A Guide to Hating the Portland Timbers

The Sounders "kick" (HA!) off their home schedule Saturday night, at Qwest Field, vs. the hated Portland Timbers. Why are they hated? We asked Sounders fan Eric Gilbertson to explain.

When did the rivalry between Seattle and Portland get so heated?

Probably a couple of years after they returned to the league (They were around from 1975-1982, then again briefly in the late 80's/early 90's, then returned finally in 2001). There were a number of players that switched between the teams (Greg Howes, Darren Sawatzky moving south (Sawatzky eventually returning north), Andrew Gregor doing it almost every year.

The first two years, their fanbase was OK, but really started growing after some Eastern European guys got involved almost by accident with their group and it started taking on more of the "aggro" culture -- which included attacking opposing fans, both home and away. Both Seattle and Vancouver supporters hate their guts -- Seattle/Vancouver on the field has a much longer rivalry since both teams have been good almost every year, and for a long time... the games always mean something, yet the two sets of fans in general get along with each other and don't get bent out of shape with some good-natured taunts and "piss taking". Not with Portland though.

A lot of fans on both sides are also T-bird or Winterhawk fans.... who have hated each other for decades, so it naturally translated into soccer as well.

What Portland player should we boo the loudest?

Andrew Gregor. He's a very talented player, but has a reputation for not being the best teammate in the world... more interested in himself and his career, being a bit of a "mercenary" (a couple of years ago, he had the distinction of being an active member of all 3 Cascadia teams -- all in the same year!). He's also very much a hothead, with a temper, who piles up yellow cards like it's going out of style.

You'll likely hear chants of "Judas, Judas" from our section all night when he gets the ball.

What's the greatest Seattle moment in the Seattle/Portland rivalry?

Every year that Portland STILL doesn't win a trophy (LOL). Both Vancouver and Seattle have won the league many times, but Portland has zero trophies of any significance in 32 years of on/off history... which they get constantly reminded of.

In the modern era, probably the one good year in 2004 that Portland had where they had the top playoff seed in the Western Conference, played us in the first round and were talking all kinds of smack about how they were just going to walk all over what had kind of been a mediocre Seattle team. They won 2-1 at home in the first leg, we evened the aggregate early on in the second leg (at Qwest), then went to overtime to decide it. Brazilian forward Welton then struck for the winner about 5 minutes into the overtime and the scum had been sent home trophy-less yet again. That sparked a very unexpected run to the Final, which set the stage for the championship season of 2005.

What's the lamest thing about being a Timbers fan?

Just ONE thing? LOL. How about a few:

1) Most arrogant bunch of bastards in the entire country. They think they invented the color green, invented standing at matches, think most of their chants are original and clever (all of which are ripped off from other teams around the country or world).

2) Most of all though, they thought they were all aggro and such by lighting flares at their last home match of last season... yet they severely burned many of their own fans by doing so... which would never happen with "real" ultras who know how to pull that stuff off without looking like posers.

and last but not least:

3) Having to support a team that never has and never will win anything!!

Well then! The game is at 7pm on Saturday. Buy tickets at the door or here.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Seth in News on May 4, 2007 3:31 PM

Comments [rss]

Jason

Damn, if you substituted Colorado in for all the Seattle references and Salt Lake in for all the Portland references, you couldn't tell this apart from the current trash talking over the Rocky Mountain Cup matches last week and this upcoming Thursday. Almost word for word identical.

luvtheale

Wow, can't imagine harboring that much vitriol for Seattle. 5/5 was my first trip to Qwest and I actually came away embarrassed for you. You have horrible support and got shamed at you own "ground". I look forward to seeing your 12 traveling fans this Friday. Jealousy can be an ugly thing me thinks.

FYI, the worst part was the four little tits trying to stir up trouble above our section.

Seattle_Sux

Best Rivalry ever!! I am glad it is getting more press, every game when these two play is like playing for the championship.

SC-1

Cool photos, video and match recap over at SounderCentral dot com!

ECS4ever

"I wasn't there...but..."

Classic.

We got our stadium back last night, and all they got was a lowsy trip back down I-5 after (another) loss to the Sounders. Live with it.

Inventor of Green

The Timbers Army outnumbered the Pod/ECS again. I wasn't there, but I saw the pictures and video.

And why did you delete my comment?

SC-1

Killer job ECS and Sounders fans! Oh, and...SCOREBOARD! Sounders-1 Scum South-0!!!

Inventor of Green

The Timbers Army has bigger cocks.

Fact.

The TA receives more oral sex.

Fact.

There. That's what's important.

ECS113

"But, but, but...We're sooooo big"

- sad PortScum tosser

Move on...we know you have more supporters than any other group in the USL-1.

There, does that make you feel better, little brother.

I think the Sounders/E.C.S. have a bit more working against them when it comes to bringing in larger numbers to come to matches.

You see, we live in a real city, with many, many things to do.

john

portland sucks ity bitty tiny wangs

Tyrell

You boys are incorrigible is what you are!

SC-1

My partner thought it ws funny, too.

Tyrell

"Size Queens."

This was almost funny.

