Lion Links: 1/21/15

Despite working tirelessly to cover the SuperDraft, and getting prepared for the upcoming Orlando City SC media day, there is still much going on as the clock continues ticking to the start of the MLS season. (47 days and counting). Here is what you need to know to get over hump day:

SuperDraft Replay

With the first two rounds playing out last Thursday, the MLS SuperDraft returned on Tuesday for the final two rounds. There was a lot less fanfare, however, Orlando still managed to draft two good upcoming prospects for the future.

With the 43^rd overall pick, Orlando selected GK Earl Edwards Jr. from UCLA and with their final pick of the draft (63^rd overall), the Lions selected FW Sidney Rivera from Old Dominion University.

Edwards, with a stellar college career behind him, will provide the club with a welcome headache. After drafting him, the club now has four GK’s on the books, and they are going to have to decide if they are going to ship him to affiliate club, Louisville City FC, or keep him around as cover until Tally Hall recovers from his ACL injury.

The other pickup, Rivera, provides the club with less of a headache. The club is starting to fill out the striking department, however, since discussions still reign over who will be starting upfront March 8, expect the club to give Rivera a chance to earn his squad place through preseason.

Calling Fowl

Orlando City struck up another strategic partnership yesterday, this time with Chick-Fil-A. None of the terms of the deal were made available, however the club did highlight that fans who wear OC gear into a local Chick-Fil-A on game day will be ‘rewarded.' However, with six home games on a Sunday this season, a day when Chick-Fil-A is closed, the reward seems less promising than it could be.

Playing with Pride

Robbie Rogers, the first openly gay athlete, in any of the five major sports league in the U.S., let rip yesterday in an editorial against FIFA about allowing Russia and Qatar to host the next two World Cups, whilst having some of the strictest anti-gay laws and worst human rights records in the world. Now this story isn’t something new, however, when you place his letter in light of Orlando City’s announcement to partner with Chick-Fil-A, a company that doesn’t support LGBT rights either, maybe Robbie has a point. Money talks.

Kaka Komingsoon

After a few tweets from the club last week with the hashtag #Komingsoon, we knew that the arrival of Kaka was days away. Now with media days well underway, we eventually got to hear some words from the man himself. The one major takeaway is learning that Kaka has only played on an artificial surface once in his career.

With Orlando City playing home games this year at the newly refurbished, turf-laden Citrus Bowl, let us hope that Kaka is able to play at least 21 more games on turf, before moving with us to our new soccer-specific stadium in 2016.

Moment of Zen

We all know that the Tampa Bay Rowdies were only able to attend games after travelling the I-4 corridor via pedi-cab and hitchhiking, but we should still spare a thought for AC Milan this week, who have had to sell their team bus to make ends meet.

That is all the news that is fit to print as you start today. Look out for our upcoming media day stories and don't forget that the U.S. U-20s play Trindad and Tobago this evening at 5:30 p.m.