Portland Timbers will host Hollywood United on June 10

By: Bob Kellett | May 28th, 2008

The official word from US Soccer is that the Portland Timbers will indeed play host to Hollywood United on June 10 at PGE Park. The Timbers will face the amateur side from SoCal in the first round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. In addition to being an interesting opponent with some celebrity appeal, this is a good draw for the Timbers. Playing an amateur team at home sure beats having to travel to play a PDL side on the road. The weirdest pairing of the first round: Yakima Reds have to travel all the way across the country to play in Pennsylvania against Harrisburg. That could sink a PDL team’s budget for the entire season. Not sure why they couldn’t have been paired with the Seattle Sounders. Upset special in the first round: Don’t be surprised if Austin’s PDL team playing at home beats the Atlanta Silverbacks. Austin is gearing up for USL-1 next season and has some good talent.

There’s a 100% chance that the odds mean nothing at this point
Could the Timbers really miss out on a playoff spot this season? Even with their recent slide, I don’t see how they don’t finish in one of the top seven spots, but anything is possible. The odds are still in their favor though.

Merritt on the radio
In case you were out playing in the rain or getting married or can’t figure out how to move your radio dial to any stations other than OPB, here is an MP3 clip of Timbers boss Merritt Paulson recently talking soccer on 955 The Game.

If you vote, he’ll score more goals
You know what will make Takayuki Suzuki feel better while he sits out Friday’s match against Montreal with a card suspension? Your vote for him as the best athlete in Portland in the Willy Week poll will surely help him turn that frown upside down. Voting ends Saturday, May 31. Vote here

Old Skool
If anyone ever tells you how great things were back in 2001 when the Timbers were brought back from the dead, please direct him to the 45 second mark in the clip below where you can see just how small the North End crowds used to be.

Portland Timberettes, anyone?
Can anyone else envision a professional women’s team playing in Portland once the Timbers head to MLS and the Beavos head to another stadium? Apparently there is a professional league starting up and it is already expanding. Considering the support the Pilots get up on the Bluff and how well the national team games draw here, I have to think that a women’s team would get decent crowds. It also would be a way to increase the number of events at the stadium. Now if only an investor out there would be willing to lose money on it….

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