If you haven't already heard, the Portland Timbers will join Major League Soccer in 2011. That's right, the MLS is coming to Oregon. I've been biting my lip on this topic all week because its a great time to catch up with former OSU Beaver, Brian Farber again who has returned to Oregon to play with the Portland Timbers. Lets get to it.

Question: The last many of us heard about Brian Farber, you were tearing it up playing indoor with the Cougars. Can you catch us up since then?

Farber: Wow, well that was awhile ago I think, so since then I was injured with a torn MCL in the middle of last season. We ended up not fairing too well. Not that it was all me but once I was injured the team went 1 win and 14 losses. With that kind of number it made it easy for me to land a spot after the injury. I was the first person signed in the new indoor league once the MISL folded. It was kinda cool being the first signed player in history. My owner was honest and up front with me and made it easy for me sign. Then the fun part came. I traveled Europe a bit this summer with my fiancé and was offered a contract in Switzerland. Chad Bartlome my buddy and former OSU teammate is playing over there and was able to hook me up. I did extremely well considering I was injured in a car wreck in June. I played in one training session and then the coach invited me to a game. Little did I know it was the championship game of a preseason tournament I started and logged 86 minutes. I got the game winning assist on a through ball across the eighteen and beat the last man and keeper before finding a wide open guy back post. After the Game I was offered a contract. I had indoor starting in just 1 month and had some thinking to do.

After that I went home and continued to talk with the Swiss team, but I was still rehabbing from my car accident and preparing for indoor. The season started off nicely for me by being healthy and finding the back of the net often. Not sure my total stats but I think I ended up with 49 goals and 22 assists in 22 games. Not sure how many people watch indoor soccer on TV but most of the goals are scored on power play opportunities and set pieces. Well the problem for me is for some reason I was never allowed on those power play opportunities or the set pieces. So I had to score my goals in the run of play. Kinda frustrating I was not on the field for those chances. I am however on the power play kill when my team is a man down due to a blue card and we scored a few shorthanded goals this season.

So with those stats I was voted the MVP of the league and on the very same weekend we won the indoor championship. It was the best day week of my Indoor career. The MVP is awesome but the championship Ring I am getting will be even better. I haven't won a championship in awhile, so that felt pretty good to lift the trophy.

Question: How did the connection with the Timbers happen? Are you still under contract with the Cougars?

Farber: The Connection with the Timbers has actually always been there. I tried out for the timbers a few years back when Gavin was the assistant and I know he liked me but for some reason the head coach was not interested. So I left and the next week i was offered a contract with Houston Dynamo. That was funny to me when I reported it back to the guys. But Gavin always had an eye for me and with him adding My former head coach from the Minnesota Thunder then it was a easy decision. I respect both of my coaches as former players first and now as coaches. I am looking forward to getting the field.. And yes I am still under contract with the cougars and am heading back there next season. I like the organization and the ownership. But I was tempted to join Evan Mcneley in New Jersey this season to play for the Iron Men, it just wasn't possible to leave.

Question: How has your experience with the Timbers been so far?

Farber: The experience so far has been pretty rough to say the least. I can in last week straight from indoor. i mean I won the championship on Sunday and packed on Monday, then drove up to Portland on Tuesday and got in around midnight and then joined double days with the timbers on Wednesday. It was a quick turnaround. Then I played a couple days and the day came for my physical. As a pro player you must inform your new team of any previous injuries. Well since I have been playing the last six months I didn't have any concerns about a problem. I was wrong. The doctor for the timbers is very good and he questioned the safety of me playing with my neck in the shape it’s in.

Since you don't know I was in a car wreck in June before I went to Europe, I was rear ended at 4o mph as I was parked. It was a day. I had only 22 miles on my new car and really messed back and neck. I went to Europe anyway since it was only a week or so away. I had planned on making it a soccer trip but it became a vacation and a time to heal after the wreck. I did however get the itch while I was in Switzerland and Germany.

