Thursday, August 11, 2011

Edgar Davids Street Soccer Tour: Episode 1



"Edgar Davids takes his team of Street Legends on a tour of Europe and Africa to battle against the best local teams. Who will be the undisputed rulers of the streets?

In Amsterdam East, the Street Legends face the Netherlands' finest talent. Edgar's friend Ryan Babel comes along to support."

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Golazo. "It was about a movement."

Speed Kills. Nyassi Hat Trick



Nyassi could have been a Portland Timber had he been chosen in the expansion draft. It pains me to think about, especially after seeing this trio of goals. The kid has plenty of talent and loads of speed. Happy to see him have his coming out party against the Energy Drinks.

Rooney x 3 on Seattle



Hopefully we are about to witness a big year from Wayne Rooney. I predict a 20+ goal season after only finding the net 11 times this year.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

SoccerPlex Improving Mini Field

Construction and renovations continue to take place at SoccerPlex these days. They added the Kickin' It Lounge a while back, and now they are relocating their office space in order to expand the mini field they previously had. They plan on having regular leagues on this new pitch in order to offer players a unique soccer experience. It appears they will still have walls wrapping the field, so it won't be identical to Portland Futsal's fields.

Street Stadia Pricing Details

"Dear Mike ,

Thank you for your inquiry.

We see the Street Stadia product as a perfect complement to small sided soccer. The fact that the product is portable and can be assembled in a matter of minutes offers users a fantastic solution to setting up quick and easy small-sided games.

With regard to our product offering we offer three standard unit sizes:

18m x 12m Street Stadia – best-selling product used for a range of soccer and sporting events, used mainly for community projects and academy coaching

15m x 10m Street Stadia –used for community projects and junior soccer matches as well as smaller sided adult games

12m x 8m Street Stadia – ideal for junior soccer events

The retail price tags of the standard courts are as follows

18m x 12m - $20,500
15m x 10m - $18,250
12m x 8m - $15,000

This will give you an indication of the typical prices however we try and price according to what the customer’s requirements which are on an individual basis.

We can customize pitch sizes, goalposts, netting, etc. Street Stadia can also be adapted to be used in a variety of different sports – basketball, tennis, volleyball.

Panels are provided blank and are ready to either have branded stickers applied to them or magnetic brandings. That can either be arranged by yourself or we can arrange on your behalf

Kind Regards,

Maren Perry"

15 - 20 thousand seems a bit steep for this field. I bet if I constructed something on my own with help from some skilled hands we could do it under 2 grand. However, if this field is as easy to put together as they say, and if its durable enough to last long enough, it could be a good investment. Also curious if it includes the trailer in the price.
.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Thirsty Lion 3 v 3 Street Soccer Tournament

For the third year in a row we are having a 3v3 street soccer tournament here in Portland. The first year it was held downtown at the Thirsty Lion, followed by last summers event in Pioneer Square. This year the event will be held in Tigard at the new Thirsty Lion location. Should be the perfect opportunity to showcase some of your new freestyle moves.

I had the pleasure of participating in the inaugural event outside Thirsty Lion, and it was part of my inspiration to start this blog. The idea of Pitch Black was born after playing under the lights at this tournament in front of the large crowds. I would highly recommend putting a team together for this event. Be sure to visit the website for all the details:

Dates: August 20 and 21
Time: 9 AM
Cost: $150 per team
Registration deadline is August 17th

King of Clubs TIFO



Not bad Timbers Army. Not bad at all....

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Pitch Black Beverages Released

Two recent beverages sharing the Pitch Black name have hit store shelves recently. With a name like that, they will be offered exclusive privileges to sell at my street soccer facility. Anyone tried either of these drinks? Let me know what you think.

Nike5: Street Gato. Your Thoughts?

Who out there has had a chance to try out the new street gato from Nike? Let me know what you think about the shoes in terms of feel, touch, and durability. I'm probably most interested in the durability of these shoes. I've used my lunar gato boots outside on tennis courts and pavement and they have really taken a beating.

My personal favorite colorway would be the all black upper with white outsole. The little touch of neon green/yellow circling the boot completes the look.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Bumpy Pitch Collaboration with PTFC

I've been meaning to post this for awhile now, but if you follow The Original Winger or Bumpy Pitch you have probably seen this shirt inspired by Clive Charles and the Portland Timbers. Here is the copy from the official press release:

"This graphic and shirt hold a particularly special place for us (the BPFC team) as the inspiration for it can be found in a figure that played a huge role in our lives.

