Timber Jim

Timber Jim (aka Jim Serrill) is the mascot for the United Soccer League Portland Timbers soccer team. A fan favorite from the earlier North American Soccer League Portland Timbers, he came back in 2001 to join the new Portland Timbers.

On January 24th 2008 Jim announced his retirement.

History

In 1978 Jim was coming regularly to Timbers games with his family. Soon he asked the management of the Timbers (who were then owned by the timber company Louisiana-Pacific) if he could bring a chain saw to a game. They reluctantly allowed this and not too long after Timber Jim was created.

He later added to the chain saw raised high above his head by bringing a drum and other acts to the game. Soon he was scaling high above the large crowds at Civic Stadium on a tall pole or "snag".

After the original Timbers team folded, Jim went back to work in the timber industry and later Portland General Electric. When the Portland Timbers were reformed in 2001 he returned with the team.

Timber Jim's daughter, Hannah, was killed in an automobile accident in 2004, and in her memory, the Timbers Army made a tradition of singing "You Are My Sunshine," often led by a tearful Timber Jim. The chant has been known to inspire goals, including the legendary back-heeled " [http://www.soccercityusa.com/timbers/mil082904-3s.mov Sunshine Goal] " by Syrian forward Fadi Afash (voted the most spectacular Timbers goal by the fans).

Jim's act

Timber Jim is known as one of the best performers for any team. That is because of his unique talents as an actual lumberjack. These include
* Scaling a tall "snag" off the pitch and standing on top high above the crowd (as of 2007 discontinued due to safety concerns).
* Cutting a round from a log with one of his chain saws every time the Timbers score
* Hanging above the crowd on a zip-line with his drum
* Singing "We are the Timbers..." to section 107 (Timbers Army), eventually spelling out T-I-M-B-E-R-S (the R extended, imitating the roaring of a chainsaw)
* Pounding on a large drum, yelling out Port-land (beat, beat) Tim-bers
* Doing forward handsprings (quite a feat, as he is in his 50's)

Retirement

On January 24th 2008 Jim announced his retirement. Over the years Jim has brought a few under his wing to pass-on the role with little success. A final farewell is planned for the April 17 2008 Timbers home opener game. [ Timbers long-time icon, 'Timber Jim,' retires [http://www.portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/headlines/index.html?article_id=708] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.timberjim.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3129/6342/ "TIMBER JIM" SERRILL]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40gOL8OvCy4 Timber Jim in action on YouTube]