Pike's Place Fish Market turned into a soccer fan party Friday afternoon. Donned in scarves emblazoned with logos of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC and MLS Cup 2009, fans patiently awaited the stars of the afternoon. The Galaxy's Alan Gordon and RSL's Chris Seitz made their way to the market to take part in a daily tradition -- the tossing of the fish.
"MLS Cup is all about the experience, the overall weekend," Gordon said. "I'm all about having fun and taking it all in."
Before the players arrived, a group of fans dressed in gameday garb dribbled a ball in the middle of the street, stopping traffic and getting the crowd pumped up. People in the area were trying to figure out what was going on as the chanting and scarf raising began. The fans were discussing who would win. And whom they thought the Seattle fans would root for. A few other MLS players were in the mix of things, blending in with the crowd.
The couple of hundred fans present split to make a path for the players to enter as they arrived. Dressed in their team sweatshirts, both players put on aprons and awaited the fish to be thrown their way. The fans gathered around snapping pictures and cheering as Gordon raised up the fish and tossed it to Seitz. Seitz made the catch, but soon put on his goalkeeper gloves.
When asked if it was easier to catch the fish with the gloves on or off, Seitz said, "Gloves on. Everyone was talking about how hard it was going to be. I was thinking way too much about it. It wasn't so bad."
Gordon and Seitz switched places and tossed fish back and forth a few times. ESPN commentators John Harkes and JP Dellacamera also got in on the action. Harkes took off his suit coat, put on an apron and caught and threw fish, while Dellacamera let them toss a fish over his head.
When the festivities were over, fans stuck around for photographs and autographs.
"That was fun," Gordon said. "I've been down here before. It's a world famous place. It's tradition."
Seitz agreed. "I've never been here before," he said. "I wanted to get out and experience Seattle."
While catching a fish wasn't the same as catching a soccer ball, both players had smiles on their faces after the experience. Sunday's MLS Cup is coming closer, but they appear to be focused.
"At the end of the day, it's just another game," Gordon said. "When we get on the field, we'll know what to do."
Kathryn L. Knapp is a contributor to MLSnet.com
