Okay, so I’ll just get this out of the way: Allie Long made me cry.

It’s happened before. Vero made me cry more than once last year. Her passion for the game, her disappointment at losses, her love for the fans: her outward expression of these things brought tears from me regularly. Alex Morgan made me cry once when she herself was nearly in tears over the frustration she felt in herself over a less-than-stellar performance coming off an injury. There are pictures of Mana Shim in tears after a hard loss last year that invoke the No One Ever Cries Alone clause in my emotional contract with society at large.

But I didn’t expect it from Allie.

“I’ve said it a million times: my goal is to go to the World Cup or the Olympics so I’m just striving to keep improving and keep getting better,” she told the assembled media post-match.”The NWSL means everything. It’s all that I have to grow and get better each day, to achieve what I want for myself and the team.”

The NWSL means everything.

Listening to her answer questions about being one of the players expected to be in Portland for the full season rather than being called in to World Cup play, it was hard not to wonder how much that hurts. I think there’s still a part of her that believes there’s still a chance she’ll find herself in Canada this summer. And, in my humble and very biased opinion, I think she deserves to be there.

But the reality is this: it might take a lot of stars aligning to get her there.

And that, dear friends, was the point of the tifo.

I saw a fair few people post on Twitter and Facebook about how tonight’s tifo was a tribute to the players who will be playing in the World Cup this year. Well, sure, but it was more than that.

It was a tribute to those players who come from all over the world to play here, to play for us. It was a tribute to those players who pull on a Thorns shirt and play for the love of the club and have no aspiration to play for a national team. It was a tribute to those players who’ve had their shot at international play but won’t make the final roster heading into the World Cup.

Because here, in Portland, in Soccer City, USA, every match means the world.

There are dozens of little stories that could be told about the making of this tribute to our players: a last minute change of production venue when the first layers of paint weren’t yet dry that caused new swear words to be created; the hours and hours of work by dozens of volunteers who abandoned their families, their work, their friends and their normal lives; the absolute, collective refusal to let it be anything short of perfect. And those are the stories you’ll be a part of when you answer the next call for volunteers.

It’s here. It’s finally here. It’s game day.

As per the Thorns game alert email, gates tonight are at 6 p.m. with kick at 7:07. Fanladen (1633 SW Alder) will open at 4:30 p.m. for ticket exchange, merch sales, 107ist membership sign-ups and renewals, and general merriment.

If you have spare tickets you’re not using, you can donate them to the Riveters by transferring them to ticketdonation@rosecityriveters.org. If you’re looking for a ticket, we’ll sell you one of those donated ones at face value and that money will go toward tifo and community projects. Last year, some of the proceeds of ticket sales went to the Jefferson Field project.

We’ve got a new shirt going on sale today. It’s a super-limited run. I sincerely mean it when I say “super-limited.” If you want one, you’ll need to come to Fanladen and you’ll need to do it early.

In stadium, we’ll again try to concentrate on getting all our most vocal Thorns supporters into sections 106, 107, and 108. Concentrated effort = greater volume = greater impact on the atmosphere. Learn the chants. Sing the chants. Support our Thorns. And please, especially today, be ready to go before the anthem. We need you all there. The Thorns need you all there.

***

Other stuff:

April 18: Following the match, the Portland chapter of American Outlaws is hosting an event previewing the Womens World Cup and featuring Thorns Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Rachel Van Holleke and Allie Long. Tickets are available through their Facebook page or at the AOPDX online store. You don’t need to be a member to purchase tickets and proceeds benefit FC West. Let’s send them to nationals!. Go, go, go!

April 30: The 107ist is hosting the US premiere of “Jack to a King” at Cinema 21 with proceeds going to the Cinema 21 refurbishment and to the Jefferson Field resurfacing project. Tickets are available here.

And don’t forget the Oregon Humane Society’s #BiscuitChallenge. We’ve already seen a few Riveters post their videos. Will you be next?

With just weeks left before NWSL’s third season begins, players are arriving and plans are being set in motion. Today, we gather at Merlo Field to see our Thorns take on the University of Portland Pilots.

There’s history here. It was home to Portland’s patron saint of soccer, Clive Charles. It’s been the starting point for so many epic soccer careers. It was here that Tiffeny Milbrett scored her 100th international goal.

This field has played host to thousands of players from around the world and will host thousands more in years to come.

