This isn't a Sounders site. This is a Mariners site. This will be the only time I put up a game thread on Lookout Landing. But dammit, if the first game in Seattle Sounders FC franchise history doesn't deserve one, I'm not sure what does.

I know a lot of you aren't soccer fans, and many of those of you who are aren't particularly into MLS. But today is a special day in Seattle. Today is going to be full of all the pagentry and emotion and completely irrational devotion that combine to make professional sports great. Today thousands of fans are going to march through the city to Qwest Field hours before kickoff, all wearing what can only be described as a garish shade of green. Today 32,000 people are going to jam themselves into a stadium and sing and cheer their asses off, supporting a team in a sport that people thought would never succeed in America.

It's going to be special. And regardless of your views on soccer and/or MLS, it's an event you won't regret being a part of. So take some time out of your day to flip on ESPN2 at 6:00 to watch the game, or head downtown in the afternoon to take part in the festivities. Hell, maybe you'll even like what you see on the pitch.

And let's be honest. By 6 on Thursday your brackets are going to be fucked already. You might as well let your brand-new Sounders cheer you up.

Likely Sounders starting lineup:

Fredy Montero (forward), Nate Jaqua (forward), Brad Evans (attacking mid), Sebastien Le Toux (wing), Sanna Nyassi (wing), Osvaldo Alonso (defensive mid), Nate Sturgis (outside back), Tyrone Marshall (center back), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (center back), James Riley (outside back), Kasey Keller (goalkeeper)

This was in the game thread, but I'm putting it here so everyone sees it. 

The idea - On an LL night with Felix or Silva pitching, how cool would it be to have a group with a bunch of people holding Venezuela flags? Damn cool, was the consensus. Soooo 3' by 5' flags are available online for 8 bucks each when purchasing 10 or more (9 or 10 bucks each otherwise). Shipping for 10 flags would be 10 bucks total, so whatever. Link here.
 

So, who's in? I'd organize it but I'm not in Seattle for another month+... if someone else wants to take the lead that'd be awesome. If anyone knows where to get said flags cheaper, well, obviously we'd do that. .

And speaking of flags...

This time it's the Silver Slugger Award. I'm kind of surprised that he beat out Torii Hunter, but hey, I'll take whatever positive Mariners press we can get.

Also, the NL Silver Slugger for pitchers (won this year by Micah Owings, obviously) has got to be the coolest and most meaningless award ever.                    

McLaren: So how did all of your days go?
Vidro: I got an A on my test!
McLaren: Wow, way to go! You must've studied hard!
Guillen: Pshhh yeah I got an A too that was the easiest test ever
Broussard: No way, Jose!
McLaren: <blinks>
McLaren: Uh, anyways, I'd like to introduce you to Rick. He'll be
tutoring some of you younger ones in math.
White: Howdy, y'all! I'm gon' be teaching you some multiplicatin'!
O'Flaherty: We know multiplication.
Green: Yeah, it's not that hard.
White: Fine then... if yer so smart, what's 7 times 6?
O'Flaherty: Forty-two.
White: 9 times 9?
Green: Eighty-one.
Green: Duh.
White: <rapidly consults calculator>....Yeah.
Lopez: Today I spelled a word right and my teacher gave me a gold starrrr
Lopez: She said I tried very very VERY hard
Lopez: Lookit lookit <holds up finger with star stuck to end>
Sexson: Heh, no way, Jose!
McLaren: <chuckles> Good one, Richie!
Broussard: <whimpers>
McLaren: Boy, that fly buzzing around my plate is obnoxious. Here's a swatter, Richie, can you kill that thing?
Sexson: Can do!
Sexson: <swings, and misses> <three times>
Sexson: Dammit
Ichiro: <reaches across plate, slaps fly into the corner>
McLaren: Nice one, Ichiro! How's your banana split?
Ichiro: Fantastic, like always
Jones: How come I never get ice cream?
McLaren: You'll understand these things when you're older.
Jones: Awwww
Beltre: Hey, whatever happened to that new kid?
McLaren: Darn it, I don't know! Ichiro, any idea?
Ichiro: Maybe he ran away
Ichiro: Parrish the thought
Ichiro: <resumes eating enormous bowl of ice cream>