Thanks to those of you following Timberlandia! I've made some changes, and Timberlandia.com is now active! Check out the new site, it should allow me to do some fun stuff. I'd like to thank Blogger for giving me the platform to move Timberlandia to greater heights.
You can also 'Like' the Timberlandia Facebook page here.
Cheers!
Brenaldo
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tribute to Portland
Just a quick note, inspired by my love for the songs and chants the Timbers Army have belted out match after match, year after year. My mates and I always come up with our own verses to share, be it a new song (more to come on this), or a witty (to us, anyway) jibe to harangue the match officials. In honor of my beloved city, I've penned a little tune that will hopefully resonate from the North End one day:
My pretty, gritty, city!
My pretty, gritty, city!
My pretty, gritty, city!
PORTLAND, OREGON!
REPEAT
My pretty, gritty, city!
My pretty, gritty, city!
My pretty, gritty, city!
PORTLAND, OREGON!
REPEAT
Monday, March 14, 2011
Do We Need to Re-Tour Jeld-Wen Field Now?
In case you missed it, it's now Jeld-Wen Field. Presumably the stadium is no longer a park, at least not a PGE one. Maybe they'll have some say in the actual field dimensions and expand the Jeld-Wen footprint.
The Dream of Soccer is Alive in Portland
Great article by Jeff Carlisle of ESPN. The bit about Timber Jim's daughter's death and the birth of singing 'You Are My Sunshine' always brings a tear to my eye.
The Dream of Soccer is Alive in Timberlandia!
The Dream of Soccer is Alive in Timberlandia!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
PGE Park Stadium Tour
I was fortunate again this weekend, this time being offered a spot on the pre-season stadium tour by my soccer mate Greg, who was gracious enough to bring my buddy Nik and I along for the festivities. I'd tried before to peer in at the new construction a month or so back, but with all the construction tarps up it was difficult to see much of anything. Now given the chance to see the view of the new east side stand from the inside, I was expectedly giddy with excitement as we exercised a common pre-game ritual of stopping in at the Bull Pen for a quick bite and drink to ready ourselves.
Now, once inside, the event turned out to be less of a tour and more of a 'come in, sit down, and check out the nice view from here', which wasn't all that bad, but still left it up to the imagination what the yet unfinished east and south stands looked like up close. Albeit unable to get a full walking tour, the view was nonetheless impressive. Ever since that US Men's National Team versus Costa Rica World Cup Qualifier the stadium hosted back in 1997 (temporary stands were brought in to increase capacity), I've dreamed for years of PGE Park having seating on all sides for soccer, and seeing it come to fruition will bring joy to all Timbers fans.
The tour and Q&A session was emceed by Greg Halloran, who manages the project for Turner Construction. He gave a nice background of the stadium's history (built in 1926 and retrofitted in 2000), and he answered the crowd's questions with alacrity and aplomb. I won't go too deep into the technical side of the construction, as most of that information is available at the Timbers website, but there were a few revelations that piqued the interest and will come as a surprise to most returning Timbers fans.
First, the newly re-aligned pitch will remain the same length and width dimensions it has maintained over the last decade, 110 yards long by 70 yards wide. Most attending shared the impression that the stadium re-design would allow for a widening and lengthening of the pitch, and the decision to stay with the previous pitch size was, to be quite honest, a bit surprising. International field regulations allow for some variance of field size, with length ranging from a maximum of 120 yards to a minimum of 110 yards, and width from a maximum of 80 yards to a minimum of 70 yards.
The rationale given was that GM/Technical Director Gavin Wilkinson determined that the shorter, narrower pitch size played to the Timbers strengths, although the fact this news was delivered secondhand by the construction management left something to be desired as to why a smaller pitch was really favorable for sporting purposes. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out, literally.
Another notable fact was that the away supporters section will remain in 223, as far as possible from the Timbers Army, and with their own separate entrance. A wise decision by Timbers management to continue this practice, although those more casual Timbers fans that may be seated next to those section should be prepared for a more boisterous environment, particularly when Seattle and Vancouver come to visit, with both of those clubs alloted 500 seats.
Continuing another important practice, the Timbers will use a water-based paint system that allows the lines for soccer and for American football to be washed off between matches so fans of each sport won't be encumbered by the annoyance of trying to discern whether a ball was out of play due to the confusion of multiple sport lines. Not only is this detrimental to spectators in attendance, but it detracts from the TV viewing audience's pleasure as it's really an eyesore. Good on the Timbers for adopting a method that accommodates multi-sport use of the stadium without sacrificing match play integrity.