Those who know me know I’m a sappy, sentimental sort, but I’m going to say this anyway: if you’re on the fence about going today, get off the fence and go. And, when you get there, pause for a moment. Think about why you’re there. Is it purely for the sport? Is it for the fellowship of other soccer fans and supporters? Is it in support of the dreams of so many kids coming up through the system, that they may someday play on this field, wear these badges, live their dreams? There’s no wrong answer.

***

If you go, go early. Take public transit if you can as parking is limited.

We posted yesterday on the FB and Twitter that we’d be in sections H and I. The Pilots student sections are traditionally J, K and L. But, because this all feels so last-minute, it’s likely that we’ll have folks all over the stadium. We don’t have capos and drums lined up for this one so if you want a chant to get going, you’re going to have to do it yourselves. This is preseason, after all, and we’re just getting our voices back after the long offseason.

See you all on the bluff in a few hours.

The long, dark offseason is nearly over. The schedule is out. Rumors of player departures and acquisitions are popping up in the strangest places. It’s time.

Let’s do this.

One more call for volunteers:

We’re looking for folks to join the travel, tifo, merch and membership committees. Grab an oar, folks, the boat is about to push back from the dock. Click here for links to the Google doc sign-up pages and more info about what it is we’re looking for. Don’t hesitate, the sign-up pages will close February 7. (But you can still email us at info@rosecityriveters.org if you want to volunteer later.)

And a preseason gathering:

Does it feel like forever since you’ve seen your fellow Thorns friends? Or, in social media cases, made or gained new followers and friends, but have never met them in person? It is time for our first Riveters meet-and-tweet. On February 21st, after you spend the morning planting trees, come out to Bazi from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.. We will be reminiscing about seasons past and watching the 2013 NWSL championship game, as well as discussing the upcoming season. There will be merch for sale, food and beer to consume, and new and old friends to hang out with.

(Heads up, a sing-along version of Purple Rain will follow our gathering, but is a separate event. If you want to stay for His Royal Purpleness, you’ll need to make a separate reservation through the Bazi website (bazipdx.com).)

(That was a lot of parentheses. Sorry.)

And some other stuff:

We’re working on info for away travel, not just for Seattle, but for each of the other eight NWSL cities. We’ll shout when that info is ready to release, so hold off on buying game tickets just now.

As far as Portland-based away day viewings, we’ll be looking for places you guys would like to gather to watch together. Bazi Bierbrasserie has been fantastic and will show most, if not all, away matches, but we’re looking to expand our reach. Do you know of a place in your neighborhood that might be willing to screen matches for us? Without knowing the television schedule, venues will need to be capable of streaming (ideally with sound), must be accessible and, ideally, should be all-ages. Extra points awarded for venues on MAX or bus lines for our mass-transity friends.

We’ll be doing some work on the website over the next few weeks to make it more functional. If you’ve got ideas or suggestions about what works and doesn’t work, please pass them along. Again, info@rosecityriveters.org.

I think that’s it for now. Go on about your business.

As the new season dawns, we want YOU to help out. A small number of people made magic last year; we are hoping for a larger number of people to help make even more magic this year.

Here’s your chance to get your ideas heard and make a real difference.

We need help on the travel team.

We need help on the merch team.

We need help on the tifo team and flag crew.

We need help on the membership team. (Yes, the page says Timbers Army, but we need help from Riveters folks too.)

Step right up, don’t be shy! Let’s maintain our lead as the finest supporters in the league!

The wheels are starting to turn for the 2015 NWSL season and we’re gearing up with new, well, gear.

It’s red! It’s black! It’s got Polka dots! AND IT’S REVERSIBLE! These festive beanies are up for presale (we expect them to be deliverable in late-January – just in time for Valentine’s Day!). Why not order now and avoid the rush?

As an added incentive, you can get free shipping for these babies (and on all orders over $30) by entering the code GIRLSINRED. Make sure you click the “shipping rate” button after entering the code to confirm the free shipping.

So, head on over to https://pdxrivetgear.com and order a bajillion of them. Preseason is always so cold.

A 2-0 loss to FC Kansas City today ended the Thorns season on the road.

This season was a wild ride with ups and downs and twists and turns and, at this point, there’s not much to do but be thankful we have a team that plays in a beautiful stadium, in a gorgeous city, and gives their all for the badge they wear.

Well, there is one more thing.

There’s a long tradition of welcoming home the winners, those who’ve bested their opponents and lifted a trophy. Sadly, the Thorns fell short in their game today. But, being who we are and supporting as we do, we want more than anything to lift them up once more as the season closes.

So, we’re going to the airport again. We don’t expect the response we had last year when quite literally hundreds of folks turned out to greet our championship team. We’re going anyway.

