Timbers, Thorns Exec Mike Golub Accused of 'Gross,' 'Toxic' Behavior Toward Women
Aug 14, 2022
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 22: Detailed view of Portland Timbers logo before the game between the Minnesota United FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps at Providence Park on February 22, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Ten former employees of the Portland Timbers and Thorns said that president of business Mike Golub contributed to a "toxic" work environment and created an "atmosphere of disrespect and intimidation toward women and working mothers employed at the club over a span of 11 years," according to Ryan Clarke of The Oregonian.
Per that report, women who left those organizations reported "multiple instances of inappropriate comments or jokes in office settings, unwanted physical contact, and hostile behavior they say goes beyond the typically demanding atmosphere of working in sports."
Blair Neelands, who previously worked with the organization's Stand Together initiative, told Clarke that Golub "yells and frequently gets angry in meetings, throws soccer balls or other objects at employees to try to catch them off guard, quizzes subordinates on unrelated matters in the middle of presentations, eats bites of people's food and takes sips from their drinks, and engages in boundary-crossing horseplay in office settings," which other former employees corroborated.
Another former employee said Golub commented on her body.
"I was discussing my workout routine with Mike, like how often I go and everything, and he looked my body up and down multiple times and said to me, 'I think yoga would be good for your body, too,'" she said. "It just felt so gross."
“Mike has definitely rubbed my shoulders before,” another former female employee said.
"He's just one of those guys who will stare at you," one former female employee added. "As a younger woman, I just felt like whenever I'd talk to him it was uncomfortable. He's touchy, too. He'll go up to you and put his arm around you or rub your shoulders."
After former Thorns coach Paul Riley was accused by former players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim of sexual coercion—and former Timbers player Andy Polo was accused of domestic abuse by his former partner, Génessis Alarcón, the mother of his children—the Timbers and Thorns underwent an internal review by law firm DLA Piper, which uncovered "three concerns on the business side of the organization relating primarily to three then-current employees."
The club hasn't publicly released the specifics of those findings, though owner Merritt Paulson acknowledged that Golub was a part of that inquiry.
"In that process, there were a handful of concerns raised about Mike from employees that were not direct reports to him," he said. “Those concerns were addressed with Mike. He leaned into those concerns and basically said, ‘if there’s any perceptions about my management style that make anybody feel uncomfortable, I’m open to solution and remediation.’ Remediation was suggested specifically to him, and he is undergoing that remediation."
Golub also commented on the matter.
"My entire career, it's never been raised as an issue," he said. "That said, we're in different times now. If how I conducted myself, with truly the best intentions, made anyone feel uncomfortable, I take that really seriously. I'm really good at what I do, and I'm a really good person, but I can be better."
MLS to Review Timbers' Investigation of Andy Polo Domestic Violence Allegations
Feb 18, 2022
PORTLAND, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 02: Andy Polo #7 of Portland Timbers looks on in the first half against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Providence Park on September 02, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Major League Soccer announced Friday that it is launching an investigation into the Portland Timbers' handling of domestic violence allegations against former player Andy Polo.
According to ESPN, an MLS spokesperson said the league is hiring an outside law firm to conduct the investigation and added the following in a statement:
Following the allegations made last week against Andy Polo, Major League Soccer promptly launched a review into the decisions that the Portland Timbers made in response to the charges brought against the player last May. The Timbers are committed to this review and have pledged their full cooperation.
Per ESPN, Polo's former partner, Genessis Alarcon, said last week on Peruvian television that Polo pulled her hair, slapped her in the face and gave her a black eye. She said he also hasn't been paying child support for their children.
Pablo Maurer and Sam Stejskal of The Athletic reported that the Timbers did not notify MLS of police responding to a domestic violence call at Polo's home in May 2021.
The Timbers suspended Polo and then released him last week after Alarcon came forward with the allegations.
Regarding the impending review, the Timbers said in a statement: "The Portland Timbers welcome Major League Soccer's review into the handling of the May 2021 Andy Polo complaint and will cooperate fully."
In an incident report filed by the Washington County Sheriff's Department, it was established that Polo was issued a citation for harassment for grabbing Alarcon's wrist, and he was not arrested.
The responding officer said Timbers head of players affairs Gabriel Jaimes and head of security Jim McCausland arrived on the scene and assured the officer "peace would be maintained" between Polo and Alarcon.
Per ESPN, it isn't known if Jaimes or McCausland informed their superiors within the Timbers organization about what occurred.
Polo is a 27-year-old Peruvian who began playing for the Timbers in 2018. He initially arrived on loan from Mexican club Monarcas Morelia before making the move permanent.
He previously played for clubs in Peru and Colombia, and he signed with Inter Milan in 2014, although he never appeared in an official match for the club.
Polo has made 37 appearances for the Peruvian senior national team as well, and was part of Peru's 2018 World Cup team.
The National Women's Soccer League's Portland Thorns, who are also owned by Timbers owner Merritt Paulson, are also under investigation.
Two former Thorns players said in September that former head coach Paul Riley, who didn't have his contract renewed following the 2015 season, engaged in improper conduct, including coercing a player into having a sexual relationship with him.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is investigating the Thorns' handling of the allegations against Riley after an internal investigation made no headway.
