MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

I’m fairly certain there is a law against bringing chainsaws into airports but anything seems to go when a city is deep in the throes of expansion fever. Timber Joey (pictured above) wielded his trademark tree-chopper this morning at Portland International Airport as part of the announcement of Alaska Airlines sponsorship of the Timbers beginning in 2011.

“Merritt Paulson and the entire Timbers staff have done a fantastic job elevating the profile of professional soccer in Portland and the Pacific Northwest, and this strategic alliance is one of many reasons why we believe the Timbers will be very successful when they debut in MLS next year,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “What makes this new partnership so special is the fact that Alaska Airlines has such a strong presence in Portland, helping to build excitement in a region already so rich in soccer tradition.”

Although it’s now known who will grave the front of Portland’s kit, what the kit will look like won’t be revealed until December…just in time for an appearance under every Christmas tree in town.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Sept. 11th. Mark it down Beckhamistas because that may well be the day that your star shines on the field once again. Speaking to LAGalaxy.com today, the iconic midfielder said that he’s got his eye on making his 2010 MLS debut against Columbus at the Home Depot Center.

“The doctors’ original date was Oct. 1, but I always kind of said I want to be ready before then. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully will play in part of the game here against Columbus. I’ll be on the bench, and hopefully I’ll get on the field for 15-20 minutes. That’s what I’m looking at.”

With the once seemingly-indomitable Galaxy enduring something of a slump, an early return from one of the best crossers in the business will probably be greeted joyfully by both fans and players. You know else will be pretty happy about this development? The ticket sales staffs at  Chivas USA and the Union, LA’s only remaining road opponents after that date.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

It was pointed out to me today by someone else (seriously) that Red Bull New York M/D Danleigh Borman is in the current issue of Glamor Magazine. He’s not dishing on haircare secrets, how to drive your man wild or any of the typical topics seen on the cover of the staple of supermarket checkout isles. Well maybe it is a typical topic, the question being what scares him about women.

The Pro Soccer Player
Danleigh Borman, 25, midfielder for the New York Red Bulls
Is afraid of: All the stuff you leave at my place. “What really scares me is when women start leaving their personal belongings like clothing, toothbrushes and other items around my house after the first few dates. That shows me that we are going way too fast.”

I don’t know too much about Danleigh’s personal life but it sounds he may be an old-fashioned type of guy. Or that he has commitment issues. Either way it seems like this has happened more than a couple of times but I guess that’s the price you pay for being a pro athlete: work on the weekends and a house full of random ladies personal effects.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

So now that the Crew have secured their place in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup final, the self-professed hardest working team in America have a very real shot at lifting their first Lamar Hunt trophy since 2002. The killer thing for the team’s supporters is that this could only be the first of four pieces of hardware that the club is still in contention for late in the MLS season: the U.S. Open Cup, the Supporters Shield, MLS Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions League.

Like I said, they are within biting distance of the Open Cup and only 2 points behind L.A. for the Supporters Shield; those two look like their best bets as the roads to MLS Cup (the playoffs) and Champions League glory (the knockout stage) are switchbacks that can change course in an instant. Still though, if they can manage to snag any three of these titles they’ll be the first MLS team to accomplish a “treble”; in 1997 D.C. United cane closest by winning the league and the supporters shield but fell short in the U.S. Open Cup final, losing 5-3 to the Dallas Burn on PK’s.

Could Columbus make history this year? Perhaps but they might want to hold off for a few more weeks before buying the silver polish in bulk.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

It almost seems traditional now that under construction soccer-specific stadiums be subjected to around-the-clock observation via webcam. MLS fans have spent countless hours (not to mention KBs of broadband) peering longingly at the skeletal beginnings of Rio Tinto Stadium, Red Bull Arena, PPL Park and the swiftly-rising Wizards stadium, daydreaming about what the finished product might bring.

Although it’s being renovated and not built from scratch, Vancouver’s B.C. Place also has a webcam worth checking out. While it may not be a soccer-only facility (the Whitecaps will share the space with the CFL’s B.C. Lions), with its roof-within-a-roof design it will be one of the most unique venues in the league. Get a look at the progress for yourself at Earthcam.com.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The Rolling Stones once sang about how you can’t always get what you want and this morning the statement holds true for me. What I wanted was a rematch of last year’s U.S. Open Cup final between D.C. United & the Seattle Sounders and all the drama that went along with it: the smack talk between the front offices, the battle to host the game and the now-infamous “We Win Trophies” campaign.

