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Update: Judging by the over the weekend, and from , I’m betting Portland did not pull off its attempt to woo Google Fiber with a record human telephone game on Saturday. Only about 50 people showed up (maybe all pictured ). But they did play, according to : The message started as “Portland has the brains and nerve to welcome Google high speed” (which I think is a little long-winded) and ended with as “The internet place is really great.”

Google issued RFIs to cities interested in being guinea pigs for Google’s new experiment. The project would create a really fast residential fiber-optic network that would offer Internet connections that are 100 times faster than typical broadband. The service will be available to up to 500,000 people at what Google calls a “competitive price.” Portland City Council unanimously voted to submit a proposal to Google.

In an attempt to woo Google, Portland is organizing a . Organizers plan to stretch 700 people from Pioneer Courthouse Square across the Steel Bridge to the Rose Garden. Once assembled, I assume people will pass a whispered message to each other. Probably some flattery about Google.

If you’re interested in participating, be at Northwest Couch and Naito Parkway tomorrow, Saturday March 20, at 9 a.m. The stunt is scheduled to end at 10:30 a.m., when the message should reach Mayor Sam Adams at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Portland did not make a recent ranking of cities up for the project. The was compiled by marketing firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., and ranked cities by number of mentions in online conversations between Feb. 15 and March 17. Duluth, Minn., ranked first. Topeka, Kansas, which to “Google” for the month of March, ranked second. Grand Rapids ranked third.

Some have , saying Google is pressuring telecommunications companies to offer faster broadband. Google says it doesn’t plan to get into the broadband provider business. But analysts say after Google offers a taste of ultrahigh speed-Internet, telecommunications companies will be tripping over themselves to invest billions in similar ventures.