When Chalk Talks

By: Bob Kellett | August 12th, 2008

Seven games against six opponents. That is what remains of the 2008 Portland Timbers regular season. Montreal (2), Vancouver, Miami, Rochester, Charleston and Carolina. Three of those teams are currently below the Timbers in the USL First Division table. An opportunity for the Timbers to beat up on the minnows and edge their way into the playoffs? Perhaps, but based on how Portland has played against these teams this season picking up the 10-13 points it is going to take to finish at least seventh in the league won’t be easy (irregardless of the fact that the Timbers have two wins from their past 20 games). The Timbers are 1-7-4 against their final six opponents. That one win was against an Impact team that thoroughly outplayed the Timbers in Montreal, but couldn’t get a result. Desperation time? That should have been about ten games ago.

Perhaps he is looking for coaching help from you?
The emailboxes of season ticket holders lit up yesterday with this message from the club:

Mark your calendars for this Saturday, August 16 from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. for an exclusive Season Ticket Holder Chalk Talk with Timbers Head Coach & General Manager Gavin Wilkinson prior to the game against Montreal.

You will have an opportunity to learn more about the Timbers as well as ask questions of the coach.

This event is only available to Timbers Season Ticket Holders. Gates will open for the Chalk Talk at approximately 5:05 p.m at the “pass gate” next to will call on the 20th St. Plaza. The Chalk Talk will take place on the first base dugout. There will be open seating in sections 116 & 117.

This is incredible. It is like being able to audit a class taught by Yoda. If the West End isn’t packed three deep by 4:45 p.m. just to suck in the knowledge of a man who has guided his team to just two wins since April and whose offensive genius has helped create an attack that scores even less than I did at my high school prom, then we truly aren’t Soccer City USA.

Coming next game: Midfield Talk, an opportunity to ask Tom Poltl, Miguel Guante, et al why the midfield has collectively managed just five assists this season.

Attendance Watch
Even with the unexcused absence of a certain blogger the past three home games, the Timbers have managed to set an attendance record. Through 12 home games the club has drawn 99,347 fans for an average of 8,279 per match. That’s a 21% increase from last season when the Timbers drew 95,592 to 14 regular season games for an average of 6,828 per match.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the decision to play all these Thursday night games has been a very wise business move. Either that or Portlanders are masochists who enjoy nothing more than watching their team struggle for 90 minutes at a time.

Someone has to say it
The Timbers are 0-3-4 since they traded Andrew Gregor to Rochester. The Rhinos are 4-1-1 since they acquired Andrew Gregor.