Seattle, WA

FC Seattle: The Bridge Between the Eras

Published

6 months ago

July 14, 2024

Overseas tours, matches versus national teams and first division clubs from abroad makes Football Club Seattle seem almost exotic nowadays. Yet in truth, it was simply an effort to keep local pro soccer’s flame flickering when the light had all but been extinguished.

For seven seasons, FC Seattle more than just kept the lights on.

• It provided a platform for the best male and female players in Puget Sound to pursue their craft and vie for a place on the national team.

• It gave fans a traditional alternative to the thumping beat, laser lights and frenetic pace of the indoor game, then at its peak.

• It became the first Seattle pro or semipro club to play outside North America.

• And it reinforced the region’s image as a bastion for the game by contending for multiple league championships and winning one.

Dark Times

To understand just how important FC Seattle was to the creation of what we now take for granted as an American soccer capital, top MLS market and 2026 World Cup city, one needs to take the time machine back to the dystopian landscape of American footy in 1984.

Imagine a day when professional, traditional soccer has gone dark. No MLS, no USL. And there’s no telling when it will return. Where crowds had regularly numbered about twentysomething-thousand, there are vast swaths of empty seats. Once an adored club, the Sounders’ name and reputation was in tatters.

Suddenly, the game had retrenched. Franchises had folded, leaving a frayed fabric across the continent where, just a few years before, crowds had been huge, and young U.S. talent was just beginning to bloom.

FC Seattle owner Bud Greer had flirted with rescuing the Sounders prior to their demise in 1983. Instead, Greer was gung-ho on providing his existing network of youth clubs and premier men’s and women’s teams what was lacking: professionally run programs that would test themselves against the very best.

The Challenge

A cadre of ex-Sounders would guide the men, beginning with an ambitious challenge series. Coaching director Jimmy Gabriel and head coach Tommy Jenkins, both Sounders alums, picked a team of college stars and ex-pros to face Vancouver, Minnesota and New York of the North American Soccer League at Memorial Stadium.

The four-game series would culminate with a sendoff match against the U.S. Olympic Team. Those matches, starting with a 2-2 draw versus Vancouver, were all competitive, and attendance averaged nearly 7,000.

“The opportunity is the biggest thing it presented the college guys in the area,” observed Tad Willoughby, who played five seasons with FC Seattle, “because the NASL folding hurt our cause, our hope of playing professionally anywhere. It gave us that footing, that opportunity to play those professional teams.”

Notable Names and Feats

International teams and nominal pay were brought into the mix in 1985. Among those who found playing for their hometown teams against all-comers were some recognizable figures. Tacoma native Jeff Durgan, captain of the U.S. national team and 1980 NASL Rookie of the Year, declined offers to stay with the Cosmos to come home. After winning an indoor championship with San Diego, Brian Schmetzer joined his twin younger brothers.

But a FIFA ban on English clubs following the Heysel Stadium disaster prompted FC Seattle and three like-minded clubs to form a league, the Western Soccer Alliance. The WSA would expand each summer, eventually becoming the Western Soccer League, with 11 teams in seven states. Seven WSL players would represent the United States at the 1990 World Cup.

Greer, who back in 1984 had considered the Sounders brand damaged, added a nickname in 1986. The Storm were runners-up in the WSA their first three seasons before a dominant 1988 season was capped by a 5-0 demolition of the San Jose Earthquakes. All 11 starters in the final had attended either high school or college in Puget Sound.

Life Experience

In lieu of pay, Greer gave players a life experience. The Storm embarked on postseason tours of Britain in 1987 and 1988, playing five preseason friendlies against clubs from various divisions, including Middlesbrough, QPR, Portsmouth and Bournemouth.

“When we went to England, that was huge,” said Jeff Koch, Storm goalkeeper from 1986-89. “You’re playing against all those teams you might’ve only heard and read about. To go over there and experience English professional soccer at a young age and realize we’re not that far off, that we can play. I would take that trip in a heartbeat over pay.”

More Than A Team

FC Seattle was funded to the tune of about $1 million per year ($2.7M in 2024 dollars) and that money was spread beyond the Storm.

“Bud Greer deserves a ton of thanks and love for what he gave all of us,” said Peter Fewing, who played six years with the club. “Bud made it first class and lost a lot of money on that deal.”

The organization brought a women’s premier team into the fold in 1987. The Cozars, founded by Booth Gardner before he was elected governor and featuring future World Cup stars Michelle Akers and Shannon Higgins, then won the WSA women’s tournament and were national runners-up.

The FC Seattle City League featured men’s and women’s teams in six Puget Sound cities and fed talent to the senior teams. There were school assembly demonstrations, day camps and clinics throughout each year and fundraising and promotion for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Washington Special Olympics. A 1988 Sounders reunion game resulted in FC Seattle’s largest attendance in four years.

