Ship’s Log, July 12: Tradition

I spent 10 days out in Chicagoland. During that vacation I finally got to Wrigley Field. For a very long time, baseball was my sports love. I saw Fenway back in 2000 and seeing Wrigleyville was always a dream. Once upon a time I was a infrequent baseball blogger, producer of Baseball’s Best Postgame Show and even took a course called Baseball and American History.

There, in the friendly confines, wrapped in ivy, I saw something that runs quite counter to the conflict between traditional American sports and soccer – after the win, 30,000 people sang in full voice.

It’s not that different from the traditions that even the eldest of America’s professional soccer teams continues to try and establish. The primary difference being that everyone did it.

I’m certain there was a time when not everyone sang. But traditions don’t start big.

They start in a small section, let’s call it 113. A couple dozen people started a march, they started some songs. Now it’s thousands and could be tens of thousands.

Or the traditions start with a carnation here and there. Then it becomes a routine and the carnation is on the jersey, but not enough people realize the meaning until that reminder.

Maybe the traditions began as a lap around the stadium, but now it is a line of players raising their hands in unison honoring those that sing.

We have a lot of attempts at tradition in our old soccer team.

• Boom boom clap
• Scarves up
• Seattle (at kick)
• Roll on Columbia (12')
• Born in 74 (74')
• The call and repeat

Here's the ECS songlist if you want to join in on those three timed songs.

These traditions only last if we keep doing them. They only get cemented as an element of history because we maintain them.

They only bring tears to the eyes of a visiting fan who doesn’t even know your team’s players when they persist.

Brian Schmetzer regularly says that the club is the relationship between the team and the fans. The club is also the relationship between those two groups and history.

We all — fans, players, coaches, staff — have to recognize that each moment we participate in this greatest club you’ve ever seen is a connection to 1974, 1994, 2009, 2022.

Each moment is our opportunity to plant a seed for the future. Each little thing we do can become a legend, wrapped in myth and ivy.

Go Sounders Go.

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Catching up on Sounder at Heart

What you need to get ready for the weekend's action.

Sounders

Next match: Saturday night at Austin FC at 5:30 pm PDT on Apple TV for free.

• Pedro de la Vega ‘in consideration’ to start vs. Austin
• Three questions with Verde All Day, an Austin FC blog
• Nos Audietis: Now we’re having fun
• Raúl Ruidíaz reportedly ‘doing his part’ to return to Universitario
• Lobbing Scorchers: Josh Atencio, American Hero
• Trip to Sacramento serves as reminder of Open Cup’s value
• Sound Bite(s): The magic of the Open Cup
• Trophy hunting: Sounders advance to Open Cup semis
• Realio’s Ratings: Positive outlook
• Sounders reportedly pursuing Croatian winger
• The Review: Seattle Sounders vs New England Revolution
• Josh Atencio named to USA Olympic team as alternate

Reign

Next match: July 19 hosting Utah Royals in the Summer Cup.

• The Cooler Guild: Whole Lotta Draws, Not Enough Winnin'
• Reign and Utah Royals trade goals for 1-1 draw
• Ballard FC to Launch Women’s USL Team

Jacob is stepping away from the pressbox for a while.

The coach thanked him.

Defiance

Next match: Sunday at Whitecaps2 at Swangard Stadium on MLSNextPro.com at 4 pm PDT.

• Stuart Hawkins named to U20 Concacaf Championship roster
• Key performers in Defiance’s wild 4-3 win over Sporting KC II

Velocity

Next match: July 19 at Central Valley Fuego in the USL Jägermeister Cup.

League One vibe check, summer edition
USL Tactics says Spokane is right in the middle of the table.

USL2 Teams

Friday: Ballard hosts United PDX; Olympia travels to Lane United; West Seattle Junction hosts Midlakes United

Sunday: West Seattle Junction hosts Ballard; Midlakes United hosts Capital FC Atletico; Olympia hosts Tacoma Stars

Looking back at the news

Everything else you need to know

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Cristiano Ronaldo has not kicked a ball in the U.S. for almost a decade, but could he play for Portugal at the World Cup there in 2026?

OPINION: Atlanta United shouldn't raise season ticket prices
The team has been bad for longer than the team has been good 

Garth Lagerwey lays out plan for Atlanta United’s next 2 designated players
Atlanta United has more than $50 million to spend in the upcoming transfer window and President Garth Lagerwey said on Thursday that he knows it won’t be easy but the club is targeting prime-age players from top-five leagues in Europe to fill its two vacant Designated Player slots.

Bill Manning out as Toronto FC president as MLSE severs ties

Angel City Was Supposed to Be a Model Women’s Soccer Club. At The Top, Conflict Was Brewing.
Established with a mission to be the “fiercest, most inclusive” team in world soccer, the NWSL club with a star-studded list of investors has instead been beset by infighting and power struggles. 

Pacific Northwest to Paris: Full list of Washington athletes competing in 2024 Olympic Games
Numerous athletes from Team USA and beyond have Washington connections at this summer's Olympic Games.

Seattle Sounders Team Doctor Michael Morris Says Goodbye
He built the Sounders’ medical program—then got to see his son star on the team.

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