Adriano Joins Sao Paulo on Loan

Troubled Inter Milan striker Adriano is to join Sao Paulo on a six-month loan, the Brazilian champion said on Wednedsay.

"(Sao Paulo) concluded with Inter Milan the loan of striker Adriano until June 30, 2008," the club said on its website (www.saopaulofc.net).

The 25-year-old Brazilian, once the most feared striker in Serie A, has hardly featured for Inter in the last two seasons after battling fitness and reported alcohol problems.

The move came one month after the powerhouse striker began a fitness and psychological recovery program at Sao Paulo's training center.

He is the second big name to return to South American soccer looking to revive his career in the last month after Argentina's Boca Juniors re-signed Juan Roman Riquelme from Villarreal.

"I'm very happy with this deal," Adriano was quoted as saying. "Since my first day at the club, everyone has treated me very well.

"It will be an honor to win titles for this club. I'm going to work very hard for this and to return to the Brazil team."

Adriano has played only one international since his much-criticized performance at the 2006 World Cup. Previously, he was regarded as having a safe place in the national side along with Robinho and Kaka.

Adriano was linked with a move away in the European close season but refused to go out on loan despite interest from former club Parma and Premier League West Ham United.

If all goes well, Adriano will lead the Sao Paulo attack in the South American Libertadores Cup, the region's equivalent of the Champions League, which will be held in the first half of next year.

Sao Paulo has won the Brazilian championship for the last two years, was Libertadores winner in 2005 and runner-up last year.

Thank You Sun-Sentinel

For those of you who don't know, the Sun-Sentinel is a Striker Likers newspaper. It's our local record and examiner. From the NASL days to the APSL championship run and even through today, we Likers get our soccer fix from the Sun-Sentinel's pages.

Still, mistakes are made. In recent light of the Miami Dolphins record-breaking season, it seemed fitting for some staff members at the Sun to take a jab at our beloved Strikers. Some people still think that the number of points on the scoreboard are directly related to the excitement and action on the field.

As Likers, we know the contrary. So thank you Sun-Sentinel for living in the past enough to think that people make fun of soccer because of "low scores". Instead, you went above and beyond, you put the Striker jersey back where it should be, on the pages of your Sports Section.

Manchester United F.C

Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and is arguably the most popular football club in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide; average attendances at the club have been higher than any other team in English football for all but six seasons since 1964-65.

The club is also one of the most successful in English football; for over twenty years, since the 1986-87 season, they have won 18 major honours, which is more than any other Premier League club. They are the Premier League's reigning champions, and have won the Premier League/Football League 16 times. In 1968, they became the first English club to win the European Cup, beating S.L. Benfica 4–1, and they won a second European Cup in 1999. They also hold the record for the most FA Cup titles with 11.

Since the late 1990s, the club has been one of the richest in the world, and until recently had the highest revenue of any football club for several years running. As of 2007, the club has the fourth largest turnover in club football, but remains the most profitable club based on operating income. Manchester United also remains the most valuable club in the world. The club is a founding member of the G-14 group of Europe's leading football clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been manager of the club since 6 November 1986. The captain is Gary Neville, who succeeded Roy Keane in November 2005.

The Gods Have Spoken

Italy has been awarded for their humbleness in stealing a World Cup second round victory over Australia with a dubious penalty by being placed in Euro '08's 'Group of Death' along side France, Holland, and Romania.

Good things just always seem to happen to good people.

In other news, still no Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, but you can catch the Orlando Sharks of the MISL on Fox Soccer Channel (they're still winless after 7 games, but we've got our fingers crossed) and the USL and MSL doesn't start still April.

We'll be posting some more authentic Striker memoribilia to the blog, we've got a license plate and small banner.