Locals Hold Their Own

“In the beginning it was all guys you grew up playing with on clubs, a chance to play meaningful games against quality opposition. Unfortunately, we didn’t get paid for it,” said Peter Hattrup. “In ’88 I wish there had been a final against the ASL winner, because I think we were better than anybody we would’ve played.”

In its final two seasons, FC Seattle brought in more proven pros. Among them were USMNT captain and former Cosmos regular Ricky Davis and Tacoma native Brent Goulet, the 1987 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year. Both were bidding, unsuccessfully in the end, to become part of the World Cup squad.

“People talk about (the WSL) not being first division and that, but before MLS, all the players were playing in the MISL (indoor), WSL, APSL or whatever leagues were happening at the time,” said Chance Fry, a U.S. international who played for the Storm as well as both the NASL and A-League Sounders.

Rising Costs

Just as the sun seemed to be rising on American soccer’s horizon, with the prospect of hosting the 1994 World Cup, FC Seattle would pass into history.

The WSL and East Coast-based ASL agreed to merge and form a national circuit, the APSL, a.k.a. the A-League. That would require owners to ante up still more money for salaries and travel, and Greer was unconvinced it made financial sense. After a year of dormancy, the Storm was shuttered in 1991.

“The Storm’s never been really recognized because we weren’t called the Sounders,” claimed Eddie Henderson. “That’s all. It wasn’t because of the quality of players. I would even argue that the FC Seattle team was as good as any of the A-League Sounders teams that won championships.”

What’s In A Name?

However, FC Seattle left a weighty legacy. The WSL, which was run by Storm management, is at the root of the A-League and the USL, which is still thriving. A handful of those players proceeded to become successful college head coaches, while countless others are involved in youth clubs and academies. Chris Henderson, Wade Webber and Schmetzer have been immensely influential and involved in the success of the MLS Sounders.

The most direct effect of FC Seattle on the Sounders’ trajectory came only a few years after the final match. Nine alumni eventually played for Seattle’s next A-League team, and when the Sounders claimed their first of two consecutive championships in 1995, Webber, Fry and Hattrup (the league MVP) were vital cogs.

“FC Seattle was a great vehicle to bridge the gap until the A-League Sounders emerged on the other side,” noted Bruce Raney, an NASL draftee out of Seattle Pacific and scorer of FC Seattle’s first goal. “It was a fantastic bridge between the original and the next stage which finally led to Major League Soccer.”

A three-part FC Seattle series is available at Frank MacDonald’s blog, frankmacdonald.net.

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Seattle, WA

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Manuhunt underway for Mason County assault suspect

Mason County deputies are looking for a man wanted in a shooting in Belfair on Monday.

MASON COUNTY, Wash. – The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a convicted felon wanted in a recent shooting.

The sheriff’s office says Michael Allen Beyer is wanted for first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Deputies believe Beyer was involved in a shooting that happened in Belfair on January 6.

Beyer is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information regarding Beyer’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Helser at 360-427-9670 x657, or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Seattle, WA

Two more Seattle restaurants close due to minimum wage hike

Published

16 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Two more Seattle restaurants close due to minimum wage hike

Two more Seattle restaurants are calling it quits thanks to the untenable minimum wage hike.

At the same time that the Seattle minimum wage rose from $19.97 an hour to $20.76 an hour, the city ended the tip credit of $2.72. Under the previous rules, restaurants were able to pay $17.25 hourly wage if their staff earned at least $2.72 in tips per hour. But as cost of business continues to skyrocket in Seattle, a minimum wage hike without a tip credit is simply untenable for many small businesses.

Jackson’s Catfish Corner in Seattle’s Central District closed its doors in this new year. In an interview with Converge Media, owner Terrell Jackson argued Seattle is too expensive to operate in.

“I know that the minimum wages went up to 20 bucks an hour … I know that’s hard for my business as a small Black business,” Jackson said. “I’m not Amazon or Walgreens or Walmart who can pay their employees that much.”

Jackson isn’t alone in his complaints.

More from Jason Rantz: Panic as Seattle restaurants may not survive massive minimum wage shift

A second West Seattle eatery closes, citing the minimum wage hike

Bel Gatto, a bakery and café, became the second West Seattle eatery to close its doors over the Seattle minimum wage hike. The owner posted a sign to the front door to thank supporters but said she can’t afford to stay open anymore.

“Our revenues, unfortunately, are not able to cover the close to 20% increase in mandated wages, salaries and payroll taxes put into effect by the Seattle City Council effective 1/1/25. This ruling has made the continuation of our bakery operations untenable,” the sign read.

