A week in July with Panch, the Gold Cup, and my awesome wife
Actually, there’s no sex in this entry. I just needed something to get your attention since it has been SO DAMN LONG since I’ve sat down and done this.
Below you WILL read about: Seattle, the United States men’s national team, Portland, Canada, old friends, beer, the Gold Cup, Jimmy Conrad, scarfs, Sunil Gulati, Mexico, and Timbers Army.
Let’s start with The Hex games from June. In the interest of space, you get 10 words on each game. I was glued to my TV 90 minutes at a time, while also enjoying some time away from the computer and with my son.
At Jamaica:
Outplayed the Reggae Boyz. Nearly blew it. Evans the hero.
Vs. Panama:
Best USA has looked under Klinsmann. Jozy. Overcame cards, injuries.
Vs. Honduras:
Nine points. Clean sheet. More Jozy. Top of the table.
And now July. It took a while to pull the trigger on the tickets, but Mrs. Inclusive Beechwood Aging and I took a week to watch the Pacific Northwest Gold Cup games, visit a friend, and explore Portland and Seattle. We did all of this without our little guy. Boy does that significantly change the dynamics of eight hours in a plane and seemingly as many hours in the airports. It also allows us time to concentrate on our relationship.
It worked out that we were able to get to Chicago in time for the July 7 contest between the Fire and Sporting KC at Toyota Park. Our flight to PDX was early Monday, and we got to spend Sunday afternoon with my family. It was hot, it was bobble head day, and it was a Fire loss. It also gave me a quick chance to say hi to Jacob – in the Fire ticket office – who did great work for me at Loras College as a student worker in the Sports Information office. He was very busy and it was great to see him briefly in his professional element, where he’s been successful and spread his wings. It was also my first trip to Toyota Park in a couple years. The stadium is great, and really close to (old) home.
Fast forward to Monday morning.
The early flight out meant gaining two hours and getting essentially a full day in Portland. Pancho (my transplanted Forest Park friend and Portland resident) picked us up, we got to his apartment quickly, dropped bags, and got a bro-hug in. Before you know it, he’s catching up on some work (from home) and we are walking the edge of the Portland State University campus while scrounging for lunch and taking in the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest.
Since there’s never a second chance for a first impression – my Chicagoan/Midwest gut reaction:
Portland is easy to navigate, friendly, “weird” (in an affectionate way), has the feel of a major city without the overcrowding of a major city, clean, and very clearly the tattoo parlors and piercing places do very well. It is a mashup of art, ocean and river access, good food, micro-brewed beers, and friendly people. My wife took special notice of the occasional public ‘loo’ so as to keep the dark alley urinators in check. As I said, affectionately “weird”.
Dinner time rolls around and we’ve got VooDoo Donuts in hand, a feel for the layout of the city, train passes for a couple days, and an urge to buy something NIKE. Pancho reminds us the food options are limitless and the IPA selection is too much to cover in just a couple days. We trek out to Bridgeport Brew Pub, Deschutes, and beyond as we zig-zag the area with our Peruvian tour guide – all of a year into his residency in the Rose City. The highlight was probably the Root Beer Braised Pork Belly at Deschutes. Egg yolk, pretzel bread, and creamy mustard accompany the porky plate. My friends and waistline can vouch for my distance ahead of the bacon boom. This was as wonderful a slice of pig I’ve ever had.
The night closed out with a trip to the 30th Floor of Portland City Grill for another appetizer to fill us up before heading home. It was a great view, and the spicy Asian peanut salad was essentially inhaled by the three of us.
As we made our way back to the apartment, we made one unexpected stop: the lobby of the hotel the U.S. Men’s National Team were staying at ahead of Tuesday’s game with Belize. Jose Torres and another player who I didn’t get a good look at were standing on the sidewalk near the entry as they stepped off the bus. We detoured to the lobby and snapped a few photos of a random Gold Cup sign. I would have offered my starting eleven to Klinsmann had I run into him, no doubt. Alas, we kept moving before the front desk staff realized we were under the influence of the IPA’s and generally up to no good.
Tuesday morning was a calf-busting hike to the top of Multnomah Falls. The sheer size of the quickly rural Portland area is impressive. I enjoyed every minute of the ascent. My wife enjoyed every moment of the descent.
After a shower and a quick bite to eat from a street cart, the afternoon was spent on a boat tour of the Columbia River – taking in the many bridge styles and history of the city.
Based on the upbeat and intoxicated recommendation of Panch the night prior, we hopped on the train to Lardo for dinner. The cider beer was great and the Double Burger and Dirty Fries were as glorious as he said they would be. Just blocks from Jeld-Wen Field, things were just about perfect over the first part of the trip.
The Gold Cup game was the culmination of our time in Portland, with the rental car scheduled to depart for Seattle on Wednesday morning.
We arrived during Costa Rica vs. Cuba and took our time in the merchandise shop. That nearly cost me the United States scarf you see in my Twitter profile pic (below). There was one left as we continued to the Timbers section of the official shop inside the stadium. As we exited the store, it had been snatched up by someone else. Then the closest stand-alone shop on the concourse ran out, and I overheard the staff trying to track down what was left for another customer. All hope was nearly lost as I bought a beer on the way to the section we were sitting in. Head down and kicking proverbial rocks on the way to my seat, out of the corner of my eye, I saw IT. Outside the stadium, a single scarf lie in wait at the tent behind the Timbers Army section. With the help of a friendly ticket-taker, I hustled out, claimed the last one in the building, and had my first souvenir of the trip.
