Tim-berrr!

The mascot may fall from sight, but the man will take root as a fan

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, Apr 11, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

KYLE GREEN / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Portland Timber mascot Timber Jim warms up the crowd in the PGE Park beer garden during a game against the Rochester Rhinos.

He came, he sawed, he conquered thousands of soccer fans who otherwise might have sat on their hands.

But all wood things must come to an end, and next week marks the passing of the chain saw. Timber Jim, aka Jim Serrill, will take his final bow as team mascot when Portland plays Puerto Rico at PGE Park on Thursday night.

“It’s time,” says Serrill, 54.

Since his first performance in 1977, Serrill has become the most recognized, and probably most beloved, face of the franchise —passionately revving up his chain saw, cutting blocks of wood to celebrate each Timber goal, climbing the 80-foot pole in center field, hanging from the rafters and leading the cheers.

“I loved the entertaining. I’m going to miss that big-time,” says Serrill, who trims trees and clears power lines for a living.

Health concerns and family needs led him to relinquish his iconic role.

“Diabetes has been affecting my feet,” he says. “I can’t do the acrobatics like I used to. I’m not landing my tricks. I’ve gained a tremendous amount of weight —the insulin makes you put on the pounds —and I really doubt that I could do a flip right now.

“And bottom line, there’s my grandkids. They come to the games, and I haven’t been able to hang out with them.”

After Thursday, he will.

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