Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Crazier
by Kip Kesgard (Blog Entry | Oregonian - November 24)
There’s a great two part episode of the classic television show, The Simpsons, where Montgomery Burns gets shot while trying to monopolize the public utilities for Springfield, which I think applies to the most recent developments in the USL/TOA struggle. more details | go to article

Oregon, We've Got Games: New MLS Team Coming To Portland
by Mark Larabee and Geoffrey C. Arnold (Article | Oregonian - March 18)
Major League Soccer will award an expansion franchise to Portland on Friday, sources close to the deal said Wednesday. more details | go to article

Soccer Deal Passes Council With One Major Change
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - March 11)
Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman voted this afternoon in favor of bringing Major League Soccer to Portland to loud cheers, giving a 3-2 edge to the city's involvement in a complicated financial deal after a six-hour hearing. more details | go to article

Ted Wheeler's Big Moment
by Anna Griffin (Commentary | Oregonian - March 11)
It's easy to forget that Ted Wheeler has climbed Mount Everest and finished multiple Ironman triathalons. He's geeky. He's wonky. And he rarely steps away from his script. But at today's City Council meeting, Wheeler got very angry. It was inspiring to see. more details | go to article

Nowheresville USA
by No Author Listed (Commentary | Oregonian - March 11)
The City Council must weigh the opportunity cost of allowing a Major League Soccer team to slip away. more details | go to article

Merritt Paulson: A Man To Play Ball With
by Anna Griffin (Commentary | Oregonian - March 10)
Fans in the Timbers Army like to chant, "Rose City 'Til I Die," but there are reasons aplenty to kill Portland's plan for Major League Soccer. more details | go to article

Major League Soccer Deal Reached, Now It's City Council's Turn
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - March 10)
Timbers and Beavers owner Merritt Paulson reached a tentative agreement Monday with Portland leaders that would give him access to more than $60 million in city-backed loans to build a new Triple A baseball stadium in the Rose Quarter and renovate PGE Park for a new Major League Soccer franchise. more details | go to article

Vera Hot And Cold On Soccer
by Mark Larabee (Blog Entry | Oregonian - March 10)
Former mayor turned soccer-team lobbyist Vera Katz came out this morning for her protege's press conference on the proposed deal over city-back funding for Major League Soccer. more details | go to article

Discuss: This Quote From Merritt Paulson
by Ryan White (Blog Entry | Oregonian - March 10)
There's a soccer plan in place, and it'll go before the City Council in the morning. I think I'll live blog it, because government is fun. more details | go to article

Adams, Leonard Defend Soccer Deal
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - March 10)
Portland Mayor Sam Adams said this morning that his goal to make the city's economy the most sustainable in the world requires that it build its international profile, "and the language the world speaks most is Futbol." more details | go to article

Soccer Task Force Says: Play Ball! (As Long As City Is Protected)
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - March 3)
Portland's Major League Soccer Task Force today backed a proposal to use city money to renovate PGE Park for the Portland Timbers and build a new baseball stadium for the Portland Beavers. more details | go to article

Portland Soccer Fans Turn Out To Support Stadium
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - February 25)
City Council to vote soon on proposal to attract a major league franchise more details | go to article

Major League Soccer Goes To Salem: Team Owner Lobbies For Deal On PGE Park Renovations
by Mark Larabee (Article | Oregonian - February 24)
Portland Timbers soccer team owner Merritt Paulson took his A game to the Oregon Legislature today, testifying on a bill that would divert state income taxes generated by players' salaries toward the proposed renovation of PGE Park. more details | go to article

That MLS Big Boss Sure Plays Mean Hardball
by Ryan White (Commentary | Oregonian - February 12)
Say this for Don Garber, the man can set a deadline. Don Garber? He's Major League Soccer's commissioner. You're welcome. So, yeah. Garber can set a deadline. more details | go to article

US National Team Hosts Mexico Tonight In World Cup Qualifying
by Damon P. Carroll (Preview | Oregonian - February 11)
For soccer fans, tonight the wait is over. more details | go to article