The Timbers Director of Love & Celebration

If you’ve been to a Timbers game in recent years, you’ve definitely experienced the shenanigans of Timber Joey, the team’s lumberjack “mascot.” But have you heard of Timber Jim or know how this whole lumberjack-wielding-a-chainsaw-in-a-soccer stadium tradition came to be? It’s a great story.

Back in 1978, Jim Serrill showed up at a Timbers game with a chainsaw. Whether it was a lack of metal detectors at the gate or a security person with a deep love of forestry, somehow Jim got in.

A legend and a tradition began that day. Timbers then-General Manager Keith Williams and Jim had a chat. Keith said, “Hey Jim, we can’t have chainsaws in the stands, but we have an idea involving a wood beam where you could put that machinery of yours to work.”

Jim, who had worked building power lines and rappelling into forest fires for the US Forest Service, knew his way around a chainsaw.

The beam was wrapped in Timbers colors and every time a goal was scored, Jim would tighten his suspenders, draw back the chainsaw start cord and saw off a perfect slab. With the slab held over his head he would boogie through the crowd, soaking up some fan love before presenting the slice to the scoring player.

The crowd loved it. The players loved it. Opposing teams were green with envy.

By now, Jim had been crowned Timber Jim. And Timber Jim wanted more. So, he turned it up to 11.

He began to climb things, all the while revving his chainsaw in the sky like a logger on an adrenaline overload. Game field light fixtures, 100-foot wooden poles, stadium infrastructure: you name it, Timber Jim climbed it. Stood on it. Hung from it. Swung through the air from it.

He became much more than a mascot. He became the Timbers Director of Love & Celebration.

Traditions are created over time, and through the years they change and grow. Jim saw an opportunity to connect Timbers fans to the forestry industry, a driving force in Oregon’s history.

So, the beam was replaced by a tree, and not just any tree. What is now known as The Victory Log is always a Douglas Fir tree hailing from Spirit Mountain near the Oregon Coast. It’s a special log, for sure. But to be certain that it brings good fortune to the team, it must be blessed. Of course.

Originally the log was harvested and then taken to Camp 18, a logging museum in Seaside, Oregon for an all-hands-on-log blessing, but more recently the ceremony location was changed to the World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum in Washington Park.

The blessing of the Victory Log is a celebration of the season that is about to begin. The team’s most fervent supporters, known as the Timbers Army, come together and literally place their hands on the tree, giving their energy to the log.

The log soaks up all this positivity and magically translates supporter vibes into goals! That’s the idea anyway, and so far, it seems to be working.

To double-down on future goals, and to ensure the blessing has its full intended impact, the fans and team leaders recite a traditional Irish blessing as a group. The log is a symbol of potential.

Sadly, not all traditions are rooted in happy memories. In 2004, another Timbers tradition began with a tragedy. Timber Jim was at work, rapidly sawing slabs (the Timbers were slaying Minnesota), climbing poles and excitedly running with his signature chainsaw buzzing wildly overhead.

Mid-match, after much convincing, he left the game to find the State Police at his home. His 17-year-old daughter, Hannah, had been killed in a car accident.

Coming back to work and entertaining the crowd was a challenge to say the least. One night, he felt moved to sing.

Standing in front of the Army, Jim belted out the words to Hannah’s favorite song, “You are My Sunshine.” Embracing Jim with their voices, The Army joined in. To this day, at every home game in the 80th minute the Army sings Hannah’s song.

Now retired, Jim and his wife are in the stands, feeling the love for their team and for their daughter.

Like the Douglas Firs surrounding the city of Portland, traditions grow proud and strong at Providence Park.