The last comment I'll make that will certainly have others talking is the move of the Widmer sideline beer garden from the SW corner to the South End, now dubbed 'The Far Prost' and sits on a 'party deck' behind a small section of bleachers behind the goal. The move itself makes sense, but it was explained that this would now be a ticketed section, primarily for group sales use. Disappointing news to this Timbers fan (and I'm sure many others) as the Widmer section will no longer be the domain of the common man, but rather that of the elite. Not a very Timberlandia style move by the management (and quite the antithesis of beer garden culture here in Beervana), but we'll see whether access will be allowed to more than just the lucky few.
The move isn't entirely unprecedented, but typically only a portion of the beer garden was 'reserved' for private parties. I for one hope the Timbers re-think their position on this, and it makes me wonder how many other new rules may be imposed that will limit fans ability to roam about during the game. One of my favorite activities at Timbers games (besides singing with the Army and seeing the Timbers score), is going on a walkabout to say hi to friends in other sections, take in a few minutes of the match from their respective seats, then moseying on down to the beer garden to enjoy a pint a touch closer to the pitch. And of course, this also would eliminate the great pastime of heckling the opposing goalkeeper during both halves of the match as access will apparently be denied.
Besides these questionable decisions by management, we'll have to reserve judgement to see what effect they may have on match play and atmosphere. Despite those objections, all in all the stadium expansion and renovation gets top marks, it will truly be a world class facility. It's a realization of years of dreaming for Timbers fans, and seeing the view from close to where I'll be sitting, er, standing during matches will only make me salivate more over the next month as I await with eager anticipation the home opener on April 14th against Chicago.
Pints up Portland!
Brenaldo
Now, once inside, the event turned out to be less of a tour and more of a 'come in, sit down, and check out the nice view from here', which wasn't all that bad, but still left it up to the imagination what the yet unfinished east and south stands looked like up close. Albeit unable to get a full walking tour, the view was nonetheless impressive. Ever since that US Men's National Team versus Costa Rica World Cup Qualifier the stadium hosted back in 1997 (temporary stands were brought in to increase capacity), I've dreamed for years of PGE Park having seating on all sides for soccer, and seeing it come to fruition will bring joy to all Timbers fans.
The tour and Q&A session was emceed by Greg Halloran, who manages the project for Turner Construction. He gave a nice background of the stadium's history (built in 1926 and retrofitted in 2000), and he answered the crowd's questions with alacrity and aplomb. I won't go too deep into the technical side of the construction, as most of that information is available at the Timbers website, but there were a few revelations that piqued the interest and will come as a surprise to most returning Timbers fans.
First, the newly re-aligned pitch will remain the same length and width dimensions it has maintained over the last decade, 110 yards long by 70 yards wide. Most attending shared the impression that the stadium re-design would allow for a widening and lengthening of the pitch, and the decision to stay with the previous pitch size was, to be quite honest, a bit surprising. International field regulations allow for some variance of field size, with length ranging from a maximum of 120 yards to a minimum of 110 yards, and width from a maximum of 80 yards to a minimum of 70 yards.
The rationale given was that GM/Technical Director Gavin Wilkinson determined that the shorter, narrower pitch size played to the Timbers strengths, although the fact this news was delivered secondhand by the construction management left something to be desired as to why a smaller pitch was really favorable for sporting purposes. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out, literally.
Another notable fact was that the away supporters section will remain in 223, as far as possible from the Timbers Army, and with their own separate entrance. A wise decision by Timbers management to continue this practice, although those more casual Timbers fans that may be seated next to those section should be prepared for a more boisterous environment, particularly when Seattle and Vancouver come to visit, with both of those clubs alloted 500 seats.
Continuing another important practice, the Timbers will use a water-based paint system that allows the lines for soccer and for American football to be washed off between matches so fans of each sport won't be encumbered by the annoyance of trying to discern whether a ball was out of play due to the confusion of multiple sport lines. Not only is this detrimental to spectators in attendance, but it detracts from the TV viewing audience's pleasure as it's really an eyesore. Good on the Timbers for adopting a method that accommodates multi-sport use of the stadium without sacrificing match play integrity.
