Some of Marco Farfan’s most important moments as a Portland Timber happened away from the field. January 18, 2019, was a good example.
It was the offseason — a time when the Timbers usually fade from the spotlight — but that afternoon in Aloha, Farfan took centerstage. It was after the day’s classes, at the front of an Aloha High classroom, in front of a group of Latina students who embraced the then-20-year-old as an icon. This was a kid from Gresham, an Aloha-esque suburb on the opposite side of Portland, who was regularly playing games at Providence Park.