There are two flights coming in, the first at 9:25 a.m., the second at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. For those of you attending the Timbers Cascadia match at 2 p.m., that second flight might be cutting it close for a noon gate time.

If you can make it to greet either or both flights, come on out. I’ll be the one wearing the scarf and waving a cell phone around. I’ll post on the Twitter account (@pdxriveterssg) where to find me tomorrow when I get on site.

As was the case last year, please be aware that not everyone in the airport is there to see the Thorns and act accordingly. Some of these poor folks just want to get home and will be ill-prepared for the likes of us. Apologies in advance for barking at you to clear a path should that be necessary.

I’ll see you lot in the morning.

Today’s display was a gallery of art for our players. The main banner image was Pablo Picasso’s bouquet of flowers with a quote which means “Everything you can imagine is real.”

The front banner was based on Piet Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie Woogie.

And then there were the two-sticks. Riveters painted a custom banner for each player, and we presented them to the players after the match.

Jackie Acevedo was based on Frida Kahlo’s “Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”.

Nadine Angerer was based on posters from the Bauhaus school, particularly the work of Joost Schmidt.

Michelle Betos was based on Fernand Leger’s “Woman with a Book”.

Vero Boquete was based on a detail from “Las Meninas” by Diego Velázquez.

Amber Brooks was based on Robert Indiana’s“LOVE”.

Steph Catley was based on Aboriginal dot paintings.

Sinead Farrelly was based on “Portrait of Maggie Wilson” by Frank Duveneck.

Tobin Heath was based on the work of Bob Ross.

Sarah Huffman was based on Raymond Kaskey’s Portlandia statue.

Angie Kerr was based on the work of Patrick Nagel.

Allie Long was based on Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroes.

Nikki Marshall was based on M.C. Escher’s “Hand with Reflecting Sphere”.

Emily Menges was based on the work of Keith Haring.

Jessica McDonald was based on Laylah Ali’s Greenheads series.

Alex Morgan was based on Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.

Rebecca Moros was based on old Samurai woodblock prints.

Courtney Niemiec was based on the work of Roy Lichtenstein.

Mana Shim was based on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”.

Christine Sinclair was based on Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase”.

Kat Tarr was based on Rosie the Riveter by Norman Rockwell.

Hanna Terry was based on “Woman with Braid” by Jacques Lipchitz.

And Rachel Van Hollebeke was based on Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”.

We Louvre our Portland Thorns!

The principles that constitute the annual donation drive known as By Your Capo A Pint aren’t exclusive to any one group like the Timbers Army, but they and the 107ist have championed this initiative for the past five seasons with aplomb. So it’s probably safe to presume that you’ve read about its origins involving Tim Burr, a Stuttgart jersey, capos, values, charities, kids, etc.

That also means that you can probably figure out what the Rose City Riveters plan to do in about two weeks’ time on August 17th, yes?

We: The 107ist, Rose City Riveters, Portland, Cascadia, humanity and so on, seek to create a realizable philosophy that actualizes our beliefs into actions.

We, as capos, help people to find their voice during match day.

Buy Your Capo A Pint is a chance for the people in our sections to say, “Thank you” to the conductors of the NWSL’s most insatiable supporters by requesting one more thing of you: Whatever you would consider to be the value of a complimentary beverage for a hard-working capo, instead of buying that beverage put that money into our pickle buckets and we will turn it into tuition for young girls to attend Portland’s own Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls.

The choice to benefit this magnificent group speaks volumes that are arguably equal to those that the RCR doles out on match days for the Thorns.

“Creative voices of girls and women need to be amplified to create social change. Girls need positive role models and support for their creative endeavors. We can build a community where girls support each other rather than tear each other down. We can empower girls to recognize, understand and respond to discrimination. ‘Girls Rock’ is more than just a slogan.”

http://www.girlsrockcamp.org/

August 17th is the last match of the regular season for the Thorns.

August 17th we host our rivals from the north before the post-season begins.

August 17th will require your heart, you extra vocal chords, your passion and your rhythm.

August 17th presents to you the opportunity to help many young girls a chance to become confidant, empowered women who rock.

See you in the stands.

Hey! Ho! Go Thorns!

– The Rose City Riveters Capos, Drums and Trumpets

The results are in and the people have spoken! With 59% of the vote out of almost 500 people voting, the undisputed winner this year is Vero Boquete. ¡¡Felicidades Vero!! We’ll be honoring you at the match this weekend.

Honorable mention goes to runners-up Jess McDonald, Nadine Angerer, and Christine Sinclair.