The last comment I'll make that will certainly have others talking is the move of the Widmer sideline beer garden from the SW corner to the South End, now dubbed 'The Far Prost' and sits on a 'party deck' behind a small section of bleachers behind the goal. The move itself makes sense, but it was explained that this would now be a ticketed section, primarily for group sales use. Disappointing news to this Timbers fan (and I'm sure many others) as the Widmer section will no longer be the domain of the common man, but rather that of the elite. Not a very Timberlandia style move by the management (and quite the antithesis of beer garden culture here in Beervana), but we'll see whether access will be allowed to more than just the lucky few.
The move isn't entirely unprecedented, but typically only a portion of the beer garden was 'reserved' for private parties. I for one hope the Timbers re-think their position on this, and it makes me wonder how many other new rules may be imposed that will limit fans ability to roam about during the game. One of my favorite activities at Timbers games (besides singing with the Army and seeing the Timbers score), is going on a walkabout to say hi to friends in other sections, take in a few minutes of the match from their respective seats, then moseying on down to the beer garden to enjoy a pint a touch closer to the pitch. And of course, this also would eliminate the great pastime of heckling the opposing goalkeeper during both halves of the match as access will apparently be denied.
Besides these questionable decisions by management, we'll have to reserve judgement to see what effect they may have on match play and atmosphere. Despite those objections, all in all the stadium expansion and renovation gets top marks, it will truly be a world class facility. It's a realization of years of dreaming for Timbers fans, and seeing the view from close to where I'll be sitting, er, standing during matches will only make me salivate more over the next month as I await with eager anticipation the home opener on April 14th against Chicago.
Pints up Portland!
Brenaldo
Friday, March 11, 2011
No Pity Photo Shoot Part Deux
After the popularity of the first round of the 'No Pity' photo shoot that brought out Timbers supporters in droves, I was bummed I'd missed out. I could easily have gone myself, as I work mere blocks form the Timbers temporary team store downtown, but I wanted my picture taken with my two young lads, and the times just didn't work out the first go round. Given a second chance, I knew I couldn't miss out. And then I nearly did.
Failing to have updated my e-mail address with the Timbers, the invite to RSVP had been lost in a Hotmail junk folder, and by the time I figured it out, the RSVP list was closed. Desperate, I e-mailed the Timbers to see if there was any chance of getting in. Waiting on bated breath, the Timbers Director of Ticket Services, Chris Wilson, pulled some strings and told me if I could get down to the store today, they could squeeze me in. I gladly accepted the offer and ran home at lunch to grab my Timbers gear and headed back downtown to wait with eager anticipation.
Stoked and grateful, I arranged to have my boys brought downtown, and with them fully kitted out in Timbers scarves and jerseys, they at first proved a bit apprehensive about stepping in front of the camera and the professional photography setup. Not unheard of for 4 and 6 year olds, but once they were handed a few axes to hold, their demeanor quickly changed and the camera shyness transformed into raw aggression as they wielded their new weapons as junior members of the Timbers Army. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the pics turned out, it'll be a proud moment for this headband wearing father of two.
I must say, the Timbers have really tapped into the pulse of Portland with their No Pity billboard campaign, there's a fine line between grassroots authenticity and corporate marketing, and the Timbers have struck a nice balance between getting paid and making the supporters consider themselves an integral part of it all. They won't always make the right decisions every time, but management is savvy enough to know they must keep the Timbers Army in their corner to grow the club.
I'll post the pic once the Timbers wrap up the photo shoot this weekend. Even if you don't have a spot reserved for this go round, I'd encourage you to cruise by the store and feel the buzz and excitement. We're just over a week away from the opening kickoff at Colorado, and I for one simply can't wait.Adidas MLS Portland Timbers Tropheo Soccer Ball
Failing to have updated my e-mail address with the Timbers, the invite to RSVP had been lost in a Hotmail junk folder, and by the time I figured it out, the RSVP list was closed. Desperate, I e-mailed the Timbers to see if there was any chance of getting in. Waiting on bated breath, the Timbers Director of Ticket Services, Chris Wilson, pulled some strings and told me if I could get down to the store today, they could squeeze me in. I gladly accepted the offer and ran home at lunch to grab my Timbers gear and headed back downtown to wait with eager anticipation.
Stoked and grateful, I arranged to have my boys brought downtown, and with them fully kitted out in Timbers scarves and jerseys, they at first proved a bit apprehensive about stepping in front of the camera and the professional photography setup. Not unheard of for 4 and 6 year olds, but once they were handed a few axes to hold, their demeanor quickly changed and the camera shyness transformed into raw aggression as they wielded their new weapons as junior members of the Timbers Army. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the pics turned out, it'll be a proud moment for this headband wearing father of two.
