The team has already made the trek, but the broadcasters follow on Friday a.m. via three different
flights from three different ports. If all goes well, we should be in our southeastern Mass. digs
by 9 p.m. ET, just in time to catch the second half of the Sox opener with the locals.
I'm a New England guy, but my teams are the Red Sox and Bruins.
In an effort to resurrect some posting consistency for Ax to the Road, we'll be transitioning to
Twitter for the 2009 season. If you're currently on Twitter, just follow @AxToTheRoad. If you're
not, sign up. It's free, hassle-free and the next big thing.
You have to love the 4:30 a.m. CT wakeup call. The good part about that is we should be back in the
Pacific Northwest around 10:15 a.m. PT and have at least part of a weekend day to enjoy.
Plenty of mixed emotions following last night's draw. The guys were desperate for a win, but given
the way the match unfolded with the early PK, etc.
For tonight's match at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
GK Knighton
D Guante
D S. Thompson
D Knowles
D Griffin
M Poltl
M Oka
M Suzuki
M Olum
F Alvarez
F Jordan
Minnesota has allowed 25 goals on the year, so if ever there was a night to get the offense cranked
up it's this one!
Back on the road here in Minnesota for tonight's tilt against the Thunder. As expected, no Shaun
Higgins, Justin Thompson or Chris Brown in tow this trip as each serves a league-imposed
suspension.
I'll have the lineups shortly.
After a very disappointing effort in Charleston last night, the Timbers are headed home for what
they hope will be a prosperous Thursday match on their home pitch against Carolina. One point from
this past trip has really put the pressure on with the likes of Montreal and Rochester charging up
the table in hot pursuit of a middle or better playoff spot.
We made it to Charleston at 4:45 a.m. this morning on a straight shot from Atlanta. The Boys don't
look too worse for wear, outside of Tim Karalexis, who's season is likely done for the year due to
the knee injury he suffered early in last night's match.
Also questionable tonight is Miguel Guante, who took himself out in the first half vs.
Here's where the blog can actually be informative and break news: Tonight's starting 11 for the
Portland Timbers
GK Knighton
D S. Thompson
D Knowles
D Karalexis
D Griffin
M Poltl
M Dombrowski
M Higgins
M Guante
F Brown
F Olum
Still waiting on Atlanta, but we know Bobo is out with an injury.
Good thing tonight's match is an 8 p.m. ET kick, because at the moment the heat and humidity is off
the charts. Maybe it was because I had a long workout in the hotel "fitness center" (very
loose description), but I wanted to stop and rest halfway from the locker room to the "press
box" (also a very generous term to describe the broadcast location here at the Silverbacks'
grounds).
As I've eluded to before, if the USL first division was a movie, it would be Groundhog Day. How
else can you explain consecutive road trips to the southeastern United States? If the flick is true
to form, the Ax Men will lose the first game, travel overnight by bus to the next location and pull
off an improbable victory tomorrow.
The Timbers were not shut out of the win column in the month of June, rallying for a big 2-0 win
against Atlanta, making this difficult, four-day whirlwind a success. Matt Bobo must have
nightmares about Chris Bagley at this point.
We had a 4:30 a.m. lobby call today at the hotel and flew out of Atlanta at 7 a.
In what feels like a Groundhog Day (the movie) cycle, here we are again less than an hour before
the scheduled kickoff between the Timbers and Silverback in Atlanta.
We arrived at the Holiday Inn Select nearby at about 6 a.m. this morning and I grabbed a couple
hours of legitimate sleep before being roused by an old school telephone ring signaling that it was
time to go pick up the rental vehicles.
Well it's 1:26 a.m. ET as we head on down the road from NC to Atlanta in a rather nice motor coach
by USL standards. No leather, but it's got a nice smooth air suspension and not one but TWO drivers
to get us on down to the land of peaches and sweet tea.
Spirits on the bus are pretty high, considering the frustration that everyone feels with regard to
going without three points for what seems like an eternity.
Live from WakeMed stadium here in Cary, N.C., Here is tonight's starting lineup for the visiting
Portland Timbers. GK Burse, D Karalexis, D Knowles, D J. Thompson, D Griffin, M Dombrowski, M
Guante, M Higgins, M Brown, F Taka, F Bagley. With Jordan and Gregor in reserve, the Ax Men have
some bullets left on the bench if needed.
The Timbers' attack got a big boost today with the addition of Brian Jordan, who is now officially
on loan to the Boys in Green. Jordan joined the club last night, flying in from L.A. in time for
tonight's Fox Soccer Channel match against Carolina.
Portland is due for an offensive surge as it is, so BJ back should only hasten that.
