Major League Soccer/Portland Timbers press conference scheduled for Friday

[SodaPopinski]

9:30 a.m. this Friday at the Portland Hilton downtown. Major announcement.

-Pop

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

you forgot to add: hold on to your shorts!

 

[maxiep]

This is bloody fantastic news. I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I loved watching the NASL Timbers.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Blimey!

 

[SodaPopinski]

This is bloody fantastic news. I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I loved watching the NASL Timbers.

And now the oldest rivalry in American soccer will be revived. Vancouver expansion announced today. Portland announced on Friday. It will be a return to the Timbers/Sounders/Whitecaps rivalry at the top level of U.S. soccer (they played for several years in the USL, one step below the MLS).

-Pop

 

[maxiep]

And now the oldest rivalry in American soccer will be revived. Vancouver expansion announced today. Portland announced on Friday. It will be a return to the Timbers/Sounders/Whitecaps rivalry at the top level of U.S. soccer (they played for several years in the USL, one step below the MLS).

-Pop

Vancouver got a team? Fantastic! The Pacific Northwest Rivalry is back!

As an aside, I wonder if Steve Nash would purchase a chunk of the 'Caps? That would be win/win.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

might have to be an FC Portland fan. Never got into the Galaxy...the crowd was kind of lame to be honest.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

will they be called the Timbers?

 

[maxiep]

will they be called the Timbers?

It would be sacrilage if they weren't.

 

[SodaPopinski]

will they be called the Timbers?

Yes. I think Paulson's exact words on the BFT last week were "There won't be a naming contest ... you can take that to the bank."

-Pop

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Why do American sports teams always have to have a nickname within their official name? Why can't they just be called Portland FC?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

marketing $$$$, exclusive licensising, etc.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Vancouver got a team? Fantastic! The Pacific Northwest Rivalry is back!

As an aside, I wonder if Steve Nash would purchase a chunk of the 'Caps? That would be win/win.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ibwxS0FyU_kQLn_fmaA7pfuShHWA

Current Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot is heading the Vancouver ownership group. NBA star Steve Nash is also involved along with San Francisco Giants co-owner Jeff Mallett and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Luczo.

There's your win/win.

-Pop

 

[maxiep]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ibwxS0FyU_kQLn_fmaA7pfuShHWA



There's your win/win.

-Pop

I honestly think Nash loves soccer more than hoops. It's just that he can make a better living dribbling with his hands rather than his feet.

 

[SodaPopinski]

The only downside to Nash's love for soccer is that he's a Tottenham fan. I can't fathom why anyone would throw their support behind that joke of a club.

-Pop

 

[Colonel Ronan]

The only downside to Nash's love for soccer is that he's a Tottenham fan. I can't fathom why anyone would throw their support behind that joke of a club.

-Pop

Hahaha! You're a god among men, Pop.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Hahaha! You're a god among men, Pop.

This is one of my favorite vids. Final game at Highbury, Arsenal snatches the final Champions League spot from Tottenham, and the chant goes up ... "Are you watching Tottenham?"

Beautiful

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-Pop

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

how the hell do they coordinate that chant?

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Yep, or how about when we won the title at White Hart Lane? Good times.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

how the hell do they coordinate that chant?

A small group of people will start chanting it and everyone else catches on. It's quite a famous chant in the Arsenal terraces so everyone knows it.

 

[Rodolfo]

Awesome news!

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

I honestly think Nash loves soccer more than hoops. It's just that he can make a better living dribbling with his hands rather than his feet.

Steve Nash's brother Martin plays for the Whitecaps, and for Canada.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Thats the according rumor going on at oregon live.
http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2009/03/mls_appears_headed_to_portland.html

 

[Nate Dogg]

2011 MLS baby!

 

[PapaG]

I just don't see how it works in terms of an economic plus for the city.

 

[Nate Dogg]

International scouts booking hotel rooms, going to restaurants, renting cars, etc.
International family members, fans booking hotel rooms, etc.
International sponsorship, press media coverage, etc. They will book rooms, etc.
MLS just doesn't get just local USA soccer talent but worldwide attention.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

not really. it'll be good for the city though, Portland would be a good environment for a team. Better than LA (who has two already...Chivas (for the mexicans) and Galaxy (for everyone else).

 

[maxiep]

Economists have debated the economic impact of a professional sports team, and it runs the gamut from Zimbalist at Smith who believes they never make money and Abrevaya at Purdue who tries to prove they're huge moneymakers.

There's too much compelling data each way, but I think it helps only in the softest marketing sense, where people see your city on TV and know your town through your team.

 

[boatsandstars]

The Woolwich Wanderers = fail. Plastic ass fake fans. Might as well root for the Lakers and Yankees as well.

 

[boatsandstars]

Congrats to Portland though. The Timbers deserve it.