Timber sighting (a player, not a tree)

I'm a Portland Timbers' fan, no getting around it. I went from being absolutely positive I would never be a soccer fan after baseball (aka the minor league Portland Beavers) got kicked out-pun intended;) by major league soccer (aka the Portland Timbers) back in 2010 to having my mind and feelings about having a local soccer team drastically shifted by one, passionate super fan (aka Adam Sapina:) It didn't even take Adam a whole season to help me see just how beautifully awesome and skilled the game of soccer is. I'm glad I was able to change my mind about having and supporting a soccer team in Portland for two reasons: (1) I love having a local sports team in addition to basketball because I'm a sports enthusiast and (2) things probably wouldn't have worked out between Adam and I since he is such a footy maniac! Seriously, this guy lives and breathes soccer. I would have been the MOST frustrated girlfriend :) It is SO much better this way, as something we can share in together!

Keeping in mind how big a fan of the Timbers I have become...you can imagine my giddiness when Sam and I walked into Gymboree class, (something I was NOT thrilled about given the fact that I'm still feeling blah and the people that run these classes tend to annoy me to no end) take off our shoes, stuff everything in the tiny cubby holes provided and are waiting for class to start...we were 15 minutes early, when who should I see chasing their little daughter out the class door, but Timbers' midfielder Jack Jewsbury! It was an odd feeling of recognition at first, I glanced up, my brain made a facial 'a ha' connection and I started thinking, "where do I know that guy from? Did we go to high school together?" and then CLICK, connection made. That's a Timber standing right there in front of me in regular clothes doing regular "cool" nanny kid funtivities like me! I sat on the bench with Sam wondering if it would be rude to say something to him for oh, about three seconds where in I made eye contact with him- he was now sitting on the purple bench across from us trying to wrestle his toddler into her shoes and jacket, and said, "You guys had a fantastic season this year! We are big fans!" I know what you are thinking..."Rachael, that is astute and well thought out!" lol. What!? I was thinking on the fly and honestly this is the closest to a celebrity or professional athlete that I have been where I could actually try to facilitate a conversation! He looked at me and replied, "Thank you, and yeah, it was a great season. Shame that it came down to that last game and we just couldn't pull it together, but I was pretty happy with how this season went." Yep, Jack Jewsbury talked to me. I proceeded to tell him that overall the season felt like a huge win for Portland to which he said that he was excited to see what next season would bring. With that he was up and chasing his daughter again and out the door shortly after before I could say nice to meet you, thanks for making my day, but at least I flashed my pearly whites during conversation, so hopefully he already knew that :) What an interesting turn of events in the "exciting" world of being a nanny on the Westside HA! This would never happen on the Eastside:) I should have asked him for a handshake, a hug, or even a picture or autograph! Oh well, the memory and my blog thoughts will have to suffice :) Maybe we'll see him at Gymboree class again someday! GO TIMBERS!