Miami Ultras in New York. Fans visit MLS and watch USA vs Argentina.

ALERT: Be sure to listen to Jorge Ramos y su Banda on ESPN Radio 1450 AM in Miami or go HERE to listen online as Jorge Ramos will have a chat with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Jorge will be asking Don about a future MLS team in South Florida among other MLS related subjects. Be sure to check it out starting at 4PM and call in to 1 800 Deportes You can also follow and send questions on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ESPN_JorgeRamos
Radio address if anyone wants to go is: ESPNDeportesRadio
 Alhambra plaza - 9 floor Coral Gables, FL 33134
Ultras in New York
Miami Ultras were spotted this past weekend in New York City. A group of Ultras, led by Mitchell Rivera visited the Big Apple to watch the USA vs Argentina match that took place this past Saturday.



But before the USA game Mitch decided to visit MLS digital where he was greeted by David Agrell. The Ultras were given a quick tour and were told that we are the first supporters group to visit MLS Digital. David did tell us that FutbolMLS (The Spanish version of the MLS website) will soon get its own front page link. Mitch asked where does MLSsoccer.com, get the most hits outside the US. David replied that it was from Europe and the Middle East only because gambling is legal and they find that MLS is unpredictable and there is parity in the league.

As you will see in the pictures below there is a collection of scarves there. We found that the Miami Ultras scarf was already amongst the MLS supporters scarves. We don't know how they got it, perhaps from Garber's last visit and meeting with the Ultras in January, but either way it's a good sign of things to come. (Click picture to enlarge)

Below you can see more pictures at MLS, the USA game and around New York.

You want to help bring MLS to South Florida?
Visit our website www.mlsmiamibid.com
You can also follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MLSMiamiBid
and Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/mlsmiami
Have suggestions and want to be part of the group send us an email to: info@mlsmiamibid.com

The new Ft. Lauderdale Strikers Jersey and more.

Last night the Fort Lauderdale Strikers revealed their new jerseys! I have to admit they look good. FMB contributor Mitch Rivera supplied us with these photos.

 

 

Check out more pictures and video at:
Miami Soccer fan
www.strikers.com

I also need to comment on the new updated websites. The Strikers website is great and the NASL's (www.nasl.com ) is even better. That, along with the new logos have been proof, for now, that Traffic has done their homework and improved from years past.
Still, though we have some new talent on the team, there is a question mark referering to the talent on the field. But last night they mentioned there are still 4 players to be signed. Today they mentioned 2 in Midfielder Patrick Otte and Goalkeeper Phillip Lamarre. Read more about them HERE 
Let's wait and see what coach Daryl Shore can muster up. We need a Championship team!

Check out this video of the Strikers glory years that the team released. The old meets the new!
Go Strikers!


UPDATE: 7PM
Just saw the Strikers on Univision. See the picture below:

Strikers to unveil new Jersey and sign Eduardo Coudet , plus NASL news and more.

The Strikers continue to make noise. This weekend they released their new logo. Miami Ultras President Pieter Brown made some great observations on the design. Read about it HERE.
Following the logo, yesterday the Strikers announced the signing of experienced midfielder Eduardo "Chacho" Coudet.

"Players like Coudet are very hard to find, his professional experience will be a great addition to our team. We will look to his leadership this season," said Head Coach Daryl Shore.
Coudet, 36, is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina where he began his professional career in 1993 with Platense. In 1999, Coudet signed with one of the Argentine giants, River Plate, and would go on to win three league titles. Coudet has played professionally in Argentina, Spain, and most recently the U.S. He signed with the Philadelphia Union of Major League in the summer of 2010.

Read more at www.strikers.com

If you think it ends there you are wrong. Tonight, the Strikers will unveil their official team jerseys. The event will take place at The Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood at 7 pm. For more information please see the flyer below.

NASL
The NASL re-launched their website and introduced their new NASL logo. The league also announced their new Commissioner David Downs.

The North American Soccer League (NASL) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Downs as the league's first Commissioner. Downs will assume his new role with the NASL on April 4th.
Downs joins the NASL after serving as Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee, the organization created by the U.S. Soccer Federation to participate in the bidding process to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 and 2022. Prior to that, he spent more than 30 years in the broadcast industry as an executive with both ABC Sports and Univision Communications. During his broadcast career, Downs was instrumental in the successful negotiations to secure the U.S. television rights to every World Cup from USA '94, through Brazil '14.

Read more at www.nasl.com

USA vs Argentina watch party at Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub

Hola Amigos! You wanna see some good futbol? Then come to Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub in Hollywood this Saturday March 26 at 7:00 pm to see the USA vs Argentina game.
This event will be hosted by South Florida United which is an umbrella group that wants to bring all South Florida Soccer groups together. So far the SFU consists of the Miami Ultras, Flight 19 and City of Sunrise Elite. But they invite all groups and fans to join. It's about coming together to celebrate the beautiful game no matter who you support!

Here is a brief description:

Who are the South Florida United?
South Florida United (SFU) is an independent supporterʼs association, supporting all soccer in South Florida, primarily the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL. The group also fully supports and actively pursues the return of a Major League Soccer franchise to the South Florida area. SFU consists of both independent fans as well as supporter subgroups that represent different aspects of South Florida.

