Diego G Diaz
Elsie, OR
Every year, before the start of the MLS regular season, Portland Timbers fans make the roughly one-hour drive to Camp 18 restaurant, near Elsie, Oregon, for their yearly ritual of the Blessing of the Log. The Victory Log from where Timber Joey will be cutting its signature slabs this 2020 season.
The image is one of the most famous in the world of US Soccer fandom. The chain saw cuts a slab, then is cheered by fans, and at the end of the game, players display them as trophies. Players and goal keepers lift their slabs, a tribute to their performance, by scoring goals or by denying them.
The Victory Log stands proud on its own podium by the north end every season since the old USL days. This very special log is an Oregon Coast Douglas fir sustainably farmed and provided by Hampton Lumber, a Portland Timbers sponsor.
The event has usually the club mascot Timber Joey as the main emcee, and former mascot Timber Jim chipping in with stories and helping introducing the guest speakers. But don’t be fooled by the term “mascot”, they are both expert experienced loggers, they real thing.
Most of the attendants have been coming up here for years, it’s a really friendly, family event that kicks off after a hefty farm house style of breakfast. Like every year, we hear from Hampton Lumber sustainable practices, a bit of the story of the family owned company. It’s a rare connection between urban and rural communities. A very urban fan culture like the Timbers Army, with deep activism and a very progressive social culture, celebrating with the Timber tradition, one of the main historical drivers of Oregon’s economy. A welcome sight these somber days.
This year was a bit different. The death of Portland Timbers legend Jimmy Conway on February 14th, was still very present. Jimmy died at age 73 from Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). As an homage to former Fulham, Manchester City, Republic of Ireland international, and Portland Timbers winger, his son, also former Portland Timber’s player, Paul Conway, is the one who would lead this year’s blessing.
Paul Conway, did not come alone to Camp 18, many more members of the Conway family were also in attendance, some of them visiting from his native Ireland. Paul remembered his dad Jimmy, and reflected beyond his own personal experience, on how much he means to the landscape of Portland Soccer, and even to US Soccer as a whole. Paul also talked about he family efforts to pursue research on CTE, and their efforts to change sports governing bodies into taking a more proactive stance in its prevention.
Towards the end of the breakfast, Timber Jim teased Paul about his scoring tally off just one goal with the Portland Timbers, to what Paul retorted, “to my defense, didn’t we win that game for one goal”, fans cheered, “and wasn’t against this team… Seattle…” fans doubled in cheer and claps. It was a great way to get back in to a more jovial mood.
With that part of the morning concluded, all attendants walked outside, and as every year gathered around the log sitting on the trailer ready to make the final trip to Providence Park. With all hands on the log, or on somebody’s touching the log, Paul Conway recited the words adapted from an old traditional Irish wedding blessing. The verses of the blessing concluded with a very loud “Go Timbers”.
The event ended on a flurry of selfies and group pictures around the log, small groups breaking down in conversations, with some lingering, some starting to make drive back to town, some would choose to spend the day in the archetypical grey, rainy oregon coast on a winter day. As for the log, it was driven to the stadium, where it handsomely awaits for Sunday’s opener against Minnesota United.
Timbers Army are expected to have special merchandise for sale in honor of Jimmy Conway, with proceeds going for CTE Research. For those who would want to donate directly, please click the on link and make a donation to the CTE Center at Boston University in memory of Jimmy Conway.
Also on Prost Amerika
Owner’s Editorial: Why Fulham, Portland, Ireland and especially Prost Soccer honor Jimmy Conway
Season Preview: Portland Timbers
The Conway family at the 2020 Blessing of the Log
