Eight years ago today on Aug. 31, 2012, Providence Park – then known as JELD-WEN Field – was thundering. Not because of a late summer storm but rather due to a 1-0 Portland Timbers victory over the Colorado Rapids courtesy of a nifty goal from forward Bright Dike. In the postgame, on-field interview, Dike could barely hear the interviewers' questions as the crowd loudly chanted his name.
Back in 2010, Dike was one of the first players signed by Portland ahead of their leap to Major League Soccer. A star player out of Notre Dame, the forward had initially been drafted by the Columbus Crew in the first round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.