The SFU logo represents all of South Floridaʼs soccer fans coming together for one cause: to support local soccer. The nuclear symbol represents the high energy and passion of South Floridaʼs soccer fans joining together to produce an unmatched, unified force, as well as being a nod to the old Miami Fusion. The 3 area codes represent Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, and the colors !represent our support of our current team, as well as the most successful team of the past, the Strikers.

How to Join
New members can join online via the SFU -or- subgroup websites, or join in person at any Strikers game or other SFU event. Membership is free.

For more info go HERE

South Florida Soccer News: WPS, Strikers, MLS and more.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers continue to make noise in our community this time with a successful charity event where a large crowd helped raise money for the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.

Stars of the ATP Tour in Miami to play the Sony Ericsson Open joined with the NASL's Fort Lauderdale Strikers to help raise funds and awareness for Japanese relief. The exhibition soccer match ended in a 5-2 Striker victory. The goals for the tennis stars were scored by Marcos Baghdatis and Andy Murray. The Tennis stars were captained by Novak Djokovic.

You can read more at www.strikers.com
Other news sources covering this event follow:
ESPN
NY Times
ATP (Picture)
Sony Ericcson Open
and even the Bangkok Post
More pictures at DEPORTadas (Spanish)
NASL 

MLS
We have all heard about Chad Ochocinco and his latest tryout with MLS side Sporting Kansas City. But did you know he was practicing with the Strikers before his tryout?

The first true test came when Ochocinco joined several of the Strikers players for a friendly kickaround at their stadium. Suffice to say, he didn’t disappoint despite going up against the likes of central defender Zach Kirby, a former Los Angeles Galaxy draft pick, and veteran goalkeeper Nic Platter, who’s faced his fair share of players during six season in division two soccer in the U.S.

Read more about Ochocinco's MLS Tryout
To view his tryout Live go HERE

WPS
News out of MagicJack (Formerly Washington Freedom, we think?) is almost hard to come by. The season is set to start and details are still sketchy. We know the team will play in Boca Raton at FAU but no real marketing has taken place. We were able to stumble on the following:

Potomac Soccer Wire was fortunate enough to catch up with Borislow in Richmond, Va. last Sunday, where his “other team,” the Palm Beach MagicJacks 96/97 side which features his daughter Kylie, won top honors in Under-14 competition at the Jefferson Cup youth tournament.

Following is the video:





We will try to give you further information once we get it.
The possible roster of the team can be found HERE

Celebrity Soccer Match. Tennis Stars vs Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

This Wednesday March 23, at 7.PM. the Fort Lauderdale Strikers will play in an exhibition match against World tennis stars such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokic, David Ferrer and more! (See the flyer below). All proceeds will go directly to the Red Cross and their rescue efforts in Japan. The match will be held at Ransom Everglades High School 3575 Main Highway Miami, FL 33133, admission is free with requested donations to the Red Cross.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers Soccerthon and fan video.

Soccerthon was a fun event organized by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers this past weekend. Following you will find pictures as well as a fan video made by Miami Ultra Mitch Rivera.

All pictures by Mitch Rivera
More pictures can be seen on MiamiSoccerFan.com

MLS Futbolito in Miami, Strikers sign Abe Thompson and more...

MLS Futbolito is coming back to South Florida!
MLS Futbolito is the official 4 vs 4 tournament of Major League Soccer. It consists of a fun soccer tournament that involves 13 communities across the country. This years event in Miami will take place on Sunday May 22, 2011 at Kendall Soccer Park.
Last year yours truly, Miami Ultra member Uncle Ed was invited to play in the celebrity game that was live on Univision's Republica Deportiva. Uncle Ed played with one time Mexican national team player Francisco "Paco" Palencia, ex Mexico goalie Felix "El Gato" Fernandez , Republica Deportiva's Presidente Fernando Fiore and of course the lovely Senadoras, among others. Check out the pictures and video from last years event and check out my ugly mug!
For more details check out last years website and be on the look out for the new website to see what other cities futbolito will stop at. Go HERE

Strikers sign Abe Thompson

The Strikers website announced the signing of last years top scorer Abe Thompson. Here is what they had to say about it:

“Anytime you can bring back a MLS veteran who was your leading goal scorer last season it’s a positive move for the team. We will look to Abe for veteran leadership and hope he will find the same success he had last season.” Said Head Coach Daryl Shore.

You can read more at Strikers.com

Martyn Lancaster's Blog
Fan favorite Martyn Lancaster has a new gig! He will periodically write pieces about life as a Fort Lauderdale Striker. Already he has given fans a couple of gems that will embarrass his teammates ranging from a bad hair cut to skinny-dipping in a public pool!
Be sure to also check out and listen to Martyn's interview on 640 AM.
Looks like Martyn will be a broadcaster and blogger after his soccer career. Read more about it HERE

Strikers Soccerthon
This weekend is the Strikers Soccerthon it will be a 12 hour event with a Strikers pre-season match at 3:30 pm. Following is the Soccerthon Timeline.
Saturday March 19th
Ft. Lauderdale Stadium

8 AM- Public Schools Match (Field 2) 7v7 two 25 min halves
9 AM- Staff Match (Field 2) 7v7 two 25 min halves
10 AM- College Cup (Fields 1,2,3) 11v11 two 45 min halves
2:30-330 PM- Law Enforcement Match (Field 2) 7v7 two 30 min halves
3:30 PM- Strikers Exhibition Match (Field 3)
5:30 PM College Cup 2nd round games two 45 min halves (Field 1,2,3)

Player Pictures by Robert Scorca
Futbolito Picture by Zach Reese