While I'm reserving most of my energy for MLS games, I should note that the Sounders are playing the Portland Timbers Wednesday night at PGE Park in Portland in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winners advance to the quarterfinal round of the Open Cup on July 7, playing either the Kansas City Wizards or the Minnesota Thunder.

This game noteworthy for three reasons (No. 2 being only real reason):

1) The Sounders will wear blue!  Another team first!  Way to go, boys!

2) This is a chance for the Sounders to start some of their B-squad, like freshly signed keeper Terry Boss and Lamar Neagle.

3) There's a longstanding rivalry with Portland, dating back to the North American Soccer League—made more poignant now that Seattle is in the Big League and Portland is not. That will change in 2011, however, when they expand into the MLS along with Vancouver.