Why Soccer? (Part 1: My History)

This is the first in a three part series I'll be writing on how I became a more rabid, proselytizing soccer supporter than for any other sport I actually have experience playing in. I grew up idolizing the Jim Paxson and Calvin Natt-era Portland Trailblazers. The first sporting event I can remember attending was a 156-116 laugher over the Denver Nuggets in November of 1983. So how did I get here? In part 1, I'll talk about the slow evolution of a fan, with the role of the PC and cable in breaking down barriers of access. In part 2, I'll be using the hallmark of bad bloggers everywhere, the tortured metaphor, to the explain the appeal of the game and the distance between supporters and non-supporters. In part 3, I'll talk about the specific role the city of Portland and the Timbers franchise has had in my development from casual fan to committed convert. So buckle up because it's going to be a bumpy, if hopefully somewhat illuminating, ride.

Hoop Dreams

Here we are. Preparing to launch our last season in the 2^nd division. Standing at the end of an era of Timbers history before plunging into MLS. And I have to say… I’m absolutely reveling in it. I’ve always been a planner and a schemer. Sometimes I enjoy saving and planning for a vacation more than taking the trip itself. Even more often I enjoy the workouts, rumors and horse trading of the NFL and NBA drafts more than the seasons themselves. Now is where history hasn’t been written yet. This is when anything is possible. This is the season where the Timbers organization and the Timbers Army will begin to shape all that is possible into a new wave of the American soccer experience.

USL: What Happened?

What does it mean to be a second division soccer league? The textbook definition is obvious, but trying to describe and contrast the gap between the divisions, from the quality of play to the visibility of the teams, is something else entirely. For countries with relegation and promotion, the proof is always determined by the success on the field and the intent to play at the highest possible level. In the USL, things are never quite as clear. No chance of movement and a league which is owned by investors instead of the teams themselves set up conflicting priorities and mixed signals. The league in which the Timbers have played for the last 9 seasons is known as much for its schizophrenia as anything else. On one hand, the talent on the field has increased considerably and lower league teams have delivered consistent results against MLS opponents in the US Open Cup. On the other hand, the league has kneecapped itself many times, whether through incompetence or by design. From failing franchises to a publicly stated unwillingness to compete with the MLS to restraining teams from aggressively marketing themselves, the league itself has always been satisfied to run a distant second to the MLS even as some teams chafed about the lack of drive. This came to a spectacular head during the off-season as teams tried to abandon the USL and form their own league.