OMG!! I did shed a tear last night during the national anthem you ppl sung.. that was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.. why?? oh why do you ask?? Well allow me to explain my feelings as a 16 yr DC United Supporter... What you guys did was show that our experiment.. the MLS.. much hated by many and looked down on even today by our own people... will survive and live on.. It is proof that we fought our way for 16 yrs and now we are going to survive... I am so so so happy. There have been many moments over the past 16 yrs that I loved but what you ppl have created and or maintained gives me the real hope and belief that our game will live on!! THANK YOU PORTLAND!!! Much much respect from section 136!! Muerte o Gloria!! Vamos United!!
Greetings from Philly. you guys rocked. Keep up the good work! I really hope you guys can make the trip out east to play us.
I agree. After watching that last night, It made me excited for when you guys play Seattle. I stayed up till 1am last night. (well worth it) Congrats from Boston.
Thanks everyone for the kudos. It's been a long and strange journey from 2001 when the Timbers Army formed with 10 folks and there were times we didn't think the club would survive the whacky world of USL. Last night was a culmination of a decade of hard work and it was a special moment for many of us in Portland and the Timbers Army. I think that was reflected in the energy you saw pouring out of the stands. We love our club and our city and we are proud to be in MLS now.
While the praise has been heartwarming, I must return the praise to all our predecessors in MLS. We grew in D2 with little reason to believe we'd ever have a chance at MLS. But then it all fell into place and we joined our soccer brothers on the highest stage. Many thanks to YOU we got that chance!
I just wanna say that was amazing last night. I hope it continues and gotta say you guys blew seattle out of the water with that atmosphere. Oh and If anyone runs into Bob Ryan from Boston Globe, Please punch him in the nose. Man is that guy a douchebag. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=23223735#post23223735
Amazing display last night. Both with the anthem and the passion. Welcome to the league and am looking forward to future big games in the future. If this years road game wasn't in the middle of the week I would be up there in August. Always next year...
Hello Portland,Bigtime Dynamo fan here: I wanted to congratulate you the city,the great fans and of course J.S. and the team. That was the greatest opening game in ANY SPORT,ANY STADIUM OR ANY TEAM that I have ever seen. you guys did yourself more than proud and I will never forget watching the Timbers Army singing the national anthem. class and passion all in the rain and it was the best feeling ever. welcome to MLS Portland,you have set the bar very very high for all the teams in the league.
I knew this would happen when you guys joined MLS -- you've instantly set the standard on fan support. I keep watching your game against Toronto over and over, and what is amazing is that the game is awesome in every regard even though you were playing in a torrential downpour. I couldn't make out the TIFP banners at the end -- can someone tell what they represent to the unwashed? (Yellow, white and black banners, as I recall that were unfurled at the end of the Star Spangled Banner). The whole Timber Joey thing is terrific. I think you should also have a lumberjack scale a fake tree (ala lumberjack competition) whenever you score. Believe me, your team is getting noticed nationwide. Well done! Welcome.
Left to right 1st banner Steel Bridge [one of Portland's 12 bridges over the Willamette] Timbers Fans Made in Oregon sign or the White Stag sign that reads "King of Clubs" 2nd banner Mt Hood Rising Sun background Timbers Fans 3rd Banner Union Station clock tower that reads "PTFC" More Timbers fans Fremont Bridge Banner at the bottom reads "It Takes an Army to Raise an Club"
Here's a video about how the whole Timber Jim thing got started (then passed on to Timber Joey). He actually did use to climb a tree and cut off a slab: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n13HRheydI&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Timber Jim Mascot Hall of Fame Video[/ame]
As a lifelong fan of US Soccer I want to commend Portland for this wonderful moment in our growth. It was eye watering. I've been a US Soccer fan since the qualification to Italia 90'. I've seen some lean times in US Soccer. I frustrating national team and no soccer league. The wonderful moments that come to my mind include many MLS moments. From the first MLS match ever, attending the first MLS All-Star game, watching Red Bulls in Red Bull Arena etc etc This was a wonderful moment, seeing the great support for the Timbers. Seeing the intensity of the crowd. The good level of soccer on the field. Thank you and much success to you.
