Kristopher Jones

Support Seattle as a host city for the US World Cup bid!

Sounders FC to 2010 US Open Cup Final!

In only their second season the Seattle Sounders FC will defend their 2009 US Open Cup Championship, this time at home at Qwest Field on October 5th.  The Sounders advanced after their 3-1 semi-final win over Chivas USA tonight at Starfire.  The Sounders opponent will be the MLS Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew.

See you October 5th at Qwest Field were I expect an all-time attendance record to be set for the 97th US soccer club championship.  At stake will be the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophy and a berth in the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League!

Go Sounders!!! 

The Dream Is Real

I grew up playing soccer and going to Seattle Sounders soccer games at Memorial Stadium.  I'm a huge sports fan, but the Sounders were my first team and my first love.  I dreamed of playing for the Sounders one day.

I never got to play for the Sounders but I did get to play against them at an assembly in the junior high gym.  Me, and a bunch of other soccer players from Jane Addams Junior High, were the proverbial 'Washington Generals JV' against these professionals.  We played hard and had the whole school rooting for us, I notched a goal and we kept it close until they turned it on and beat us in the end.  I remember fellow students patting me on the back for a week.  Childhood innocence being what it was, it never occurred to any of us that the Sounders might have let us score some.

Over the years that followed I went to Sounders soccer camps in the summer, had the team poster and pennant on the wall on my bedroom, and listened to their away games on a small transistor radio.  They were Gods to me.  Going to Sounders games with my parents and my sister and my best friend Pat on warm summer evenings are some of my fondest childhood memories.

As I got older and my world got bigger, the North American Soccer League folded.  I continued to play on youth and men's teams beyond college.  Adult responsibilities of career and marriage eventually took over, but I always had a special place in my heart for the Seattle Sounders and "the beautiful game."  I promised myself that if the Sounders ever came back to Seattle at the highest level of professional soccer in the U.S., I'd be there.

Today is that day.

I'm kickin' it old-school today with the original Seattle Sounders logo on my sweatshirt and my new "Season Ticket Holder, 2009 Inaugural Season" Sounders scarf!  I can't wait!  It still doesn't seem real.  Honestly, I expect it to hit me pretty hard... in a good way.

Go Sounders!

 

 

 

UPDATE:  The Seattle Sounders defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-0 in front of 32,500 and a national TV audience on ESPN2!  What a great night!