MLS Cup Notebook: Friendly Wager + Voodoo Has Timbers Doughnuts

PORTLAND, OR —The Portland Timbers host New York City FC in Saturday's MLS Cup, which kicks off at noon at Providence Park. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC and UniMás. Here are some happenings related to the big match

Mayors bet beer

On Thursday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and New York City Mayor Bill D de Blasio made the traditional wager between mayors, which often happens ahead of big sporting events.

In a video on Twitter, Wheeler, who was dressed in Portland Timbers colors and standing at Providence Park, initiated the bet with de Blasio.

"Mayor Bill de Blasio, if the Portland Timbers win, I'd like you to send me a couple of six packs of New York's finest craft brew," Wheeler said. "On the other hand, should the unthinkable happen, and New York win, I'll go ahead and send you a couple of six packs of Portland's finest craft beer. What do you say?"

New York's de Blasio then responded with his own tweet: "Bring it on Mayor Ted Wheeler, because NYCFC is winning this one. I'll proudly put a case of our finest brews on the line to say NYCFC is going all the way!"

Timbers-themed Voodoo Doughnut

Voodoo Doughnut on Thursday released a special edition custom Timbers green and gold sprinkle cake doughnut, which will be available through Saturday at Voodoo locations in Old Town, Davis and Oak Grove.

Voodoo Doughnut announced that proceeds of every cake sold will benefit the Timbers' Stand Together Community Fund.

"We're extremely proud to partner with the Timbers by contributing a portion of the proceeds from every Timbers sprinkle cake sold to Stand Together," Voodoo Doughnut CEO Chris Schultz said. "Go Timbers!"

Cup Final and Portland's history with race

In The Guardian newspaper, writer Patrice Worthy used MLS Cup to highlight how despite its reputation for liberal values, Portland has a long relationship with racism. The Timbers and their fans, Worthy writes, are hoping to showcase diversity in the city and MLS."

Worthy writes: "The Timbers feature prominent Black players from three continents, such as (Eryk) Williamson, Dairon Asprilla and Yimmi and Diego Chará, who are up against NYCFC captain and goalkeeper Sean Johnson and Afro-Brazilian forward Talles Magno in one of the whitest cities in America."

In the article, Jeremy Wright, co-founder of the Timers Army supporters group, said Saturday's match is a good stage for the team's Black players.

"We see this as our opportunity to clapback and say this is who we are and this is what we've built," Wright says. "It's important that a majority white city is embracing a team made up of Black men from around the world."

Read Worthy's article here.

Saturday's Forecast

According to the National Weather Service, it likely will be chilly, rainy and windy for Saturday's game.

Portland forecast for Saturday: Rain. High near 49. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 21 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Prominent national soccer writer Grant Wahl, in town for the game, indicated the weather may have taken him by surprise.

"I am way underprepared for the elements in Portland this weekend,' Wahl tweeted on Friday.