New Fort Lauderdale Strikers Logo

Drink it in folks 'cause this is it!

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers unveiled their new logo this weekend and in doing so murdered the past history of the logo.

OK, that maybe a little harsh, but it's hard to see the similarities between this new venture and the classic logo from years past.

The new logo, designed by a veteran sports branding group, can explain each aspect of the logo, but it might take some time for this Striker Liker to swallow.

What do you think?

Strikers to Officially Announce Name

So soon it will be official. But what will the name be? Just Strikers. Fort Lauderdale Strikers? South Florida Strikers? Miami FC/Strikers? Can someone tell me what's going on?

If you ask me, I vote for Fort Lauderdale Strikers. I just looks right, know what I'm saying? I'm just going to write Fort Lauderdale Strikers a few more times because it makes feel so good seeing it. I wonder if a new Fort Lauderdale Strikers logo will be unveiled and Fort Lauderdale Strikers uniforms.

I'm getting giddy, but I like it. Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

It's Soccer Madness

Striker Likers, listen up. Here's a little history lesson for those who forgot the second coming of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. This is the APSL Strikers, coached by Thomas Rongen and the only Striker squad to win a league championship. I grew up with this team and if I needed soccer gear I went to one place: Soccer Madness.

Soccer Madness held offices right here in Broward County and if you needed some new adidas Copas or that new Nike track suit, this is where you would go. The catalog they produced was a bible as it also displayed top-flight European stars in Soccer Madness gear.

That was a great time, just waiting for my Soccer Madness catalog in the mail, it was better than EuroSport, it felt like a magazine, and it was home grown.

Today, Soccer Madness is a faded memory, just like those 1994 United States national team uniforms. But, the soccer store institution is a growing one. Sure you can score some cheap cleats at the Sports Authority or even Wal-Mart, but devoted soccer stores are the true hotspots for soccer passion. You can find them more often than ever before, especially here in our back yard. With the success of these shops will come pro soccer, no question. So let's give Soccer Madness our respect, as well as the Soccer Connection, I miss you guys.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

A Model Switch

So we're swapping chiseled chests are we?


David Beckham goes to AC Milan and Freddie Ljungberg comes to the States (well, officially Seattle).


I'm not sure who got the better deal; the MLS? Seattle? Becks? AC Milan? The Sounders? Arsenal fans? Posh? Tom Cruise?

Tom Cruise always wins. Thank you MLS.

A Bright Idea

This week, MLS announced a list of prospective parties trying to get a franchise. That list included a team for Miami with a management group consisting of FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure.

Marcelo Claure is the CEO of Brightstar, a wireless solutions company in Miami that specializes in customizing mobile technologies (mainly cell phones and related accessories).

Their proposed plan uses FIU's new "The Cage" stadium, which according to reports is "soccer ready".


Any hope this new team will be called the Strikers and completely overshadow the recent rebirth of the Tampa Bay Rowdies? Not likely. Marcelo Claure has a background working with the Bolivian National Team and FC Barcelona may want to open up their brand here ala Chivas USA.

But look closely, the FC Barcelona crest has Striker Stripes (see upper right hand corner of logo). That is enough hope for me to start digging out some Striker Liker bumper stickers.

Good luck, gentlemen and give a Striker Liker a chance.

We don't hold grudges, really

So last week, the USL version of the Tampa Bay Rowdies unveiled their new logo and website. As a fervent Striker Liker you would expect me to bash whatever these guys came up with, but I must say, I am at a loss for words.

I'm actually sad. The logo is so bad I feel sorry for the Rowdies fans. The icing on the cake is the reasoning behind this logo on their new website here. You know, they actually paid someone to do this!

Now the original Rowdies logo wasn't the Mona Lisa, but at least it had spunk. It was a kick in the grass as they used say.

One thing is for sure, the Strikers already look cooler than the Rowdies will ever be. Ha-ha.

Striker Liker, out.

All it takes is a little...

A little teamwork folks, that is all it takes.

Anyways, just wanted to get that out there. For all those concerned click here for a short podcast from Striker faithful Rocky Ray Hudson, current commentator on GolTV. He reminisces about the glory days of the Strikers, Pier Street Annex, what happened to the Fusion and what he thinks about Bobby Convey (there's other stuff in there too).

Enjoy.

Why Doesn't Anybody Tell Me These Things!#*$

Seriously, how come it's on days like this that I find this picture? An actual Fort Lauderdale Strikers uniform. I found it on an auction site and the auction ended yesterday!

The kit went for $509 after 18 bids. That tells me that there is a demand out there.

So when are we going to have the real thing?

It's About Time

You can type in 'Lauderdale Strikers' in at Ebay and you get results!

'Tis the Season

It's that time of year again, and no we aren't talking President's Day galas here. It's MLS Spring Season!

The MLS Combine is done and the Mexicans still can't beat us within our borders. Now the MLS teams, like Ontarian Snow Birds are flocking south to gear up for their 12th season.

First up is the Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake. Billed as a return of MLS to Broward Country as several players are either former Fusionistas or local area collegemen and residents.

In any case, Striker Likers will be in full support so keep your eye out for the Gold, Red and Black. The game will be played at the new Central Broward Regional Park (just west of the Swap Shop on Sunrise Blvd). The game is Friday, February 22nd, at 7:30pm. $10 for adults, $5 for those under 18.

A Feast for the Eyes

Take a good look everyone, that's a new Strikers shirt. It's going to be everywhere, so get used to it. So far it's been seen by Cobi Jones, Ruud Gullit, Jeff Agoos, and the honorable Frank Klopas. If anyone else out there wants to join in the fun, get a Striker shirt and get out there!

History Lesson

OK, so this isn't your momma's Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. Well, get over it. These are my Strikers; as this is my post.

I've been getting a lot of heat for touting a franchise that seemingly lasted less than a decade and fizzled out in the early eighties. But lest we not forget the glory we had when our beloved Strikers were reborn and took the APSL by storm in the late eighties and early nineties.

These were my heroes. I went to their soccer camps and I knew everyone by name, some even by nickname (Troy 'Chopper' Edwards being the best). In any case, I just wanted to give a shout to the only Striker team to ever finish on top. We will reign again. 9-9-89.