spring training

Okay, okay, okay.. the jig is up. I will only admit to ASSISTING in this April Fool's Day charade. I did not build the site, and it wasn't even my idea to perpetrate this prank. I merely facilitated the excitement around here by baiting a few hooks with some big, fat, juicy worms over the past few days and then posting the link today. I can't tell you whose idea this was, but I thought it was pretty hilarious and agreed to play along. So, no, Marta will not be donning a purple jersey this fall, or any other fall for that matter! (Unless of course, the team she lands on in the new women's league has purple as one of its' primary colors)

And no, I have no ideas on other big-name recruits for Portland. You guys have ALL the info on that already.

On the right side, by the picture it says Tomás Tolós de Abrîl which I have no idea what it means, but when you punch it into google the first webpage that comes back is the wikipedia tag for april fools day.

EVIL.... all I can say

Bravo! Well done, KFTC!

I am highly suspect of another poster (co-conspirator?) on this board who has been AMAZINGLY silent on this thread.... someone who would otherwise never give up the chance to comment... a conspiracy, for sure!

It's not really an April Fool's joke if you're doing stuff BEFORE April 1st, though. That's called cheating. I declare shenanigans!

Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little set-up. The actual joke didn't take place until today.

Still cheating!

And still no press release about the actual recruits!

So. Double offensive.

I suspect that we'll get the official press release right about the time we get a new Guns N Roses album.

Pranks are for children. That SUCKED!!!

I can take a joke just fine.

This wasn't just an April Fools joke. It was an elaborate scheme. A lot of people genuinely love this team and the whole thing seemed very real. You made a lot of people pissed off today. I hope it was worth it. Ha Ha Ha

OK, I'll take the heat.

There were plenty of clues, though.

First, the name, which does translate as "April fools"

Any good Pilot fan would recognize the author's picture as Angela Harrison's.

And the story line? C'mon!

Oh yeah--favorite book, The Black Hammers.

Maybe there needs to be a little more rigor in the recruiting hunt. This isn't the only unsubstantiated rumor in the recruiting hunt-- Courtney verloo - Tereza Noyola, to name a couple.

On the other hand, you have to admit the Samba music was great. the song is all about a soccerr fan watching his favorite team play pretty soccer 'my pretty team of fut-e-bol'. What could be greater than that? I think it shoud be the warmup music for the games.

Still It sure would be nice to have Marta on Merlo field....

To be fair, I don't think many got as far as the author's picture. I know I didn't scroll all the way down initially.

In a way, I think we can take a positive away from this. I mean, no other team has this kind of interest or anticipation tied up with potential players. (Then again, no other team waits until August to ANNOUNCE them, either) I think it's a GOOD THING that Pilot fans care this much about their team.

It's also a good thing that this was pulled on April 1st, otherwise I think you'd get a lot more people reacting like our friend FANatic.

And the build up is still cheating. Monsters.

Heyyy...has the girl with the Brazilian flag committed to a school yet?

Congratulations Geezer! I was totally taken in. I even thought the picture looked like Angela, but the news was just so exciting I fell for it. Those of us who lived through Sydd Finch should have been more wary. It was those tantalizing clues that made it a well played prank. I hope you are planning on tweaking it next year and planting it on some other unsuspecting school's blog.

Okay...I admit...that was good!! Bravo!! But....it did get me in the GUT...that's for sure! My "avatar" (plane) went down in flames!!!!
I was hit by Friendly fire...a SAM from one of my own?!?

I guess the announcement that the Pilot men signed Ronaldino for next year is also bogus...it probably won't work again, huh???

GO PILOTS!!!

Man, Jimmy Stewart? I can't believe you guys fell for that...

While I'm not going to apologize for participating because I thought it was absolutely brilliant and hilarious, I realize some of you are a little down and frowny-face over the thought of losing Marta. So to make sure you end your day with a smile and a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart, I give you this. (And I promise, it's not a Rickroll...)

Awesome and brilliant. I wondered because I knew that it was Angie that played against Marta (and exchanged jerseys with Marta), Enyeart being much younger. And Enyeart just doesn't look the big shopper to me. But, what a set up KFTC. However, beware -- one of my best friend's mottos, in situations like this, is: "Massive retaliation!" You are a marked person ....

KFTC...Did you notice that when Clive won his first NCAA championship...he "didn't" get the standard Gatorade Dump? Instead...it was only group-hugs all-around! To me that was a very poignant moment....and a sign of how much the guy was respected! I think though that he (being a guy who loved a good joke as much as anyone) must be cracking up at the Gatorade Dump perpetrated on us today!

But we're all venerable to this kind of recruiting hoax in Pilot Nation...only because he established the kind of program where its fans can believe in the unbelievable! Marta as a Pilot? Her Brazilian skills matched with UP's style of play?....Yes... Ka-Ching!! I DID believe!! My imagination was rolling in anticipation of Fantastic Soccer at Merlo and more National Championships!!! I was living the dream!!

But, despite the April Fool shinanigans...I'm still living the dream...Still believe...there's best and better to come in the Pilot's future!!

GO PILOTS!!!

I think Garrett got the Gatorade dump--

Somebody had to get it...

I hope you all had fun with it, I'll admit I probaby went off the deep end with it,and I resolve to reform.

The good thing is that the program should be announcing the real recruits RSN.

I think I already said it, but BRAVO to Geezer and KFTC. That really was an awesome prank. Nicely done!

As for Garrett getting the Gatorade dump... he made it out of the stadium, but they finally cornered him:

Ha, those are great pics... the 3rd one is classic!

Geezer- Its hard to stay upset about this one but I am sure trying. I knew it was fishy, especially without you chiming in... if the stage hadn't been set so perfectly in advance I would have been onto it immediately. Well played... Well played.

I did forget to mention that the video above (linked again here for your viewing pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPMDd7oO3gs) is courtesy of Stonehouse. (Sorry I forgot to give credit buddy!) He provided the tape, I provided the technology.

The prank reminds me a bit more of this youtube video, actually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhO-OE931D4 (not a Rick Roll)

april fool's jokes in march???

KFTC wrote:I did forget to mention that the video above (linked again here for your viewing pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPMDd7oO3gs) is courtesy of Stonehouse. (Sorry I forgot to give credit buddy!) He provided the tape, I provided the technology.

No problem KFTC! I just wish the picture quality was a bit better... curse that old video tape.

Anyway, I'm still cracking up about the joke. I don't think I ever actually bought it hook, line and sinker, but boy did my heart start racing when I first saw some of the responses and noticed that there was something like 20 people logged into to the site!

Eh, the picture quality is partly my fault because I have to downgrade the file to a size YouTube will allow me to put on their website. So I pick mp4 - medium quality. I agree it blows, but when you get the digital copy, trust me it will look much better.