The owner, Peter Levy, explained to the West Seattle Blog that, “we were approaching close to a break even status in the last quarter of 2024, but the requirement to absorb another $4,000 per month in payroll expenses with the new mandate by the city put a break even further from our grasp which is what led to the closure.”

Last week, a video by Corina Luckenbach, owner of Bebop Waffle Shop in West Seattle, went viral as she said the minimum wage hike was forcing her to close after 11 years. She said she didn’t have an extra $32,000 a year to pay her staff what the city mandates.

More from Jason Rantz: Democrats blame Los Angeles fires on climate change to deflect from their own complicity

Will more restaurants close?

Ahead of the minimum wage hike, restauranteurs offered many warnings over what’s to come.

Ethan Stowell operates a number of Seattle’s top restaurants, including How to Cook a Wolf, Staple and Fancy, and Tavolata. He warned this change would be exceptionally costly for businesses in an industry notorious for razor-thin margins. And restaurants can’t merely raise menu prices again.

“I know everybody wants to say, ‘Just raise things (on the menu) a dollar or two,’ and that’s what it’ll be. That’s very simplified math. I wish it was that easy, but it’s not. This is a large increase that’s probably large enough to be equal to or close to what most restaurants in Seattle profit,” Stowell told “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH.

Portage Bay Cafe co-owner Amy Fair Gunnar noted the minimum wage change will cost her about $45,000 more a month. She said restaurants will have to “seriously change what they’re doing or they’re going to close their doors.”

More from Jason Rantz: Here’s why Seattle residents vow to stop tipping in new year

Ignoring the warnings, mocking the business people

The warnings from restaurant owners were mostly ignored or mocked.

Efforts by the Seattle City Council to address the forthcoming crisis fell apart after activists said they didn’t want restaurants to get an exception. Council president Sara Nelson told “The Jason Rantz Show” they will take up the issue again this year but there’s no specific idea yet to forward for legislation. The Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, has been almost completely absent from the issue.

Left-wing voices, meanwhile, claim to not care. That if businesses “can’t afford to pay a living wage,” then they shouldn’t be in business.

One reporter with The Stranger mocked one of the closures, quipping on X, “Has anyone ever eaten at bebop waffle lol.” Left-wing Seattleites condemned the business for “creating a right wing media darling to complain about paying people a living wage.”

KING 5 reporter Maddie White helped elevate this talking point by citing the National Low Income Housing Coalition, claiming “the average renter needs to make upwards of $40 an hour to afford rent.” But she’s quoting a stat for two-bedrooms. Minimum wage jobs aren’t meant to cover the cost of a single person renting a two-bedroom home or apartment.

Ironically, as activists dismiss the concerns of small business owners, they fail to acknowledge the inevitable consequence: when those businesses shut down, people lose jobs. A $20.76 hourly minimum wage — even with a $2.72 tip credit — means nothing if you’re unemployed.

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on X, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jasonrantz

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Seattle, WA

Reports: Seattle Seahawks to interview 2 candidates for OC job

Published

24 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Reports: Seattle Seahawks to interview 2 candidates for OC job

A pair of candidates have surfaced in the Seattle Seahawks’ search for a new offensive coordinator.

An NFL insider’s view on Seahawks OC change and what’s next

The Seahawks are scheduled to interview Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley and Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, according to multiple reports. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero first reported the news Thursday morning.

Seattle will interview Fraley on Friday and Brown on Saturday, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Seahawks moved on from offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Monday after an up-and-down season for Seattle’s offense that included one of the worst rushing attacks in the league.

Fraley, 47, has been on Detroit’s coaching staff for the past seven seasons, including the past five as the team’s offensive line coach. Fraley has coached an offensive line that’s paved the way for one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks. The Lions rank third in Pro Football Focus’ run block grading and finished the regular season sixth in both rushing yards per game (146.4) and yards per carry (4.7).

During his time in Detroit, Fraley has helped develop four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow and three-time Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell. As a player, Fraley started 123 games at center and guard over a 10-year NFL career with the Eagles (2001-05), Browns (2006-09) and Rams (2010). According to Breer, Fraley has done groundwork in searching for a pass game coordinator that he would pair with as an OC.

Brown, 38, began the season as Chicago’s passing game coordinator. He then was promoted to offensive coordinator when Shane Waldron, a former Seahawks assistant, was fired as OC on Nov. 12, and then to interim head coach when Matt Eberflus was fired on Nov. 29. Brown went 1-4 as the Bears’ interim head coach.

Brown was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. Prior to that, he spent three seasons under head coach Sean McVay in various roles on the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff.

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Follow @CameronVanTil

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