The man behind the Portland Timbers push to enter the MLS Expansion race is placing himself directly in the center of public debate as the conversations about how much Public Funding would be needed in renovating PGE Park into a 23,000 seat Soccer Specific Stadium begin.

With Owner Merritt Paulson and Portland City Commish Randy Leonard meeting with MLS honcho Don Garber last week in New York, it looks as if the tantalizing old school Northwest rivalries of Seattle, Portland and Vancouver could become a reality again one day.

image via Farm1

Portland Sports Reporter Dwight Jaymes is reporting that Portland City Commisioner Randy Leonard met with Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and MLS Commissioner Don Garber last week in NYC regarding the expansion bid. Portland’s bid will depend on the feasibility of improvements to PGE Park.

Jaymes has a tantalizing quote attributed to Portland City Commissioner Leonard…

“It’s clear to me that it’s ours to lose…”

Image via Shutterfly

As our boy Shawn already showed you…

Portland city leaders are willing to talk about borrowing as much as $75 million to help bring Major League Soccer to Portland.

At a news conference today, City Commissioner Randy Leonard and Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Beavers, agreed it will take public participation to help turn the Rose City into a big-league sports town.

Paulson is applying for one of two MLS expansion teams that will begin play in 2011. If he succeeds, he wants city help making $40 million in improvements to PGE Park downtown and building a new home for the Triple A Beavers. A new minor-league park could cost $35 million.

Many more stories here…

New Portland MLS website.

Image via MLStoPortland

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson says bringing Major League Soccer to the city is no sure thing…(more)…

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UPDATE - Central Defender Nas Koubourous, the #13 who went out injured in the second half was diagnosed with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee this morning.

Once again, big thanks to Micheal Janosz for his photos from last nights Lamar Hunt Open Cup match against the Portland Timbers.

Great glancing header on the goal by Portland’s Arsene Oka.

Junior cutting it back against Portland’s Dombrowski.

I never could keep my mouth shut.

Earl Alexander scoring the winner off a deflection with his second touch of the match.

While it’s a heartbreaking and frustrating result for the Portland Timbers (especially with 6 games in 9 days), if you knew the guys on this team, you’d be pretty amazed by their stories.

The players that make up Hollywood United come from all walks of life. From well off to struggling, from guys who’ve had a few opportunities to guys that had none, these guys show up twice a week to train and on for games on the weekends because they love the game.

They don’t play for money and to be honest, they lose money by making the sacrifice to be a part of this team to play.

Last night we lost our defensive leader Nas Koubourous to either a torn ACL or PCL when Takayuki Suzuki bungled into him just outside the 18 yard box. This morning at 4am, Nas headed to the airport to wait standby for a flight, caught it and by 8am was on site working this morning as a high rise welder.

I can’t even imagine..

I can never truly find the right words to express the admiration I have for these guys and I can’t even begin to tell you what that game meant to them. It was their one chance to play at the highest level, if only for one match.

For this group to come from behind twice and pull out a victory showed how bad the players wanted to prove themselves against a much higher standard.

They will always know that Portland didn’t field their first 11, but when they pulled that gold shirt over their heads last night before kickoff, they were pros for that 92+ minutes.

Matty Taylor, Jayson Boyce, Alex Bengard and myself headed over to the Kells for a few bevvies after the match.

I think that Voodoo Doughnut might just be the best idea ever put to use.  I killed the apple fritter while the boys knocked down peanut butter - oreo cookie doughnut.

Heaven..

It was a great time for the boys as we somehow pulled out a 3-2 win in the 90th minute over a very, very good Portland Timbers.

Unfortunately we lost one of our true defensive leaders in Nas, as it looks like he tore his ACL.

I know the Timber faithful were talking a lot of smack before kickoff, but we’re hoping (as a team) that if we draw Seattle AT Seattle, you’ll come up, support us and represent!

Two weeks to go..

The boys from Hollywood United are staying at the Double Tree Portland Lloyd Center ahead of the Lamar Hunt Open Cup tonight against the Portland Timbers.

Matt Taylor and I have been cracking up listening to this Offsides Ruling breakdown off Ruud van Nistelrooy’s opening goal versus Italy.

I’m willing throw down some green that Andy Gray isn’t a big fan of Tommy Smyth.

You always know it’s game time when the internet lights up.

Bob Kellet over at The Offside has his pre-game write up.

The Portland Timbers website has their view.

And Steve Brandon from the Sports Tribune has a deep explanation as to who Hollywood United are.

If you were wondering where you could watch the game, check out USLLive.com and wish us luck!

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

FIRST ROUND LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FIXTURES ANNOUNCED
Full Slate of First Round Games Set for Tuesday, June 10

CHICAGO (May 28, 2008) – U.S. Soccer has announced the first round pairings for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The first round features 32 teams from the United Soccer Leagues First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League and United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) ranks. Pairings for the opening round were determined by blind draw. The first round will be played on Tuesday, June 10, with the winners facing off in the second round on June 24.

Eight USASA squads will participate in the first round of the Open Cup, with the N.Y. Pancyprian Freedom (Astoria, N.Y.) taking on Real Maryland (USL-2), Boston Olympiakos traveling to the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2), the AAC Eagles (Chicago) hosting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) and RWB Adria (Chicago) facing the Rochester Rhinos (USL-1). Texas-based ASC New Stars (Houston) will travel to the Charleston Battery, Arizona Sahuaros (Phoenix) play host to the Seattle Sounders (USL-1) and Hollywood United will travel to the Portland Timbers (USL-1).

The PDL is also represented by eight teams in the first round as the Brooklyn Knights travel to the Carolina Railhawks (USL-1), the Fredericksburg Gunners will face the Richmond Kickers (USL-2), the Michigan Bucks will host the Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) and the St. Louis Lions travel to St. Paul to take on the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1). In the South, the Austin Aztex will host the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) and the Bradenton Academics (PDL) stay in state to play at Miami FC (USL-1). The Yakima Reds (Yakima, Wash.) will travel to Harrisburg to battle the City Islanders (USL-2) and the Los Angeles Legends host Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2).

(more…)