NYCFC Defeats Portland Timbers on Penalties in Dramatic 2021 MLS Cup Final
Dec 11, 2021
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 11: Valentin Castellanos #11 of NYCFC celebrates scoring with teammate Santiago Rodriguez #42 during a game between New York City FC and Portland Timbers at Providence Park on December 11, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
New York City FC won its first MLS title in franchise history Saturday, beating the Portland Timbers 1-1 (4-2)on penalty kicks in the 2021 MLS Cup final at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
Portland trailed 1-0 for much of the game but equalized on a Felipe Mora goal in the final minute of stoppage time in the second half. NYCFC was able to overcome the heartbreak, however, as Alexander Callens scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout:
American goalkeeper Sean Johnson also starred for NYCFC, stopping two of the four PK's he faced.
Portland was in search of its second MLS Cup title after having won in 2015, and it has now lost in the final twice in the past four years, as it fell 2-0 to Atlanta United FC in 2018.
The Timbers were on the road in each of their first two MLS Cup appearances, but they hosted this time around, and the atmosphere was awesome at Providence Park thanks to the capacity crowd and rainy weather:
NYCFC brought a slice of home with it to the Pacific Northwest, however, as New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was present to watch The Boys in Blue:
The first half was largely a feeling-out process due in part to the weather, and the rain undoubtedly played a huge role in the opening goal of the game.
Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos got NYCFC on the board in the 41st minute when he headed a set piece from a hobbled Maximiliano Moralez past Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark:
It was likely a shot Clark would have saved in better conditions, but Felipe Cardenas of The Athletic suggested Clark should have been able to handle it regardless:
Big goal from Taty Castellanos. A header down to the ground on a wet surface will always have a chance...
NYCFC largely went into a defensive shell in the second half in an effort to protect the 1-0 lead, and it looked as though it was going to work until disaster struck in stoppage time.
Mora scored a desperation goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half just before the final whistle was about to blow, evening the score at 1-1 and forcing extra time:
While the Timbers and their fans erupted in delight, several NYCFC players were furious that a foul wasn't called on Portland's Larrys Mabiala for taking down NYCFC defender Maxime Chanot.
The goal was controversial, but New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram II seemed to enjoy the moment:
Wooowwwwwwwww!! Equalizer in the final seconds of the #MLSCup!!! @MLS@MLS@MLS 😱😱🤯🤯
After both clubs played to a stalemate in extra time, the match went to penalties, marking only the fifth time in MLS Cup history that it was decided by a penalty shootout.
Castellanos scored on the first attempt for NYCFC, and each of the next three attempts were stopped, including two by Johnson.
In the end, it was Callens who put it away with a confident penalty and brought New York its first MLS title.
Portland Timbers Win MLS Is Back Championship over Orlando City SC
Aug 11, 2020
Portland Timbers defender Dario Zuparic (13) gestures, after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Led by goals from Larrys Mabiala and Dario Zuparic, the Timbers knocked off Orlando City 2-1 Tuesday evening to win the title. Mauricio Pereyra scored the lone goal for Orlando City.
While the MLS is Back Tournament was technically a preseason event, the win was nonetheless huge for Portland, clinching it a berth in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The event was also a resounding success after a rocky start that saw both the FC Dallas and Nashville SC withdraw because of a number of positive test results for COVID-19.
Timbers fans: "WOO-HOO, we WON!!!!"
All other MLS fans: "Settle down, you won a glorified Carolina Challenge Cup"
The reality: The #MLSisBack Tournament title isn't an MLS Cup title, but every team in MLS would take it right now if they could.
No games were canceled during the actual tournament, however, and the league didn't register a single positive test result in the past 32 days. The league's plan to gather all of the team's in a bubble environment, without fans in attendance for the tournament, worked quite well.
Portland also took home $300,000 in prize money for winning the tourney.
As for the game itself, it's rare that two center backs provide all the scoring for a club—Portland's Sebastian Blanco had been the team's best player heading into Tuesday's final, with three goals and five assists in the tournament—but such was the case Tuesday.
Tonight was the second time that the Timbers have had multiple centerbacks score in the same match in MLS competition (regular season/playoffs/MiB) 8/11/20 MLS is Back Final 11/22/15 Western Conf Finals Leg 1 Oscar Pareja was the opposing manager in both matches. #RCTID
Mabiala provided the first in the 27th minute off a brilliant free kick into the box from Diego Valeri. All Mabiala had to do was peel off his defender and head down the service, bouncing in the game's first goal past a helpless Pedro Gallese.
Pereyra pulled one back in the 39th minute, however, after Nani found him with a low cross in the box. Pereyra managed to corral the pass, fend off a defender, regather his balance and smash home the equalizing goal.
But another set piece in the 66th minute was the killing blow for Orlando City.
This time, Jeremy Ebobisse deflected a ball in the box toward Zuparic after a scramble off a corner. Zuparic showed some quick reflexes to redirect the ball past a kick-save effort from Gallese.
The Timbers' experience shone through in the win, as their normally stout defense mostly contained the dangerous Orlando City attack, led by Nani, and they capitalized on opportunities from set pieces.
The MLS will now turn to its regular season, which is set to begin Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, when FC Dallas hosts Nashville SC. The league will attempt to hold its season in various local markets, include travel between cities, largely be held without fans and include a comprehensive testing program.
"We have to see if it works," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, per ESPN. "If it does, we go through with it. If it doesn't, we'll have to adjust."
