Look Again, It's Not What You Think

No, it's not a professional soccer game in South Florida, actually the attendance here might exceed that of some Miami FC games. No, this is the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. This pic is from the Italy vs. Paraguay match. I wonder how South Florida would fare in staging this game. Sellout crowd at FIU perhaps?

Ah, to dream. September officially marks the end of Miami FCs season, so live professional soccer is now in the closet with the moth balls as we get our soccer fix through espn360, justin.tv, foxsoccer, setanta, etc., etc., etc.

But in an offseason there are always 'talks'. What these 'talks' will lead to no one can really tell. Let's hope they don't end up with the, "let's fold the team" scenario. If that be the case, then maybe this Striker Liker will move to Seattle and deal with the winter.

But for now, the middle of October is the finishing line for World Cup Qualifiers, who will fill out the draw and which heavyweight will watch South Africa 2010 from the comfort of their couch?

20 Years, Can You Believe It?

It's been 20 somewhat interesting years since the Fort Lauderdale Strikers have won a championship. It was actually their only championship, but it was a championship none the less. For a franchise that could call George Best and Nene Cubillas their own, it was the scrappy hardworking Strikers from 1989 that did the business, besting the San Diego Nomads in a cross country final.

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of that championship and although there were no ticker tape or parades, we did have an enormous amount of soccer being played around the world and emotions were either bolstered or utterly destroyed.

I'd like to thank FIFA for their Match Centre (pictured above) for keeping me up to the minute while I was at work. Cameroon's victory early in the day started it all off and by 2pm I had the luxury of a little espn360 for some interesting European matches.

Into the night came the games most important to me, although I must say Bahrain's 94th minute equalizer at Saudi Arabia might have been the most intriguing moment of the day - silencing King Fahd International Stadium and sending Bahrain to their second straight play-off to make the world cup. This time out they face New Zealand.

In any case, the Americas had plenty of action as USA and Mexico kept winning to stay atop their group and hopefully avoid a play-off of their own against South America's 5th ranked team.

In South America, Maradona continued to soil whatever he had left of his reputation by putting Argentina in more peril than ever before. Brazil and Paraguay stay atop the standings.

With two games to go, the pure excitement of World Cup Soccer is reaching the ever so famous 'fever pitch'. Small sidenote, the USA and South Africa are leading in ticket sales for the World Cup, we must have some soccer fans in this country.

But back to the Strikers. Sorry we couldn't raise a glass to commemorate you. Instead, we watched soccer from around the world unfold. In a week or so's time, a former Striker will take the US -20 to Egypt for the Youth World Cup. Good luck Thomas Rongen.

Here's to you 1989 Fort Lauderdale Strikers - we love you dearly.

Too Cool - Toronto FC Season Tickets

Does anyone know what Miami FC's Season Ticket Package looks like? Toronto FC's package is sweeter than sweet, you can print your tickets online and keep the season tickets untouched and use them as a poster (more info)

Oh, you also get game day scarves.

Silly Striker Liker, Lockhart Stadium has the Blues

The Blues came back to Lockhart this past Friday night and as any good Striker Liker would do, I had to come out in full color. Showing off my new Zazzle 3/4 Sleeve Striker shirt, I sat next to Fernando Clavijo and watched Miami FC and Minnesota Thunder play a less than subpar match.

The Ultras were in full effect, the salted pretzels were just a little too lukewarm and the guy in the Miami Fusion shirt brought out the nostalgia. It was everything I would have hoped for.

The Blues lost 1-0 and I can't say it was a heartbreaker, the Thunder had chance after chance to make things ugly.

In any case, we've got two more games at Lockhart to cherish forever. Keep coming!

Where Will You Sit Tonight?

Soccer comes home tonight! Miami FC is promoting the final games of the season with great intent and the players are risking their scalps to eradicate empty seats see here.

Some come out and make some noise, wear a Striker shirt, if you got 'em. Bring the kids, come for the soccer, come for the arepas, just come!

See you all tonight!

And the Dessert Cart Rolls On

Striker Likers, now is the time to rejoice! Our voices are being heard and read. Our little site here, for a short time, was nothing more than a sign post, but the fervor of Striker fever is catching on around the World (Wide Web, that is).

Facebook now has a dedicated group of Striker Likers.

Twitter has also come around with a Striker Liker page.

The Miami FC fanclub homepage has a many Striker Likers in their ranks.

What does this all mean? Well, not much, but at least people are talking, tweeting, blogging, posting photos, sharing memories and that just might lead to something.

Now, wouldn't that be nice?

Farewell Orioles

Thank god that's over.

Remember when, not too long ago, we had that scare of the Baltimore Orioles demolishing Lockhart Stadium to construct a state of the art Spring Training and Minor League facility? Well, that didn't pan out and now the B. O.'s are moving to Sarasota, which not only frees Lockhart Stadium from any bulldozers in the near future but also means there will be no Spring Training baseball in South Florida at all.

Some would also argue that we don't have Major League Baseball either based on attendance numbers at Landshark Stadium recently.

In any case, farewell Orioles, we didn't like birds anyhow.

Bring it Back or Just Start it Again

So we know we do a lot of history digging on this site and we do it for several reasons. For starters, we love the fact that we had such an experience once and that gives us the belief that we can have it again. We also do it because in order to have this beautiful game again we need to draw on the past and bring it into the future.