So I have been waiting for a follow up MRI on my neck since I have 3 bulging disks in my upper neck and once I get that checked out I will be good to play. I did roll my ankle really bad in fitness but it should only be a few weeks’ tops, we will see. It popped really loud.

So as for how it’s going so far, I could definitely say not as expected. I would love to be doing all of preseason with the boys. Putting in the work on the fitness side of things and just showing my coaches what I have. I guess I will have to wait till I'm healthy.

Question: OK, enough with the small talk. The Timbers are headed to the MLS! What does this mean for you?

Farber: This is huge. It means a lot more publicity for our team, as we call it. Under the microscope a bit more. The city of Portland deserves it and the timbres army may be the best fans in America for soccer period. I can only imagine how loud they will be when we are MLS. I am not totally sure how it works making the transfer up. I would imagine it being a lot like the Seattle sounders did theirs and keep a few players and get more out of the expansion draft and the college draft. So we will see what happens in a couple seasons. Right now that means that I need to get healthy and earn a spot, then let the rest fall into place. It’s an exciting time for us.

Question: How did you find out about the MLS expansion bid being awarded?

Farber: Well, being on the Team we kinda knew before hand. But I watched the press conference like everyone else to get all the facts. Plus sports center knew somehow as early as we did.

Question: The news says you have been in camp since the March 19th. Have you had enough time to prove you are the fastest player on the team yet?

Farber: HAHA, no I have not been able to prove that. I was called the fastest player in indoor soccer. So we will see how that translates to outdoor and on grass vs. astroturf.

Question: Let say someone wants to race you. Give me some times. What do I need to beat before I'm in your ballpark?

Farber: Well, my fastest ever 40 yard dash was a 4.29. But recently I was using the Nike spark timing comes and I ran a 4.33. It takes me a few times to get it right but when you get the right take off it’s a good time. For some reason I run a lot faster if there is a ball in front of me.

Question: Do you expect the transition from indoor back to outdoor to be smooth? Is it challenging to go back and forth?

Farber: It’s actually very challenging. In indoor soccer I primarily use my sole and in outdoor I hardly use the sole of my foot at all. So yeah it will be a process getting used to it. Also just the level of fitness is a big difference from shifting and sprints to 90 minutes.

Also I have not played a ball longer than 30 yards for 6 months. So sending in crosses and long balls is going be an adjustment as well. I am looking forward to practicing and just getting used to playing outdoor again. But indoor and outdoor soccer are two totally different sports when played at a high level, it’s not going to be too easy.

Question: Any plans to visit Corvallis and your alma mater in the near future?

Farber: Definitely I need some Local Boys and to say hello to everyone down there. We come play in a week, I think to play the beavers. i will still be out but i was looking forward to stepping foot back on that field. My favorite field ever.

Question: I asked this last time but it’s a question worth repeating. Any advice for young players hoping to play professionally?

Farber: I have so much to say to the young players who are in the shoes I once was. This is no joke. You can make it to the next level if you really want it. I have seen slow players make up their lack of speed with skill and smarts on the ball. I have seen short players make it with the smarts to create space and thinking quicker then the next guy. If you want it bad enough it just takes hard work and the will to succeed. It’s not just soccer. In any job in the world. The people who want it the most will get it because they are willing to work at it more and it truly is the work you do when nobody is watching. So continue to practice and develop what your missing don't be afraid of your flaws guys, fix them. I used to hate playing with my left foot. I developed a shot with my left now that is better than my right. So people try to make me predictable and force me to my right then I just cut to my left and rip a shot. Then the next time they don't know what to do. So if you are bad at a certain part of the game, don't hide from that part. Go out and work on that part till you want the ball in that situation. Trust me on that. That's the difference coaches look for. If you hiding or if you want the ball. Winners want the ball all the time. No matter what sport. So get that attitude that you want the ball to create things, make things happen and you know you’re good enough when your teammates want you to have it.