Or, rather, I should say almost as funny as the image of SC-1 reading about size queens on wikipedia and clicking through to some other definitions and then getting that sickening/thrilling feeling that he'd finally found his true self.

abacus arnie

I am pretty sure we get closer to 75-100 at home matches. It is not in a Seattleite's DNA to measure ourselves against Portland. In relation to other supporter groups around the USL-1 the ECS are about par, sometimes better. It's really not something that comes up in conversation here very often. It's something Portland folks bring up.

Most ECSers think that is because PDX is fighting some sort of second-city complex. Otherwise, why would Seattle / their supporters be such a hot topic? Shouldn't the massive TA have 'moved on' long ago and started comparing themselves to international supporters groups?

Why the incessant need to compare yourselves to Seattle?

SC-1

Size Queens.

Dreeeeeeam Weaver

1. Amusing that Seattle fans give Portland fans a hard time in this comments section for putting the supporters group ahead of the team when by my count, in three out the four answers to questions in the original story, the Seattle fan specifically refers to Portland fans himself. Hmmm.

2. Amusing that Seattle fans feel the need to take credit for Seattle's trophy, and hold it over Portland fans' heads as if it makes them better. Seattle has been more successful on the field in recent seasons, I admit that. But that's down to the players and coaches. If you played less than one minute on the field for the Sounders that season, you don't take credit for the win.

What the supporters groups can legitimately take credit for...

3. 20 Pod at home games, 5 in Portland.

4. 1,000+ TA at home games, 150 in Seattle.

nborders

This crappy site posted your sorry Q&A only because their page views went up from everyone in Portland coming to witness the POD being made fun of...again!

Sad to see another site go the route of the spectacle.

Oh, and the pod sucks.

~n

Inventor of Green

Where did this guy get his info? Seattle fans seem so...silly.

Enjoy your mom's basement.

I'm gonna go get a BJ from my girlfriend.

hirsute dwarf

I'm just thankful for the one or two times a year when the Timbers play in Seattle, so I can get out of my backwater berg and go see all the tall buildings you guys got up there. Golly, I bet that place is just like New York City!

Sounders 0 : 3 Timbers

Who-go?

SC-1

I've had some nice email exchanges with a few Timbers fans this week.

So life is good, and it is also cool that the Seattlest is becoming more aware of the Sounders.

Let's hope Seth makes it out to a match soon and others who read this blog give the Sounders a look-see.

PitchInvader

A true supporter is behind his or her team no matter if they win or lose (you'd think a pro sports fan from Seattle would know *that* by now...).

So while Sounders supporters can feel rightly happy with their silverware, the fact that Portland's fan base has grown without much quality on the pitch speaks very well for the town's sporting atmosphere.

Or are you suggesting that it's only worth backing a winner?

brad

Come to watch you? Do you even realize what you just said? My god, you've lost your way down there. What about a little talk about....oh....your TEAM? Or is your main focus to continually count yourselves while looking at various well-stationed mirrors around PGE? :) :) :)

SC-1

What the lads do on the pitch---is all that matters.

No doubt that would sicken a few of you. :)

greenisthecolor

When your "suppporters group" has people coming to games to watch you, you can talk s**t. It's pretty pathetic when the visiting supporters out number you in your own stadium..... Lame.

glass_jaw_burpo

Please put roses on the table for our return to our northern pitch and then promptly f*ck off. You sicken me.

Fin

And what pray tell do you have SC-1?

12 sad fools in a cavernous souless stadium?

You lot like to accuse us of violence and aggro and you cant even get your fact straight (yeah we severly burned many people...silly) . Admit it you would kill to have our support. You are getting so green with envy you are begining to look like a Timbers supporter.

You see - what the lads do on the pitch is 99% out of our hands. What we do in the stands is 99% in our control. In the are we both have control over - we kick you arse - badly. I mean its not even a competition and you know it.

SC-1

See, that's ALL PDX has. "We have more people than you do." I mean think about it. That's ALL they have. It's their only saving grace.

Oh, AND they post more around the internet! Plus, as we all know, only THEY can get truly 'mental.'

How did so many delusion sods ever find each other in this great big world?

Wasn't at a donut shop, was it? :)

Emerald City USA

What did you expect the SEATTLEst to do, back a halfwit side from a backwater burgh? Nice job, Seth. See you at a match sometime soon, when you aren't kidnapped into going to the opera. :)

::sodapopinsky::

what you call a russian with three testicles?

WHOD'YOUNIKABOLLOCKOFF!!

LOONEY// GOONIE// SQUAD P.T.F.C!!

see you tomorrow spazzos!

drgogol

He actually said "(LOL)" -- oh me achin' sides!

RCTID

wanker

Clune

Another reason Seattle hates the Timbers: the Timbers Army consistently drowns out the Sounders mostly subdued fan base, even at Sounders home games. Sad but true.

vic

Congratulations to Seattlest!

If you changed your name to Still-Live-At-Home-Never-Had-Sex-And-Think-Donuts-Are-A -Food-Group-Ist you couldn't have a more appropriate poster in 100 years!

Eric is a key member of the dozen or so sad, chubby souls who make up the Pod, the Sounders' 'support' 'group.'

They'll be easy to find on Saturday night. They'll be the fat, fungal lads at the far end of the stadium from the 150-plus making noise for the Timbers.

We own your stadium, bitch.

And your mom thinks you're a loser.