The best MLS historian I could find – no it wasn’t Steven Goff, although it probably wouldn’t hurt to ask him, too – could not recall a time when an MLS owner was fined or suspended or even whacked about the head with the mallet of public censure.
(Neither could I remember anything like that – but I wear my driver’s license around my neck for the times I forget my own name, so that doesn’t mean much.)
So, we may have a first …
I’m guessing there will be something said to Timbers owner Merritt Paulson for pulling a semi-Belichick over the weekend, confronting officials on the way out of Jeld-Wen Field.
It may only be a quiet word from the commissioner, or it could be something more substantial. Frankly, I’m not sure what that would be; order him to remain away from the stadium for a home match, perhaps?
At issue was the very sketchy handball call that helped decide matters in the Timbers’ 1-1 draw Saturday with visiting D.C. United.
(MORE: Video and analysis of a very wobbly PK decision)
Paulson (pictured from a happier occasion) knows better – but it’s not difficult to appreciate his frustration. Because once you balance Saturday’s nonsense against the fact that Portland has had zero (zero!) penalty kicks awarded this year, well, you get closer to a place where you, too, might just aggressively seek an answer from a game official.