But D.C. opened the door for Columbus to take their place at the table last night in the 89th minute (courtesy of a timely Andy Iro goal) and let the Crew walk out with the good china when Guillermo Barros Schelotto successfully converted a PK in extra time. So instead of the grudge match final we’ll have the Crew taking on Seattle in a potentially packed Qwest Field on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. PT (Fox Soccer Channel).

With the chance to lift the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the second year in a row –not to mention in front of the home crowd– expect the Sounders and their out-sized fanbase to be a little more fired up for this one than Columbus who are sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference, only 2 points behind the Galaxy in the race for the Supporters Shield and still very much in the CONCACAF Champions League mix. While they certainly would love to win it, they have their eyes on more trophies than they may be able to handle so this match might be just a little lower on the priority list.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

With an impressive average attendance of 15, 273 over their last three games and but a single home game left on their USSF D2 schedule, excitement is building in Portland for the Timbers 2011 MLS campaign. My man in PDX, Paul Sepp from Dropping Timber, sent in this photo and a note today summing up what’s going on in Oregon on the cusp the team’s minor league swansong.

I thought you might like a picture from the Timbers training today.  The Timbers play their last home match at the old PGE Park this Thursday, and it will be a big sell out event!  Construction is going on in the background [behind the goal], recent Red Bull pick up Kevin Goldthwaite is in the purple jersey and Portland MLS 2011 sign is up in background also. We play the Puerto Rico Islanders this Thursday and after that the next time we head to “the piggie”, we will be playing in MLS.

Add tomorrow’s jersey sponsorship announcement at Portland International Airport to all this and you have a good early buzz, one that’s as loud as Timber Joey’s chainsaw. But don’t think expansion partner Vancouver is just going to sit quietly in the background; they’ll be announcing their head coach for their inaugural MLS season tomorrow morning (and streaming it live via VancouverMLS2011.com). Looks like these two old rivals competing off the field as well as on it.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Red Bull New York today announced the impemding retirement of longtime fan favorite Mike Petke following the conclusion of the 2010 MLS season. He’s the club’s all-time leader in minutes played but with 7 of his 13 years in MLS spent in New York he is also “Mr. Metro” to longtime fans who remember his exploits during his days in the franchise’s pre-Red Bull incarnation.

With the dismissal of John Wolyniec earlier in the season Petke, Seth Stammler and Carlos Mendes are the last remaining players from the team’s MetroStars days and with the glut of defensive midfielders the days could be numbered for Stammler. As versatile and solid as Stammler has been over the years Marquez, Carl Robinson and emerging rookie Tony Tchani have all seemed to surpass him on the depth chart. If Stammler can’t manage to stick around Mendes would be left the last man standing.

But the fading of the “Metro” era isn’t an entirely sad affair. If you look beyond the nostalgia you’ll see marquee players Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry & Rafa Marquez and the league’s premier stadium all acquired with with Taurine dollars. You’ll also see a franchise that seems poised for success, something that the red & black achieved with a unicorn-like rareness.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Time Magazine recently published it’s list of Top 10 Oddly Insured Body Parts and the Galaxy’s David Beckham was number 4 on the list. But it wasn’t just one single piece of the global icon that got a mention…it was the, erm, full English.

In 2006, David Beckham, then the world’s most iconic soccer star, sought a little extra protection. The £100 million (then around $195 million) deal — widely considered the largest personal insurance policy in sport history — was so large it was rumored to have been split among several companies. The policy allegedly protected more than just his precious legs, feet and 10 toes (hey, those would be some expensive little piggies). Given that much of his income came from selling his good looks in commercial deals, he was also covered in the event of disfigurement.

If true, the disfigurement thing was a good call as a handsome Beckham is as profitable as a healthy Beckham. But with a $195 million dollars in coverage, an injured or disfigured Beckham isn’t exactly a broke Beckham either. Basically he’s going to have cash coming in either way; not a bad trick if you can pull it off.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

It’s no secret that the 2010 MLS season has been far from successful for New England and D.C. With the underachieving pair currently loitering about the bottom reaches of the Eastern Conference standings you could say their hopes of sailing into the playoff were dashed upon the rocks of reality a good while back and that both clubs will be taking a long, hard look in mirror before the 2011 season.

But all is not lost and both sides still have a trophy to play for and a shot at some small redemption. Tonight New England play Morelia in the 2010 Superliga final (7pm EST, Telefutura) while D.C. hosts Columbus in the semis of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With a win New England can claim their second Superliga title in 3 years, while a victory for D.C. could potentially set up a rematch –if Seattle does its part and fends off Chivas USA tonight– of last year’s Open Cup final; the Revolution get to add some much-desired silverware to their trophy case while D.C. earns a shot at revenge against a burgeoning rival. Either scenario would be a great, late-season self-esteem booster…something both of the beleaguered sides could use.