Interim coach Brian Schmetzer has an intimate knowledge of the Seattle-Portland rivalry, dating back to his playing days in the NASL and through his stint as the head coach of the minor-league Sounders.
Asked late last week what was so special about the matchup ahead of Sunday’s match at CenturyLink Field, Schmetzer described it as a rivalry between cities, clubs, fans, current players, former players … all the way up to the coaches. Then he told his favorite Sounders-Timbers story.
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“It’s such a great rivalry for so many reasons,” Schmetzer said. “The excitement builds. You can perhaps tell that all of us are a little bit edgy. The players sense it in us and start to feel a little edgy. The fans are already edgy.”
You’ve heard the story about the time he got flipped off by a Timbers fan at the Starbucks next to Portland’s Providence Park, haven’t you? The coach asked.
No, but please do go on.
“So this was in a Starbucks, and this was in the USL days,” Schmetzer said. “We had our blue shirts on. We’re kind of sitting up here” – here, he mimics the rise of a hill with his hands – “the guy is walking by and we make eye contact. He walks literally 15 feet past me, sees that I have Sounders gear on, turns around, looks back and …” – two middle fingers raised, with purpose — “then he turns around and away.
“It was one of those moments like, OK, that guy just flipped me off, but I didn’t care. I thought it was great. I love the passion. That’s just the way the rivalry is.”
Happy Seattle-Portland week, everybody. Less than 72 hours until match day.