I must say, the Timbers have really tapped into the pulse of Portland with their No Pity billboard campaign, there's a fine line between grassroots authenticity and corporate marketing, and the Timbers have struck a nice balance between getting paid and making the supporters consider themselves an integral part of it all. They won't always make the right decisions every time, but management is savvy enough to know they must keep the Timbers Army in their corner to grow the club.
I'll post the pic once the Timbers wrap up the photo shoot this weekend. Even if you don't have a spot reserved for this go round, I'd encourage you to cruise by the store and feel the buzz and excitement. We're just over a week away from the opening kickoff at Colorado, and I for one simply can't wait.Adidas MLS Portland Timbers Tropheo Soccer Ball
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Timbers To Sign Designated Player?
There's been a lot of talk leading up to the season about if/when/who the Timbers may sign to fill the Designated Player (DP) roster spot. For the MLS uninitiated, the DP is essentially the 'Beckham Rule' exemption each team has to sign up to 3 players to contracts that exceed the league's per club salary cap and the per player maximum salary of $335K per season. There's a bunch of other stuff involved to make this actually happen, such as Allocation Money, but I'll spare you the minutiae of the business side to focus on what we really want to know. Who are potential candidates to be a 'big name' signing for the Timbers?
In the Timbers Army forum, the buzz has centered around one potential player, Marco Flores, an Argentinian playing for the Australian A-League's Adelaide United. I hadn't heard of him before (I've seen a few A-League matches on Fox Soccer Channel and it seems comparable to the level of play in MLS), but on the basis of this highlight video, he'd definitely bring some flair as an attacking midfielder. And at 25, he's already proven talismanic for his Aussie club, recently picking up the A-League's top individual honor, the Johnny Warren Medal, a first for the player and the club.
Now, I'm all for picking up a talented midfielder, but I'm not sure Flores brings more to the Timbers table than what we already have at his position, such as draft pick Darlington Nagbe. Is it worth spending DP money on a player of Flores's caliber if it's only marginally above the potential of already rostered players? Maybe, maybe not, as Flores has the experience of playing and excelling in a league similar to MLS, but any player switching leagues, much less continents, is going to take time to settle in to his new surroundings and teammates before making the same impact.
We'll have to wait and see what Timbers management decides to do here, but my guess is unless the right player comes along for the right money, we'll be standing pat with our roster and build on the chemistry Timbers manager John Spencer has developed through an unbeaten pre-season. Thus far, picking up MLS and US National Team veterans such as Kenny Cooper, Sal Zizzo, and Jack Jewsbury have proven shrewd acquisitions, and it's more likely the Timbers stick with a lineup balanced between capable experience and hungry up and comers.
That said, I won't let that stop me from speculating on foreign stars that I believe could step in today and make the Timbers transform from an expansion team playing on guts and hope into a formidable contender for a playoff spot in their inaugural MLS season. Here's two that I'd love to see sport Timbers green:
1) Juan Roman Riquelme- After a successful spell at Spanish Primera Liga's Villareal and an instrumental role in Argentina's 2006 World Cup run, Riquelme returned home to Boca Juniors, where he's played a key role, albeit somewhat diminished in the current season. At 33, Riquelme still has life in his legs yet, and the great thing about him is there's no concern over him losing pace with age, as he never really had any to begin with. Riquelme's strength is in his tight control and pinpoint distribution, which he has in spades. If former DP's such as Columbus's Guillermo Barros Schelotto or Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco could be stars in this league late in their careers, Riquelme would be an absolute pearl, giving the Timbers a world class star with the ability to dictate match tempo and impose his will on the opposition. Gate draw? Let's just say if any of the excitement of the Timbers first season starts to wane, the Hispanic community will easily fill any void in support with Riquelme involved. Chances of landing him? Unlikely, unless the Timbers are willing to splash the cash.
2) Ryan Giggs- At 37, and having just signed on for another year of service to Manchester United, this is admittedly a pipe dream to bring in one of the world's most durable and skilled wingers. Giggs has spent 20 years in Manchester United's first team, and is still an instrumental part of their success, starting most matches and coming off the bench in others to provide a spark late on. For the Timbers, Giggs could shift to a more central midfield role, providing a level of skill and experience unmatched in any league. Too old, perhaps? After 800+ appearances and still going strong, Giggs is simply a physical phenom that could conceivably play well into his 40's and put lads half his age to shame as he nutmegs them with regularity. Gate draw? Giggs may not be as flashy a name as Beckham, but the Welshman's ability and skill are far superior and will win over even the casual fan with his ability to influence a match in the run of play, not simply on set pieces and the occasional cross. Chances of landing him? Slim to none, too likely to retire once he finally calls time on his Man U career.
