Portland Timbers Receive 2011 Fair Play Award

by Geoff Gibson on Nov 8, 2011 11:24 AM PST

Don't say the Portland Timbers never won anything in their first year as it looks like they're taking home the trophy for "most polite."

Well, not really. In actuality, the award is for the team that committed the fewest fouls over the entire season. The Timbers came in a low 347 fouls with the Colorado Rapids coming in next at 374 fouls. Here are some additional stats:

Portland was one of just five teams to average under 1.5 yellow cards per game and its three red cards were tied for second-fewest (with Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union) across MLS. In addition to objective criteria, MLS also looked at Disciplinary Committee action and overall sportsmanlike behavior in selecting the Timbers as the 2011 Xbox 360 Team Fair Play Award winner.

I suppose it's good news to win something, but I guess I'm also a little disappointed that the team did win this one. I mean, naturally, you want to see your home team go out and fight, give it their all, and, yes, get a few fouls. Nothing dangerous mind you, but perhaps this Fair Play award is indicative of the season as a whole. Too many games I watched the Timbers play without any fight or heart... it's not something I want to see again.

What do you think?

Oh and for some perspective here are the winners of the award since 1997:

MLS Fair Play Award – Team Winners:

2011: Portland Timbers

2010: San Jose Earthquakes

2009: Chicago Fire

2008: New England Revolution

2007: Columbus Crew

2006: Kansas City Wizards

2005: Kansas City Wizards

2004: Columbus Crew

2003: New England Revolution

2002: Kansas City Wizards

2001: San Jose Earthquakes

2000: TampaBay Mutiny

1999: Columbus Crew

1998: Kansas City Wizards

1997: Columbus Crew

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Umm. Thanks?

Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.

by Kejsare on Nov 8, 2011 12:13 PM PST reply actions

San Jose won the award and the MLS Cup in 2001

Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.

by Kejsare on Nov 8, 2011 12:15 PM PST up reply actions

If there's one thing I'm happy about in this first season...

it’s that there’s room for growth. They could stand to take some more chances, commit a few more fouls and get a few more cards without dragging down the team’s overall performance.

But I think it’s unfair to say that the Timbers played without heart. Spencer is nothing if not passionate, and if someone’s out there not giving that passion, that fight, he’s not going to be out on the field the next game. Yes, when Chabala got knocked in the Houston game nobody came over and got in Cruz’s face. I would have liked to see that too, but I chalk that up to being focused on the game, as opposed to being focused on the opponent.

I think the fact that the Timbers were able to win and play well without getting nasty is a really good sign for the team and a league that has drawn criticism for substituting physicality for quality. Look at Chara as a model player: he wins 80% of the many challenges he makes for the ball, and yet he doesn’t have the fouls and cautions one might expect in MLS from that success rate. That’s a quality of play that doesn’t need excessive physicality.

I’ll take that over the Dynamo’s nonsense any day of the week.

When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy

by Andrew Wheeler on Nov 8, 2011 12:18 PM PST reply actions

In England the winners of the Fair Play award get a place in the Europa Cup every year

I think MLS should give a place in the CONCACAF CL to the winner of this very, very prestigious and not-at-all-to-be-forgotten-in-24-hours award.

by pdb on Nov 8, 2011 4:41 PM PST reply actions

Why not just give us entry to the Europa Cup

it’s only fair.

volatilelyle.com

by almost awesome on Nov 8, 2011 5:52 PM PST up reply actions

And about as interesting

by pdb on Nov 8, 2011 8:34 PM PST up reply actions

I have to say...

I am very happy to see Timbers beat out the Rapids on this one. It would have really pissed me off as a Sounders fan to see Mullen and company win a fair play award the same week that we learn that Zakuani is having complications with his injury from last spring.

by lysander on Nov 8, 2011 8:44 PM PST reply actions