We had the pleasure of playing for Clive Charles on the US Olympic Team back in the day (Dunny much longer than myself). Clive was an amazing human being and coach. I’m sure anyone that ever met him, played for him, was a teammate, etc would tell you the exact same thing.

We’ve wanted to pay tribute to Clive in our own way for quite awhile. But it’s never been an easy thing to do and finding the right medium and message always needed to be done correctly. As a Portland institution and Timbers legend, the launch of the Portland Timbers in MLS this year seemed to provide the right time for us to do something for Clive.

We partnered with the Timbers Army and the 107ist on this to help continue to build the movement that these good folks have been building for years.

For those that dig into design elements, we made sure we put in a couple that pay tribute to Clive. His initials and retired number are featured on one of the axe handles, with the opposite handle seeing a nod to 2009 and the year that Portland was awarded an MLS franchise."

Shirt costs $30 which may be a little steep for some people, but it's unique and a portion of the proceeds goes to the 107st to help build the Timbers atmosphere we all love.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Undefeated. 5-0

If you have never experienced a Portland Timbers home game, here is a taste of what your missing out on. Game this WED against AJAX... go buy tickets now.


Monday, May 9, 2011

Mr. Cooper preparing for Portland BrewFest

2011 MLS Player Salaries Revealed

The MLS Players Union released the goods today. The 2011 salary information for every player in the league is now in public view. It's always interesting to compare salaries amongst players, as there are certainly individuals who don't deserve the figures they get.

As a Portland fan I'm pleased to see our management has assembled a squad with a low salary total. This gives us the ability to resign our younger players to more lucrative deals as they develop. Click over to this page to see all the teams in alphabetical order.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Golazo, Welcome to Portland

If you haven't noticed I have been absent for about 2 weeks now. The explanation is simple. I have been stuck at 199 posts since I started this site, and I wanted to celebrate my 200th post with something truly special. Well here it is folks!

Golazo Energy is set to make its much anticipated debut in the Portland market this month, and I have been given permission to post the debut commercial! The spot is brilliant and it's sure to create a buzz around the drink. Let me know what you think!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Paint the Plane Entry: Joshua Guerra

Earlier this week the Portland Timbers announced the winner's and honorable mentions for the Paint the Plane Contest. There were some good plane designs on display, but I'm sure there were many other worthy contestants. Here is a submission I received via email from Joshua Guerra, a fellow Timbers supporter. What do you all think of his design?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

3/19 Boot Spy: Clint Dempsey

Dempsey helped Nike unveil the Superfly III on Saturday. The boot doesn't seem all that different from the previous model, so it will be interesting to see how it is received by the soccer market. Clint was able to bury a sweet left footed shot past fellow American Tim Howard in the new cleats. The goal was his 10th of the EPL campaign, making him the first American in history to reach double digits in a season.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Real Salt Lake Declares War



Good commercial? Or overly cheesy? Either way, Salt Lake has been the most dangerous squad in the league the past couple seasons. They have countless playmakers, a solid group of young talent, and as the video illustrates, Rio Tinto Stadium has become a fortress. Unbeaten at home in 33 games is unbelievable considering the parity that exists in MLS.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Beautiful Game



A beautiful piece of animation from Richard Swarbrick.

Two More Players Released from Camp

In the latest article from the Portland Timbers website it has been announced that Quavas Kirk and Taylor Mueller are no longer training with the team. I started to think Gavin and Spencer would consider taking Kirk, because of the Gilbert situation at right back. That hasn't been the case however, and now we are left with 5 players still vying for a spot and 24 (23 if Gilbert is no longer in the picture) signed members of the team. Here's who we've got left:
  1. Rodrigo Lopez
  2. Bim Ogunyemi
  3. Chris Taylor
  4. Spencer Thompson
  5. Brian Umony
Who do you see earning the final spots on the team? Last week I picked my five remaining player signings. Roster is expected to be 28 players for the inaugural season.

Nike France Away Kit

What do you think of the design?

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Where's our Timbers Kit Model?



Need to drum up some extra excitement for your home opener? Why not pull a page out of the SI Swimsuit Issue, and paint up a model in your team's colors. This video is part of Vancouver's "Countdown to Kickoff" viral video series where they feature a different clip each day.

