The playoff scenarios will make your head hurt

By: Bob Kellett | August 26th, 2008

The original schedule had the Portland Timbers facing the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, August 27. That game has been pushed back until Monday, September 8 because of the Impact’s participation in the Concacaf Champions League. As a result, the Timbers have a couple of weeks to prepare for their upcoming 8-day stretch when they face Miami, Rochester, Montreal and Charleston. That also means that Timbers supporters have a couple of weeks to watch the other teams fighting Portland for a playoff spot and to try to figure out what needs to happen based on the various odds. Confusing as it is and as stupid as it is that a team with just six wins from 25 games could still win the league championship, it is also fun that every team in the USL First Division is still alive heading into September.

Bayard a backup Bull
Look who’s name was listed as a backup keeper for Red Bull New York during today’s MLS reserves game. With the rotating cast of keepers manning the goal for the Timbers this season it makes me wonder why Elfvin wasn’t even invited to compete for the job.

Speaking of keepers
Remember when Brad Knigton was loaned to the Timbers and there was mention of his wedding on September 13? Here’s the reminder:

Only one thing stands in the way of Knighton possibly running the table in goal for the Timbers — his Sept. 13 marriage in Wilmington to fiancé Britney, a nurse in Providence, R.I. They met in college and have been dating for about 28 months, and Knighton says he and his agent have worked things out so that the wedding can go on, even though the Timbers will finish the regular season with games Sept. 11 at home against Charleston and Sept. 20 at Carolina.

“We’ve been planning the wedding for seven or eight months, so it has to be that date — or I probably won’t be getting married to her,” he says.

I know that in the week leading up to my wedding I wouldn’t have been particularly good in goal for four crucial playoff-important games. With Knighton recalled to New England, I’m not so sure he’s going to be sent back this way. Nor am I so sure that he should be. It isn’t an ideal situation having a keeper, Chase Harrison, who has played one game for the Timbers this season in goal for this stretch, but it might be the best situation as it currently stands — unless the Timbers can get Josh Wicks on loan before the Aug. 27 roster freeze, and that ain’t gonna happen.

Because there’s fuckall else going on
Here’s a decently penned piece by a Lents resident regarding the Beavers stadium. The stadium, parking and other fun stuff will also be discussed at the Lents Neighborhood Association meeting this evening at 7pm at Lents Adventist Church for those who are interested.