By Doug Zanger

I’m not exactly sure when (or why) I decided to sign up for the Portland Timbers open tryout. It was most likely, a quick, “why the heck not” kind of thing. But, it actually did fall in to the theme of my 2010 resolutions: try a few new things here and there.

This would qualify as something new for sure.

Friday night, I got my bag ready. There was Gatorade, water, some bandages for my feet (I tend to blister), energy bars and a bunch of changes of clothes. I was probably more ready to take a hike with Alex from Hike Yeah as opposed to getting out on the pitch for a couple of days of soccer.

As I arrived Saturday morning, it was pretty much as I had expected: a bunch of younger guys. Being 40, I was clearly the oldest one there. I met a few guys who were in their 30s, but most were in their 20s — and in their soccer prime. As we were warming up and stretching, I made a “don’t ever get old” comment to a young fella from B.C. who had come down for the weekend. He asked how old I was. When I told him I was 40 he said, “no way! I thought you were like, 27 or something.”

That was the little boost of energy I needed to get going. You can imagine the smile after that comment.

The first short-sided game was uneventful. We were all just getting our legs under ourselves. I was on a great team with some very good players. What encouraged me, though, was just how nice everyone was. They were incredibly supportive every step of the way. This was a highly competitive environment yet it proved to me, once again, that soccer is an amazing community.

The second match was much better.

Near the end of play, I was up front and a ball ended up bounding high over my head about 15 yards out. I had only one choice: take the shot. The ball arced high over my right shoulder, I turned towards the goal waited until the ball got around my chest and wound up to take the shot. I caught that thing square, put all kinds of mustard and spin on it and put it in the lower right side of the net. The goalie (who was really good) got a finger on it, but it was about as perfect a shot as I could have asked for. Now, I’ve had some pretty good goals in my career — but this was probably one of the best.

After the final whistle, I grabbed my iPhone to tweet about it. Coach Amos Magee of the Timbers, who ran everything, said, with a big smile, “ don’t forget to tell them about the goal.” It was my second of glory and I wasn’t going to miss sharing it.

The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. The 11 v. 11 games were fun, but I didn’t quite get in to the flow. I didn’t pay poorly, but I couldn’t replicate the magic of that first goal. On Sunday, sore and tired, I played a bit in the first match then decided that this 40-year old body had had enough. I walked to Coach Magee and told him that I was done for the weekend. After saying how pleased he was that I had come out to give it a go, he said, “we’re all still talking about that goal from yesterday. It was great.” And that’s all I needed to hear to consider my first (and likely last) Portland Timbers tryout a rousing success.

I’d first like to thank everyone who encouraged me on Twitter. I am pleased that you all were supporting an “old man” trying to live the “glory days” a bit. I’d also like to thank all of the players I met over the weekend. Some had traveled as far as France, B.C. and Tacoma to be there. I enjoyed my brief chats with everyone and wish those who make it to the next round of tryouts the best of luck (be on the lookout for a kid from France potentially making the squad — one of the best players I have ever seen).

Most importantly, though, I’d like to thank the Portland Timbers, the coaching staff and especially Coach Amos Magee. The entire weekend was run extremely well and everyone was treated with respect, dignity and class — all of the earmarks of the sport all of us love so much.

Having been “behind the curtain” a little bit I can say, without question, that we are very lucky to have such a great team and organization here. Everything, from top to bottom, is run extraordinarily well and they represent our city and the sport of soccer better than any of us could even imagine. I know I’m looking forward to the season and MLS in 2010.

And I’m hoping that one or two of the guys from this weekend make the squad and get a chance to be part of it all.