Who knows if years from now anyone outside of The American Outlaws will remember ‘The Extra W Game’. But we were there, and I snapped some solid photos of Wondo’W’lowski scoring goals in the first half. Landycakes netted a PK. I took a sweet video of the national anthem performed by Timbers Army (below). We stood for most of the game with a great view of the field. The USA won easily.
We took our time leaving Jeld-Wen, knowing we were hopping on a train back to the apartment. Mix Diskerud stuck around to sign some autographs. As we exited our section in the corner near the Sunset Porsche luxury boxes, I realized USSF President Sunil Gulati was seated with one other gentleman. I took a brief second to thank him for “everything he does for US Soccer” and asked him “to keep us moving forward”. It was an unexpected handshake and moment, and it was also nice of him to oblige. I shake my head at the organization sometimes, but at the end of the day he has a tough job. We caught our train and slept like babies.
Wednesday we ate a nice breakfast at Pine State Biscuits, shopped a bit at NIKE, and then took the scenic route to Seattle near the coast (and through their construction season). We arrived in time for our early dinner reservations at the Space Needle and enjoyed a solid meal, a nice glass of wine, and what has to be the most unique dining view our country has to offer.
On our way into town, we (read: the Mrs.) changed our Wednesday night accommodations to Eagle’s View Bed & Breakfast in Burien, minutes from the Space Needle and downtown Seattle. How can I explain this place…? When you combine the climate of the Pacific Northwest with the amenities of a bed and breakfast, a great host, an amazing view, and wonderful conversation – places like this have a way of sticking with you. Eagle’s View will stick with us for a long time.
The next day (after a second helping of the blintzes at breakfast) was Pike Place Market…all morning. And we could have stayed longer.
The place is amazing. It is a blend of flower shops, seafood stands, fresh produce, street vendors, restaurants, and specialty shops. We did spend some time at Pike Place Fish Market, Three Girls Bakery, the original Starbucks, and a handful of other places. The photos we took will never do that place justice. It is such a collection of art, culture, colors, and energy.
We spent the afternoon walking around the port, eating lunch, and eventually made our way back over to the Space Needle again. Before long, it was time to take the rental car back, eat dinner, and rendezvous with Panch. Our legs were tired, but we were very much looking forward to soccer game #3 of the trip – Mexico versus Canada at Century Link Field.
There are players on the Mexico national team that I enjoy watching. Unfortunately, this was very much their ‘B team’. The Mrs. (a Mexican-American), myself, and Panch all showed up sporting our El Tri gear. Our section was another mix of those who wanted to sit vs. stand. We stood when appropriate and sat when it made sense for the majority of our section. The first goal Mexico scored (off a corner kick) was both a relief and a chance to cheer sarcastically for the die-hard fans who have watched their team struggle to score goals this calendar year. There was no shortage of The Wave, ani-Chepo sentiment, or live music.
I fully expected an 80%-20% crowd in favor of our southern neighbors at Century Link Field – balancing the vicinity to Canada with the fact this wasn’t a hockey game. What we got was 97%-3%. The 97% got the three points they were hoping for in a 2-0 win.
Another few rounds of post-game drinks at a nearby watering hole and then we called it a night. We headed to the hotel and decided on a time for our host to get us to Sea-Tac in time for our flight out on Friday morning.
Two final soccer thoughts on the Pacific Northwest:
1. Jeld-Wen, Timbers Army, and the city of Portland are THE prototype on how to proudly support a club in the United States. Free Beer Movement will also gladly return there based on the beer selection. Following the MLS All-Star game in Kansas City, where Jimmy Conrad is known as the King of Kansas City – and now with role as analyst for the Timbers on TV, I’m claiming his new nickname – The Prince of Portland.
2. Since we’ve returned, Clint Dempsey has landed in Seattle with the Sounders. What a perfect fit for Deuce and the league. There’s so much more to examine with the move, but I’m going to keep this particular post moving.
We were back at Midway Airport relatively on time and drove back to Dubuque on Friday night. We smashed the schedule full of good eats, soccer, and great company. It was a tremendous success overall, if I do say so myself.
My haul coming home; a Chicago Fire scarf (and the Austin Berry bobblehead), a US soccer scarf from my first USMNT game (the last one the stadium had, according to the employee), a Timbers Army t-shirt from their supporters group near the train stop, a skull cap from Pike Place Market (the guys who throw the fish), and a Starbucks coffee mug. My son’s gifts included a Fire jersey, a Sounders jersey, and a mini Space Needle. No USA hoops shirt though…and I looked. My wife brought home everything from NIKE gear to a blown-glass yellow ducky.
I’ll gladly do it all over again.
Hoping to get at this more often, including a look at MLS salary release yesterday. Thank you for getting through all 2,200 words of this.
BEFORE YOU GO:
Two DPs, for the Fire?! NICE.
A-Rod should just go away.
The NCAA is inching closer to imploding on itself, thanks to Johnny Football and the NCAA Shop search tool.
If you are a golf fan and don’t watch Feherty on Golf Channel, start doing it.
And if you don’t listen to Soccer Morning online (or Stitcher, wherever) from 9-10:30 AM central time, you’re missing out. I prefer the KickTV Talk YouTube channel.
InclusiveBeechwoodAging 