Timber Jim

Last updated

Jim Serrill, known as Timber Jim, was the mascot for the United Soccer Leagues Portland Timbers soccer team. A fan favorite from the earlier North American Soccer League Portland Timbers, he came back in 2001 to join the new Portland Timbers.

Contents

On January 24, 2008, Jim announced his retirement. He was replaced by Timber Joey in the middle of the 2008 season.

History

In 1978, Serrill was coming regularly to Timbers games with his family. Soon he asked the management of the Timbers (who were then owned by the timber company Louisiana-Pacific) if he could bring a chain saw to a game. They reluctantly allowed this and not too long after Timber Jim was created. He later added to the chain saw raised high above his head by bringing a drum and other acts to the game. Soon he was scaling high above the large crowds at Civic Stadium on a tall pole or "snag." [1]

After the original Timbers team folded, Serrill went back to work in the timber industry and later Portland General Electric. When the Timbers were reformed in 2001 he returned with the team. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was killed in an automobile accident in 2004, and in her memory, the Timbers Army made a tradition of singing "You Are My Sunshine", her favourite song, while holding sunflowers, her favourite flower, often led by a tearful Timber Jim. [2]

Jim's act

Timber Jim was known as one of the best performers for any team, largely because of his unique talents as an actual lumberjack. These included:

Retirement

On January 24, 2008, Jim announced his retirement. Over the years Jim has brought a few under his wing to pass on the role, with little success. His final farewell was a game played against the Puerto Rico Islanders on April 17, 2008, the Timbers home opener, which was won 1-0. [3] Timber Jim was succeeded by Timber Joey, another lumberman who saws log slices for successful Timbers players. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Park</span> Sports stadium in Portland, Oregon, United States

Providence Park is an outdoor soccer venue located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It has existed in rudimentary form since 1893, and as a complete stadium since 1926. Providence Park is currently the oldest facility to be configured as a soccer-specific stadium for use by a MLS team, and is one of the most historic grounds used by any United States professional soccer team.

Anthony "Tony" McManus is a former American soccer player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers.

Victor Herbert Crowe was a Welsh international football player and later football manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paulo Nagamura</span> Brazilian footballer

Paulo Roberto Corradi Nagamura is a Brazilian former professional footballer and coach who is currently an assistant coach with Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire. He spent most of his playing career in MLS, where he won two MLS Cups and three U.S. Open Cups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timbers Army</span> Independent supporters group of Portland Timbers soccer club

The Timbers Army is an independent supporters group of Portland Timbers, a soccer club in Major League Soccer—the top tier of the United States soccer pyramid. Its members are known for their loud, enthusiastic support and the raucous atmosphere they create at Timbers games. Centered in section 107 of Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, the Army has grown steadily over the years to encompass much of the north end of the stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Goldthwaite</span> American soccer player

Kevin Goldthwaite is a former American soccer player who last played as a defender for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers (1985–1990)</span> Soccer team

Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came from local Portland amateur leagues. It played its games in Portland's Civic Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge Villafaña</span> American soccer player

Jorge Antonio Flores Villafaña is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Moffat</span> Scottish footballer

Adam John William Moffat is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and spent the majority of his career playing in the various professional leagues in the United States. He attended Gryffe High School in Houston, Scotland before beginning his career in Scottish football with Ross County and Elgin City, Moffat has played in the United States since 2007, initially with Cleveland City Stars. He then played for Major League Soccer (MLS) teams Columbus Crew, Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders FC and FC Dallas prior to joining the New York Cosmos in 2015 and finishing his career with Sacramento Republic. He won the MLS Cup with Columbus in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers (2001–2010)</span> Soccer team

The Portland Timbers were an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of the 2010 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrés Flores</span> Salvadoran footballer (born 1990)

Andrés Alexander Flores Mejía is a Salvadoran professional football manager and former player. He is the current assistant coach of Portland Timbers 2 in the MLS Next Pro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers–Seattle Sounders rivalry</span> American soccer rivalry

The Portland Timbers–Seattle Sounders rivalry is a soccer rivalry between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC, both based in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The rivalry originated in the North American Soccer League of the 1970s, with both cities reviving expansion teams, and has carried into lower-level leagues, including the A-League and USL First Division. The rivalry moved to Major League Soccer, the top division of soccer in the United States, in 2011, where it has grown into one of the largest in American soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers</span> Soccer club in Portland, Oregon, United States

The Portland Timbers are an American professional men's soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The Timbers have played their home games at Providence Park since 2011, when the team began play as an expansion team in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Clark (soccer)</span> American soccer player

Steven Thomas Clark is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo.

The 2010 Portland Timbers season was the tenth and final season for the club in the USL Conference of the USSF Division-2 Professional League, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. The D-2 Pro League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) in 2010 to last just one season, as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues (USL) and the North American Soccer League (NASL). An expansion club retaining the Timbers name began play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zarek Valentin</span> Puerto Rican footballer (born 1991)

Zarek Chase Valentin is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC. A former youth international for the United States, he captains the Puerto Rico national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Bruin</span> American soccer player

William Christopher Bruin is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maximiliano Urruti</span> Argentine footballer (born 1991)

Maximiliano "Maxi" Nicolás Urruti Mussa is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a striker for Argentine Primera División club Platense.

<i>You Are Here</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

You Are Here is an outdoor 2012 bronze sculpture by American artist Ron Baron, installed at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which administers the work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup 2018</span> 2018 edition of the MLS Cup

MLS Cup 2018 was the 23rd edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS), which took place on December 8, 2018. It was the final match of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs and was contested by Atlanta United FC and the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

References

  1. Hartley, Brandon (May 25, 2005). "Q&A: Timber Jim Serrill". Willamette Week. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  2. Superfans: The Tribalism of Sports | Annals of Obsession | The New Yorker , retrieved 2021-07-01
  3. Timbers long-time icon, 'Timber Jim,' retires Archived 2008-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Timber Joey | Portland Timbers Archived 2012-04-12 at the Wayback Machine