A little mea culpa and some love for the Portland Timbers

Always remember, journalism is more art than science, and even on the best days we get some of it wrong. I always wish I could remember who said that.

Two days ago I got after the Portland Timbers, the United Soccer Leagues First Division side about to join MLS next year.

It was hardly a journalistic back alley beating; really just more a written wedgie. Still, it looks now like it wasn’t exactly deserved, like maybe I didn’t know the full story.

I said that the situation with John Spencer, who will soon be named manager there, had not been properly handled. It’s here, down toward the bottom of the long post; you can go find it for yourself if you care that much about it. (For the mea AND the culpa, click forward ...) 

Last night after the MLS All-Star game (my report from SI.com is here), I got down to the real nitty gritty of the Timbers managerial matters. I did so through brutal tactics, torturing a very highly placed MLS source by buying him one quality draft beer after another until he finally caved and spilled the goods. What can I say? I’m no Jack Bauer.

I can’t really offer too many details. Bottom line though is that the Timbers weren’t really at fault on how the timeline unfolded. It really wasn’t anyone’s fault.  I suppose life, just like journalism, is regularly and dependably imperfect.

I heard more last night during post-midnight interrogations. Stay tuned on all that …