Dos Equis x Portland Timbers

Monday, March 7, 2011

Portland Timbers Reach 12,000 ST Sold

Big News Today. On top of Jorge Perlaza finally inking a deal with the Portland Timbers, we now receive word that the Timbers have sold more than 12,000 season tickets! This was determined to be the cap from the outset, but as I expected they have opened up some additional seats due to demand. Here are the key points of the article:
  • 500 additional season tickets will be sold
  • Hard cap at 12,500 for the inaugural season
  • Half season ticket plans are nearing sold out status
  • All 23 suites have been sold on a multi year basis
  • Fewer than 125 season tickets remain in the Timbers Army
  • 50 seating sections have been sold out
In other words, if you plan on buying season tickets do it ASAP. You don't want to miss out on this experience. Single game tickets will go on sale soon, but everyone with season tickets will have first crack at them, so don't expect to see any for Seattle, Vancouver, New York, or LA available for purchase. Every game is going to sell out this season!

Another Indoor Center Opens in Beaverton

Introducing Beaverton Indoor Soccer. If the area wasn't already over-saturated with indoor soccer facilities, now it is. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The prices to field a team have continued to rise and leagues fill up quick if their not already full. Hopefully the addition of a new facility in Beaverton will drive down prices and force each center to improve it's offerings.

A quick glance at the website doesn't reveal much detail on the field, but I did discover some interesting information.
  1. Team Fees will be $545. This is cheaper than Portland Indoor, SoccerPlex, Tualatin Indoor, and Indoor Goals. They are basically undercutting the entire indoor soccer market. League fees should never have passed $600 in the first place, so it's refreshing to see a new competitor charging a more affordable and appropriate price.
  2. Player Cards will cost $10. This is also cheaper than most of the other facilities. The one exception being Portland Indoor, which doesn't even require cards.
  3. Men's, Women's, and COED leagues will be offered.
  4. Drop In soccer is offered Monday - Friday from 12 PM to 2 PM. Cost is $5.
There are no pictures available yet of the field or the facility, so I will need to make a stop soon to find out more information. I have been in the process of organizing a soccer team from the Nike Employee Store, and this facility might be the perfect spot to start at. I'll have a Pitch Black Undercover up in the near future! Stay Tuned!

Freddy Adu Sighting... Golazoooo



Yes, he is playing in the Turkish second division. But that turn and left footed shot would be a goal anywhere. We haven't heard from Adu in a long time, so its nice to see the kid is still making some plays. Hopefully he can hit a run of good form for Rizespor and get back into a national team camp. Ultimately I feel it would be in his best interest to make a move back to MLS.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

7 Figure Bid for Marcos Flores?

Looks like Paulson and the Timbers may sign their first designated player in the near future. Rumors are swirling that they are looking to sign the A-League standout Marcos Flores. Gavin and Paulson have both stated publicly that a 7-figure offer has been put on the table for a mystery player, and reports out of Australia have pointed towards Flores. Let me know what you think of this potential signing? Are you impressed with his video highlights? Make sure you watch the goals at the 4:20 and 7:00 minute marks... incredible finishes.


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

5 Roster Spots Left: Who Gets Signed?

The Portland Timbers currently have 23 players under contract for the upcoming MLS season. With Mike Golub the Chief Operating Officer of the team recently announcing we will likely carry a 28 man roster (rather than the 30 max), players are fighting for their spot. Here are the 5 players I expect to be announced prior to the opening game on March 19th.

#1 Brian Umony: A loan deal appears to have already been agreed upon and signed. Brian expected his announcement to come earlier this week. Extra help at forward was deemed necessary with the injury to Dike. I bet Umony gets announced later today!

#2 Jorge Perlaza: The Columbian forward would already be signed if his previous club weren't trying to rope in a transfer fee. Some bogus second contract Perlaza apparently signed is holding the process up. The Perlaza signing is taking longer than Gavin would like, but he will eventually be a Timbers player.

#3 Chris Taylor: The 22nd overall pick in the SuperDraft out of Tulsa. Chris is a solid defensive player that Amos and Spencer were really fond of. He was ecstatic to join the team and he will provide some extra depth at defense.

#4 Mystery Midfielder: Still have my hopes that Gavin will bring in a dynamic center midfielder. The man they want has proven more difficult to obtain, with multiple clubs seeking his services.