We may not see more activity before the season starts on March 19th at Colorado, but the MLS transfer window doesn't close until March 31st, so there's hope yet. The mid-season transfer window is August 15th-September 15th, my bet is if Portland is in contention for a playoff spot that late in the season, owner Merritt Paulson will loosen the purse strings and bring in a big name to take Portland to the next level.
In the Timbers Army forum, the buzz has centered around one potential player, Marco Flores, an Argentinian playing for the Australian A-League's Adelaide United. I hadn't heard of him before (I've seen a few A-League matches on Fox Soccer Channel and it seems comparable to the level of play in MLS), but on the basis of this highlight video, he'd definitely bring some flair as an attacking midfielder. And at 25, he's already proven talismanic for his Aussie club, recently picking up the A-League's top individual honor, the Johnny Warren Medal, a first for the player and the club.
Now, I'm all for picking up a talented midfielder, but I'm not sure Flores brings more to the Timbers table than what we already have at his position, such as draft pick Darlington Nagbe. Is it worth spending DP money on a player of Flores's caliber if it's only marginally above the potential of already rostered players? Maybe, maybe not, as Flores has the experience of playing and excelling in a league similar to MLS, but any player switching leagues, much less continents, is going to take time to settle in to his new surroundings and teammates before making the same impact.
We'll have to wait and see what Timbers management decides to do here, but my guess is unless the right player comes along for the right money, we'll be standing pat with our roster and build on the chemistry Timbers manager John Spencer has developed through an unbeaten pre-season. Thus far, picking up MLS and US National Team veterans such as Kenny Cooper, Sal Zizzo, and Jack Jewsbury have proven shrewd acquisitions, and it's more likely the Timbers stick with a lineup balanced between capable experience and hungry up and comers.
That said, I won't let that stop me from speculating on foreign stars that I believe could step in today and make the Timbers transform from an expansion team playing on guts and hope into a formidable contender for a playoff spot in their inaugural MLS season. Here's two that I'd love to see sport Timbers green:
1) Juan Roman Riquelme- After a successful spell at Spanish Primera Liga's Villareal and an instrumental role in Argentina's 2006 World Cup run, Riquelme returned home to Boca Juniors, where he's played a key role, albeit somewhat diminished in the current season. At 33, Riquelme still has life in his legs yet, and the great thing about him is there's no concern over him losing pace with age, as he never really had any to begin with. Riquelme's strength is in his tight control and pinpoint distribution, which he has in spades. If former DP's such as Columbus's Guillermo Barros Schelotto or Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco could be stars in this league late in their careers, Riquelme would be an absolute pearl, giving the Timbers a world class star with the ability to dictate match tempo and impose his will on the opposition. Gate draw? Let's just say if any of the excitement of the Timbers first season starts to wane, the Hispanic community will easily fill any void in support with Riquelme involved. Chances of landing him? Unlikely, unless the Timbers are willing to splash the cash.
2) Ryan Giggs- At 37, and having just signed on for another year of service to Manchester United, this is admittedly a pipe dream to bring in one of the world's most durable and skilled wingers. Giggs has spent 20 years in Manchester United's first team, and is still an instrumental part of their success, starting most matches and coming off the bench in others to provide a spark late on. For the Timbers, Giggs could shift to a more central midfield role, providing a level of skill and experience unmatched in any league. Too old, perhaps? After 800+ appearances and still going strong, Giggs is simply a physical phenom that could conceivably play well into his 40's and put lads half his age to shame as he nutmegs them with regularity. Gate draw? Giggs may not be as flashy a name as Beckham, but the Welshman's ability and skill are far superior and will win over even the casual fan with his ability to influence a match in the run of play, not simply on set pieces and the occasional cross. Chances of landing him? Slim to none, too likely to retire once he finally calls time on his Man U career.
We may not see more activity before the season starts on March 19th at Colorado, but the MLS transfer window doesn't close until March 31st, so there's hope yet. The mid-season transfer window is August 15th-September 15th, my bet is if Portland is in contention for a playoff spot that late in the season, owner Merritt Paulson will loosen the purse strings and bring in a big name to take Portland to the next level.
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