerary for the weekend depending on the transportation method you chose when purchasing tickets.

We wanted to take a minute to impress upon you the importance of behavior this weekend and the consequences to all of us if things do not go as planned.

You are representing all Timbers fans this weekend. The Timbers Army is famous for traveling in numbers, traveling well and having a blast doing it. These games, especially Friday night against Seattle, should be no different.

We are asking you to rise above and hold you, your friends and everyone around you to a higher standard. We are louder, prouder and bigger than we have ever been, and we are the standard by which all other supporters groups will now be measured. Simply put we are the best.

With that title comes responsibility.

We are asking that you be responsible. To rise above any nonsense that rival fans may attempt to engage you in. The country will be watching so let's show them what all the fuss is about by doing what we do best: singing loud and proud for a full 90 minutes.

We have met with security for Starfire and Qwest and they have informed us that the same standards and consequences that apply at Qwest will apply at the Starfire complex. That means no smoke bombs, flares or pyrotechnics of any kind, with the possibility of arrest for violations. It also means no entering a rival supporters section for any reason, and obviously also means no projectiles thrown onto the pitch. Violation of this will have consequences not just for attending away matches but home as well.

The good news is that we will have our own entrance, section, beer garden and restrooms.

We have all worked hard to get to this moment.MLS in Portland.MLS Timbers vs MLS Sounders and MLS Whitecaps. Let's celebrate that this weekend the best way we know how: with class.

Sincerely,

Your 107ist Board Members

—by Andrew Brawley

I'll admit it. I'm a Timbers travel virgin, and I'm a little anxious about my first away trip to the Cascadia Summit this weekend. (I'm on the bus-and-back for the SEA game on Friday only.) From reading the boards here and there, seems like we'll have quite a few newbs making their own first trip this weekend. Not surprising, seeing as we're now in the bigs, and more people wanna join in on the fun.

So what's a travel virgin to do? Based on everything I've read, it sounds like these tips are tops:

1. Use your brain. Don't be an idiot.

2. Ease up on the booze.

3. Travel in packs. Safety in numbers.

4. Go casual. Either hide your scarf/kit upon entry, or leave them at home.

Doesn't sound all that difficult. And let's not forget that we're making our MLS debut this weekend. The games will be streaming online, and many outsiders will be watching to get their first real-time glimpse of the Timbers Army. Let's make a good showing and keep the detractors at bay.

Travel safe!