Now, we've been noticing a lot of stir lately. More items on ebay. More website and forums with people talking about the strikers and so on and so forth.

It is a time of new beginnings and communication. So let's make this work.

The Fever Grows

I don't know who this is. But let this picture speak the words of a soccer fever getting ready to explode.

So we didn't get a Barcelona MLS team. So the Miami FC drew 405 fans to FIU this weekend after the Gold Cup doubleheader hosted 17,000. So what, who cares?

Striker Likers will always be Striker Likers, and it's never to late to become one!

GO USA this weekend against Panama. Congratulations Estudiantes for winning the Copa Libertadores and tonight, well, let's see what happens with David Beckham and Landon Donovan.

There is Something in the Air

It seems as though, more and more, day after day, a fever is beginning to brew. When did it start we don't really care, but the smell is in the air and it is a sweet sweet fragrance. Soccer in South Florida is starting to take shape. Don't deny it. Don't hate it. Participate.

This weekend the Gold Cup will FIU home. Miami FC's season is in full swing and a local is a star on the National Team.

Could this be the ramblings of something good?


People are interested. People are doing crazy things.

But we are loving every minute of it.

One Good Looking Liker!

Digging thru the archives we find a young Striker Liker. One day more will join the crew.

FW: All Day I Dream...

The new adidas store at the Aventura Mall.

Let's Zazzle

Take a good look guys and gals. Zazzle, an online retailer of gorgeous gifts now offers gear for the Striker Liker. From vintage shirts with distressed logos to hoodies and tanks, all makes and models of Striker gear are available. They even have sizes for boys, girls and the ladies.

Grab 'em while they last. And wear them out. It's an order.

Get On With Your Bad Self

Yeah, that's right. President Obama is a soccer fan. Blame it on those early days in Jakarta or having to raise two young girls in America. Either way you chalk it up, the Big Chief wants the World Cup back in the States, where it belongs.

Currently the USA bid for the tournament contains a few Florida destinations such as Dolphin Stadium, so this could be huge. The last World Cup game played in Florida, I believe, was the Ireland-Holland second round game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. I was their, Patrick "Packie" Bonner had a howler and later that day the USA bowed out of the competition with a 1-0 loss to Brazil and a hospital visit for Tab Ramos. Oh, those were the days.

Also of note, let us not forget that Lockhart Stadium is being dusted off for another soccer game this weekend when the Miami FC call it home in its USL-1 season opener Saturday. Some say this is more of a test between county fans, but seriously are we Striker Likers supposed to lay down our arms and support a team that thinks if you put Miami in the title it makes all the difference?

You Would Think

You would think we would have lots to talk about. An exciting week in the Champions League. The sensational upsets of World Cup Qualifying. Even the impending visit of Miami FC to Fort Lauderdale is newsworthy. But for some reason the words are escaping us. That may be the curse of this place. 

The weather is wonderful. Spring Break excitement is in the air. But there is an emptiness. A sports emptiness. The entire world is full swing into soccer and yet, we, here in Fort Lauderdale, have nothing to look forward but the fever of Baseball season. The Heat and the Panthers seem to be ignored. The Dolphins also are still in the cobwebs of the mind. And the Marlins, well, the highlight of their season already occurred. They got a new stadium. Let's celebrate (insert sarcasm).

OK, enough of the depressive attitude. Miami FC is coming to Lockhart. So dig up your best Striker Liker gear and make a presence. If the person writing this post is the only one wearing a Striker shirt, then at least that makes one.

Let the movement begin.

It's Just Not the Same

Take a good look, the site looks familiar because it's Lockhart Stadium!

In a few weeks it will host some pro soccer games. But it won't be the Strikers you'll be seeing. It will be the Miami FC. Such a double-edged sword this is. On the one hand, it's pro soccer in South Florida. It's all we've got. But on the other hand, it ain't the Strikers, and if the FC fail so does any hopes of seeing the Red and Yellow ever again.

Anyways, I might be there. But if I show, I'll be sporting a Striker shirt and I'll be singing Zigga Zaggy Zigga Zaggy, Oi Oi Oi! Just for old times.

All I really have to say is, "Miami FC, don't rub your stink on Fort Lauderdale"

I'm So Excited..I'm So Scared

There it is ladies and germs. The new Florida Marlins stadium. It is exactly what we need. A Baseball stadium. A place where they can play baseball. Professionally. I guess if you are a baseball fan this is kind of cool. And hey, I am a sports fan and I love stadiums, but seriously. Thank you MLS. Thank you Barcelona FC. Thank you John Stamos. And most importantly, thank you Mom and Dad for taking me to Striker games and enlisting me in Thomas Rongen's Soccer Academy year after year. I'm not sure why I live down here anyway. I should move to Philly.

Thank you soccer world for making South Florida the black hole of Pro Soccer.

Where Is The Bad News?

• Over 20,000 season tickets sold
• An opening day attendance of over 30,000
• A 3-0 victory on opening day

All of us here in South Florida know the pain. Our MLS franchise fizzled out after 4 years. Our USL-1 team almost folded (they sold around 1,200 season tickets by the way). We couldn't even land a team with the backing of Barcelona.



There has to be something wrong with Seattle. There must be a deal with the devil. It is either that, or we down here are so envious and pessimistic that we can't picture what Seattle has.

Maybe if we are positive enough, good things will happen. Close your eyes everyone, Fort Lauderdale will have the Strikers again!