Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has given fans of his team permission to root for the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Because we know it feels...just...plain...wrong. We got your back. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/zgYuuiDODv
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 9, 2014
The Timbers are two points clear of the Whitecaps for the final spot in the 2014 MLS playoffs, but the Whitecaps have one game in hand. If the Timbers are going to make the postseason for the second straight season, they're gonna need some help.
Maybe it's just me, but creating a fake permission letter for your fans to root for a rival against another rival seems like ... trying too hard.
Whatever the case, the responses to this letter have been varied.
Some Timbers fans are on-board, but the fast majority on social media appear to be unwilling to cheer for Seattle.
@TimbersFC fuck you! No
— SOJ (@sojpdx) October 9, 2014
Sounders fans just seem to be amused.
Ahahahahahaha...gasp...hahaha "@TimbersFC: Because we know it feels...just...plain...wrong. We got your back. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/PLDt4OluQF"
— ecs futbolgirl (@ecs_futbolgirl) October 9, 2014
This tweet from Ives Garcalep, made before the permission letter appeared, was already drawing negative responses from Timbers fans.
Timbers fans will be rooting hard for Sounders on Saturday vs. Vancouver. Always interesting when playoff races make for strange bedfellows.
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 9, 2014
Don't believe me?
@SoccerByIves rooting hard for seattle to die in a fucking fire.
— HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (@VeryPrepared) October 9, 2014
@SoccerByIves Fuck Seattle. #YKNAS pic.twitter.com/W04M7vB4U4
— BOG (@BackOfficeGavin) October 9, 2014