SportsCenter on the Road visits Portland

(by Benjamin Baer mlssoccer.com 7-23-16)

The Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy have played in some big games over the years and Saturday's match-up is no different, except for one thing.

For the first time, SportsCenter on the Road will originate from the site of a Major League Soccer match-up on Saturday at 2:30 pm ET, live from Providence Park where the Timbers will host face the Galaxy on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Canadian viewers can see the match on TSN.

Max Bretos and Dianna Russini will co-anchor the 75-minute program from inside Providence Park. SportsCenter on the Road in Portland will lead into the match telecast. There are many special features to be shown during the program including an interview with Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and a profile of LA Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos.

Some other highlights of SportsCenter on the Road in Portland include:

• Timber Joey, the unofficial mascot of the Portland Timbers will be interviewed on SportsCenter on the Road;
• ESPN’s lead soccer match analyst Taylor Twellman will join Bretos and Russini on the set;
• A look at Darlington Nagbe's journey from Liberia to becoming a MLS star and US national team player;
• Sit-down interviews with one player from either team in the MLS Soccer Sunday matchup;
• A video essay – an ode to the City of Portland – by weekday 1 am ET SportsCenter anchor and native of Portland Neil Everett.

ESPN’s SportsCenter on the Road initiative, which takes the program out of the studio to events and fans, began in 2015.
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SportsCenter on the Road has originated from pro and college football and basketball games, the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, the College Football Playoff, the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, the Little League World Series, the Indianapolis 500, the World Series, MLB Playoffs, MLB All-Star Game and more.

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http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/07/20/sportscenter-road-visit-portland-Saturday

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My take:

Well, it only took ESPN 20 years to get on board.

This reminds me of the old days when I sent emails to ESPN suggesting to them that they help MLS grow by doing a "MLS Minute" at the end of each Sportscenter on Saturdays and Sundays. Of course there was now way in hell they were going to do that but it made me feel better, kind of.

Actually all it did was aggravate me more and more.

It also reminds me of when the Commissioner Doug Logan ripped ESPN a new one after the failed to even mention DC United beating Vasco De Gama to take the 1998 Inter-American Cup which in my mind is still the greatest achievement by any US soccer team, club or national team.

Anyway, it's pretty much a mute point, soccer is a little too "Millennial" for me now.