#5 Paul "BIM" Ogunyemi: Former U-23 winger is back in camp with the Timbers after being released from FC Dallas. I love watching this kid play and he was a major part of the 20-0-0 season the PDL squad had. He is young and has tremendous potential. Your my boy Bim!

Paint the Plane Contender

Still awaiting word from Alaska Airlines and the Portland Timbers regarding the winner of the paint the plane contest. I'd expect the announcement to come in the next week or so. Browsing the web I came across this gem, designed by Damon Law. As I said before this contest is sure to bring out some really talented artists. Love his work here.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Peruvian Maradona. Future Timber?


The Portland Timbers have been evaluating Roberto Merino Ramirez during camp. This guy has some mad skill and would instantly be a fan favorite. There may be some concerns due to his size (5 ft 5 in), but his sheer skill is impressive. Watch this clip here from the Portland Timbers Facebook page where Merino breaks the ankles of a Montreal player before sending in a perfect cross for the winning goal.

UPDATE: Roberto appears to no longer be in camp. He has been removed from the online roster. It looks like he may be returning to a club in Peru. It's a shame... would have been fun to watch.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Timbers Stadium SnapShot: 2/23

3 major updates have taken place at PGE Park this week. Here are photos of the recent changes compliments of Portlandreigns in the order of significance. With the exception of the South End seating (where I'll be located) the bulk of the work now lies in the interior structures. This includes the press box, locker rooms, Key Bank Club, Providence medical center, and concessions/restrooms.

#1: The turf pitch has been rolled out. Awaiting the rubber infill.

#2: P O R T L A N D. All the seats have been placed in the new stands.

#3: State of the art video board has been constructed beneath the MAC Club balcony.

Golazo Review Round-Up

I posted my review of Golazo about a week ago, but I wanted to provide some other reviews for reference. The general consensus from these sites is that the drink gets the job done and it has a great taste. Here is where you can order yourself a six-pack with free shipping.





Friday, February 18, 2011

Timbers Stadium SnapShot: 2/18

What The F....AST

Finally, adidas cranks out a soccer commercial that catches my attention. This is how it's done. It's edgy, unique, and features some impressive camera work. The climax of the ad with the play by play announcer is what knocks this out of the park. Keep it up adidas.


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Player Watch: Bim Ogunyemi

Excerpt + Photo from FC Dallas website:

Roster Watch 2011: "The 20-year old midfielder from Lake Orion, Michigan was selected by FC Dallas in the first round of the Supplemental Draft. After missing the first week of preseason while awaiting completion of his physical, Ogunyemi watched while other trialists began to stake their claim. At 5’9” the Schoolcraft College product has been eager to show his ability while lining up at left midfield, but with a crowded and versatile midfield, the window to seal a place on the Western Conference Champions roster is a difficult task."

It also appears that Bim scored a goal in a 3 v 3 training game helping his team win the contest. He then played in a full 11 v 11 match with his team getting the 1-0 victory.

Golazo Energy Review + Freestyle

Golazo, Born to Score. This week I took the opportunity to crack into my 6-pack of the soccer branded energy drink. I gave 3 cans to friends, but the others I used on three separate occasions (pictured below). First, I want to say I love the design of the can. The green, black and white color combination makes for a unique presentation that should stand out on store shelves.

After taking my first sip I was surprised by the flavor. It's unlike any drink I've tried in the energy drink category. The mango flavor jumped out to me right off the bat, and eventually I was able to notice the lime. Golazo has less carbonation than other drinks and lacks the amount of sugar as well. These are both positives in my book, because the drink's marketed as providing both energy and hydration.

In terms of results, I had a positive experience. I started drinking my can about 25 minutes before an indoor game, making sure to drink slowly. My performance in the game was great. I was running the length of the field and I could feel an extra bit of jump in my step. We had multiple subs, and I wasn't about to hog minutes, so I didn't get to test how my stamina would hold over the full 44 minutes. However, I left the game feeling fresh and without the common stomach pain I get when I drink a Red Bull or AMP. The second can I drank before a long shift at work. Retail can be a boring and exhausting job, and having the Golazo certainly helped. I did crash towards the end of my shift, but that is expected. It's retail... it puts you to sleep.

Overall, I'm really impressed with Golazo. They have a solid product and they certainly know how to create a buzz. Hopefully I can get my hands on some more soon!