Thanks! I'm sure we all appreciate the praise, but one thing you said is important. There have been supporters like those in DC holding it down for a looong time. We are all very ecstatic that the league was able to see what we are about, but that was only possible because of the fans that kept coming out even in the darkest days in MLS. And it would not be fair to say that we didn't learn a lot from DC and Chicago and some other SGs in the league over the years. So, yeah this was our night, but the groups who were there well before 2009 share a lot of the credit for what we saw in the stands. Respect to you and all of you who have been there for your clubs and for the league.
Yes. The whole atmosphere was incredible. I could feel the energy and the guys showed tremendous spirit and effort. An absolute joy to watch. I have a feeling that we're going to be extremely tough to beat at home. Go Timbers!
Timbers Army, you guys rock!!! For years we had heard that you were ready for the big stage, and you have not disappointed with your support! Keep raising the bar. It's nice to acknowledge the great groups of MLS fans who have been out there for years. The inspiring thing about MLS is that each year or so it seems a new bunch of ultras step up to inspire us all, from DC's Barra Brava and Screaming Eagles, to those guys in Chicago, LA's Riot Squad, New York's ESC, the Nordeke gang, those TFC Red Patchers, your "pals" up north, those Sons of Ben, etc. Hopefully next year you and I will be saying similar great things about the Impact supporters. Welcome to the league! My buddy lives down in Sweet Home and tells me it is indeed good times in Portland.
Was not sure where you may want this but I think this is a pretty good landing spot: http://www.11freunde.de/international/138289 Timber Joey makes an appearance in 11freunde.
The mascot with the chain saw http://11freunde.de/international/138289/bei_euch_sind_fahnenstangen_verboten Interview: Andreas Bock Other countries, other customs. With the Portland Timbers, the Capo doesn't stand on the fence and there is no mascot in front of the curve: Here Timber Joey swings his chainsaw after goals. A discussion on bans and massacres. Timber Joey, are you familiar with the European ultras culture? Timber Joey: Sure. Colorful choreography, loud chants, constant support. I like it. Are you somewhat of a capo for the Portland Timbers? Timber Joey: You could say that, yes. But I have no problem if people call me a mascot. How is it that you can chainsaw tree trunks directly in front of the stands? Timber Joey: Forestry has a long history with us. The fact that we can bring the chainsaw into the stadium is because of a man named Jim Serrill. Sometime in the late ‘70s he brought a saw into the stadium for the first time. As a fan? Timber Joey: As a fan! One day he stood at the gate with his 36 inch chainsaw. The security woman was initially totally confused and blocked his way. "Are you crazy, you can’t take into the stands," she cried. But Jim, an old school logger, insisted on it. Eventually the old owner Keith Williams came out. After a long discussion about the traditions and culture in the region, he allowed Jim to carry in his favorite tool. He inserted Jim as a kind entertainer in front of the stands. That was in 1978. When did you take over his job? Timber Joey: Four years ago. Shortly after the 2006 World Cup, I read in the local paper that Jim wanted to retire. At the same, the Timbers sent out an ad about the job. Since I had been a big fan of Jim’s for a long time, I applied. After that I had to show a committee what I could do with the saw. It seems like I did pretty well. Now you are at every Timbers home game and cut slices from a thick tree trunk in front of the stands. Timber Joey: But don’t get me wrong: I don’t just saw whenever I want. I only saw after we score goals, and this is intense! The fans go crazy even when I just rev the saw. Once I’ve sawed the log, I walk around the stands with the slab and let fans touch it, like it’s sacred. After the game, we give the log slabs to the best players. In Germany, fans may not even bring flag poles longer than about 5 feet into the stadium. Timber Joey: Flagpoles are banned? Are you guys afraid people would start to pole vault or something? Strange. You could stab someone. Timber Joey: You just have to be responsible. We’ve never had a massacre here. You know, a while back things were all different, a little more liberal. My predecessor, Jim was once even invited out by Sunderland after their fans paid us a visit and treated him like a rock star. He was then able to tour England. But with rules these days, that probably wouldn’t work. How is your relationship with other mascots? Timber Joey:** Oh, there is no real relationship, or at least no competition or rivalry like in Europe. I am a human being, not a stuffed animal or a cartoon. I‘m just a regular guy. I'm real.