NW Derby Time: Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders

By: Bob Kellett | April 26th, 2008

Hate is such a strong, powerful word. I generally try to go through life without hating anyone or anything, even people I disagree with politically or morally. Even if you think I hate you, I don’t ( a guy named Chris Cooper being the exception). It just isn’t worth the negative effort. I know this from a rational perspective. I also know that I am irrational when it comes to my obsession with the Portland Timbers. This irrationality leads me to do things that I know aren’t healthy, like absolutely despise Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. I won’t deny that he hasn’t produced results in Seattle. I also won’t deny that I view him as an arrogant, smug son of a bitch who will do anything to win, including using cheap tactics. Think back to when Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was on the Timbers and Schmetzer would sent two of his player to hack the crap out of Hugo every time he touched the ball. It worked, but it was classless.

There is no better word than classless to describe a man who feels compelled to say something like this. From the Portland Tribune:

“In case the Portland fans have forgotten last year’s championship game –which I’m sure some of them weren’t watching, especially the ones who sit behind the goal, because they couldn’t stomach the thought of us winning (the title) – Hugo was fantastic that day. He assisted on the first goal and scored the second on an absolute bomb; I thought that was what really deflated Atlanta.”

You sir give arrogant pricks everywhere a bad name, but alas I am not going to take your bait. Your words mean nothing and if I see you in a dark alley after the game I will break out a resounding rendition of Kumbaya (composed in Portland). How’s that for hate?

Chris Brown, Rose City Til I Die
More media love for our hometown hero.

Let’s get a Seattle perspective on the game…
Oh, wait, you won’t find one here. Not even a mention of the “four-time” champions team currently playing in Seattle. Sad. Bet he already has his MLS season ticket though.

Benji’s boys in a bind
It doesn’t look good for future Timbers forward Benjamin Totori’s Waitakere United club. They were beaten 3-1 by Kossa FC in the first leg of the O-League soccer final. It will really be something to watch a club from the Solomon Islands compete in the FIFA Club World Championship if Kossa FC can close out the deal. The second leg is in New Zealand on May 3.

It’s like crack but without the health benefits
I can’t get this bloody song out of my head. I even listened to Blame it on the Rain for an hour straight hoping to divert my brain cells, but I still am coming down the road.

Pick the lineup
This is the second Timbers game in three nights so can we expect to see some changes on Gavin Wilkinson’s lineup card? He was quoted after the Thunder game as saying that he held Poltl out of the match to save him for Seattle. Smart move. Poltl is a junkyard dog and the NW Derby is always a physical affair. I also have a suspicion that Bryan Little might get a start tonight. The Sounders have been scouting the Timbers (I saw fat Darren Sawatzky at a couple of the preseason games. As he gets older he is looking more and more like John McCain and Dick Cheney’s bastard love child), but they have not had much of an opportunity to see Little. I say he starts on the left and Higgins (if his concussion isn’t an issue) starts on the right. Higgins usually plays well against Seattle and Olum is a bit of a delicate butterfly when it comes to physical football. Guante could also start but I think he might be this year’s Bryan Jordan. He’ll start out as a super sub and if he plays well he’ll see regular starter’s minutes later in the season.

My guess:

Burse
S. Thompson J. Thompson Knowles Griffin
Higgins Poltl Gregor Little
Suzuki Brown

Guess the crowd - no prize to the winner
The weather is better, it is a rivalry game, people who can’t attend weekday matches should be there, yet it is still early in the year…I’m thinking we’ll see a tick above 6,000.

Your thoughts?