Trial #1: Started drinking 25 minutes before an indoor soccer game

Trial #2: Pounded a can before working a shift at my retail job


Trial #3: Drank before playing some soccer tennis and practicing some freestyle. Here is my roommate the Footy Guru putting on a display in the background.

Foggy Freestyle Volume VI

Trying to look cool with a soccer ball... not really working. Here are my latest freestyle clips taken today at our secret soccer tennis location in Lake Oswego.



U-23s Get Promoted! Congrats Freddie + Jake

It's official folks. I knew it was bound to happen eventually, but today the press release came out. Freddie Braun and Jake Gleeson will be members of the Timbers in 2011. These two deserve everything they get. I had the pleasure of watching them perform this summer for the U-23s and they are both class individuals. They were always willing to lend a hand and they made me feel welcome amongst the team. We had some good times hanging out at the stadium and our trip to Kitsap was a blast. Freddie will add to our depth at the CM position, and Jake has the potential to be our number 1 keeper in the next few years. Big ups to these guys, can't wait to see them take the field.

Rumor: Brian Umony Loan Deal

A while back I suspected Brian Umony would be one of the players signed by the Portland Timbers as a replacement for the injured Bright Dike. I figured we needed one more forward option, and Umony is a young talented footballer who has had a productive preseason.

Now there are reports that a loan deal for Umony is imminent. I found this report at MLS Rumors, so it's not official by any means. However, I think most people would argue that Umony is a solid signing. I expect the next round of player signings to be announced following the teams trip to Arizona.

MIA: Kerrea Gilbert

Out of 20 signed players, Kerrea Gilbert is the only member of the Portland Timbers that has yet to report to training camp. A report came out on OregonLive on February 9th that Gilbert was having trouble securing a visa.

Hopefully he is able to join the team as they venture to Arizona. Gilbert is falling behind in gaining match fitness and familiarity with the rest of the players. He was one of the signings most Timbers fans have been extremely excited about. A young player who came up in the Arsenal system with loads of potential. We hope to see you in Timbers green soon!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Foggy Creations: Portland Timbers Jets

Here are the final designs we submitted for the Portland Timbers Paint the Plane contest. My dad is a photoshop guru, so I basically went along for the ride offering my opinion and potential design ideas. Ultimately these were the last two concepts standing. The final day for submissions was yesterday, Feb. 15th. No word on how long it will take for the Timbers FO and Alaska Airlines to pick the winners. Competition should be tough, with all the talented artists and designers living in the Portland area. Let me know what you think of the designs. Be sure to click on the images for a full size view. Just for kicks here was my dad's original jet design he produced prior to the jersey unveiling in December.

Our first jet is a simple design using some dynamic lines that flow from the tail to the nose. I felt this would be a good entry, because ultimately Alaska Airlines will need to paint this plane, and a toned down design could win over the judges. The lines make for a sleek looking jet emphasising speed and grace.

The second jet design was all my Pops. Only he could put a tilted soccer pitch across the side of a jet. I love the thick lines that flow across the field and continue onto the yellow tail and nose. If this design doesn't get chosen because of all the detail involved, I think it could have a good chance of winning a runner-up or honorable mention, simply based on its creativity.

Let us know your thoughts on both designs. Should we have incorporated the "Rose City" red into the design? Would you prefer a simple or complex design? Would you risk putting players faces/numbers on the plane considering the chance of injuries or trades? How about a giant chainsaw across the body of the plane? Thanks everyone! Hopefully we can nab one of the prizes.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Dear Football World. Happy Valentine's Day.


"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

- Bill Shankly

Special Delivery: Golazo Energy

Valentine's Day came early for Pitch Black this year. I found this little package on my doorstep before leaving for work today. Bought a six pack online a few days back for $14.99 with shipping free of charge. Not a bad deal. I still haven't given it a try yet, but I conveniently have an indoor soccer game tonight with Joe Public FC. I want to put Golazo to the test. Energy drinks like Red Bull and AMP tend to have an equal amount of positive/negative effects on my body. Obviously, they provide tons of energy, but after the games I tend to feel sick to my stomach. Golazo is marketed as a sports energy drink that is designed to provide "ounce per ounce the same level of hydration as the worlds leading hydrating drink, and at the same time delivers the same level of energy as the leading energy drink." Look forward to a review on the taste and performance soon.

Free coasters and stickers with every purchase

Fridge is stocked