The Famous Rose City

Truer words were never spoken:

Consider: a year ago, we were in a complete state of shambles, with dysfuntional management, the league's worst team (were the season 29 matches long, Minnesota *would have* passed us), outright mutiny in the stands and on the sidelines, etc. We were shit, frankly, and we knew we were.

Now: an absolutely fine squad that produces steady results, the league's best defense, savvy management/coaching, an enthusiastic and deep-pocketed new owner, skyrocketing attendance, a swelling North End, peace and love betwixt the TA and the FO, new e-mail and social networking tools for distributing information, a new second home for watching matches, and our 8 prodigal sons soon to be readmitted to the ground for a playoff run.

We can carp (indeed, I'd be worried if we didn't): we need to score more goals, our captain requires years of psychoanalysis, newbies act like newbies, our turf blows, we need to move the rails and get a capo stand and install a smoke policy, the media still hasn't caught on, etc.

But the fact is, we have experienced an absolutely stunning reversal of form, fortune and mood in the briefest possible period of time and have fed on it and thrived without conflict, malice or, honestly, much in the way of meaningful drama -- and this goes equally for what's happened on the pitch and in the stands.

Timbers will host the second leg of their first-round playoff run at PGE Park Sunday, September 16th at 5:30. Can't wait!