The Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Florida Marlins and the Florida Panthers - if sports teams in the "big four" leagues (National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and National Hockey League) are your passion, Miami is one of the greatest locations in the country. In addition to the sun, sand, beauty and relaxation that are a part of the Miami lifestyle, sporting events are a very prominent part of the scene. They draw worldwide media attention and tourists from around the country to the Miami area. Let's take a quicklook at the four major sports teams located in Miami.
Basketball - Miami HEAT
The Miami Heat have been part of the NBA since their inception in 1988 and play within the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. Having made the playoffs 13 times in the past 21 years has afforded the team a cache of respectability that was augmented by their 2006 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, taking the series by a score of 4 games to 6. The team did suffer through some difficult transitional periods, none more so than after their championship year in 2006. In 2008 the Miami Heat had the worst record in the entire NBA, but they did rebound out of the basement the following year. The summer of 2010 saw a major boost for the team with the triple signing of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, three star players who had previously played together on the gold medal winning US mens basketball team at the Beijing Olympics. Dubbed "the three kings" by Heat play-by-play man Eric Reid, the three players are expected to help shepherd the Miami Heat to dominance once again.
Football - Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins came into the National Football League as an expansion team in 1965 and were actually the second professional sports franchise in Florida. The first was the ill-fated Miami Seahawks who only lasted one season before becoming defunct due to poor ticket sales and a difficult schedule. The name "Dolphins" was bestowed upon the team after 622 entries in a contest set-up to choose a name for the new team. After just 7 seasons in the NFL, the Dolphins won the Super Bowl in 1972 (*Super Bowl VII). They won it again the following year in 1973 (*Super Bowl VIII) as well. In addition to their two Super Bowl championships, they have also attained 5 conference championships,13 divisional championships and a total of 22 playoff appearances since 1970. In August 2010, the team launched its own regional TV network. The Dolphins Television Network comprises 10 South Florida TV stations that agreed to carry the team-produced coverage. Games are broadcast on the radio by the Miami Dolphins Radio Network of affiliated stations across Florida.
Baseball - Florida Marlins
Established during the expansion of major league baseball in 1993, the Florida Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division in the National League. Despite their relatively short time as a professional baseball club, the Marlins have already won the World Series twice. The first time was in 1997 and more recently they captured the championship again in 2003. One distinction regarding their championship victories is that both times they won were also the only times they qualified for post season play. Another fact worth noting is that both times they qualified for the playoffs they did so as the National League wild card winner, they did not win first place in their division on either occasion. Home games are currently played at SunLife Stadium, which is also home to the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Football Team. In 2010 construction began on a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins within the city limits of Miami, on the site of the old Orange Bowl stadium. The ballpark is expected to open in 2012 and the team's name is expected to be changed to the Miami Marlins.
Ice Hockey - Florida Panthers
The Panthers came to be when the NHL expanded in 1993 to include the southern states of America (although the expansion was not exclusive to the southern states). H. Wayne Huizenga, then owner of the Blockbuster Video chain, was awarded an expansion franchise by the national hockey league and the team filled out their roster during the expansion draft in Quebec City. They reside in the South East Division of the Eastern Conference and play their home games at the Bank Atlantic Center. The Panthers had only been part of the NHL for a mere three seasons when they qualified for the playoffs with a record including 41 wins. The team went on to advance to each round defeating all their opponents on the way to their first and only, Stanley Cup Final. Despite defeating heavily favored opposition including the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, they were unable to defeat the Colorado Avalanche, losing the series in four games.
Miami is also the home of many college sports teams. The two largest are the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Florida International University Golden Panthers. The Hurricanes football team formerly played at the Miami Orange Bowl from 1937 until 2008 when they mov to Sun Life Stadium. The Panthers football team play at FIU Stadium. There is also professional tennis, Jai Alai, and NASCAR to choose from in addition to the "big four" sports and college sports. Sports fans have a plethora of possibilities all year round in Miami, whatever your interest, there is a sports team for you!
Basketball - Miami HEAT
The Miami Heat have been part of the NBA since their inception in 1988 and play within the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. Having made the playoffs 13 times in the past 21 years has afforded the team a cache of respectability that was augmented by their 2006 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, taking the series by a score of 4 games to 6. The team did suffer through some difficult transitional periods, none more so than after their championship year in 2006. In 2008 the Miami Heat had the worst record in the entire NBA, but they did rebound out of the basement the following year. The summer of 2010 saw a major boost for the team with the triple signing of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, three star players who had previously played together on the gold medal winning US mens basketball team at the Beijing Olympics. Dubbed "the three kings" by Heat play-by-play man Eric Reid, the three players are expected to help shepherd the Miami Heat to dominance once again.
Football - Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins came into the National Football League as an expansion team in 1965 and were actually the second professional sports franchise in Florida. The first was the ill-fated Miami Seahawks who only lasted one season before becoming defunct due to poor ticket sales and a difficult schedule. The name "Dolphins" was bestowed upon the team after 622 entries in a contest set-up to choose a name for the new team. After just 7 seasons in the NFL, the Dolphins won the Super Bowl in 1972 (*Super Bowl VII). They won it again the following year in 1973 (*Super Bowl VIII) as well. In addition to their two Super Bowl championships, they have also attained 5 conference championships,13 divisional championships and a total of 22 playoff appearances since 1970. In August 2010, the team launched its own regional TV network. The Dolphins Television Network comprises 10 South Florida TV stations that agreed to carry the team-produced coverage. Games are broadcast on the radio by the Miami Dolphins Radio Network of affiliated stations across Florida.
Baseball - Florida Marlins
Established during the expansion of major league baseball in 1993, the Florida Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division in the National League. Despite their relatively short time as a professional baseball club, the Marlins have already won the World Series twice. The first time was in 1997 and more recently they captured the championship again in 2003. One distinction regarding their championship victories is that both times they won were also the only times they qualified for post season play. Another fact worth noting is that both times they qualified for the playoffs they did so as the National League wild card winner, they did not win first place in their division on either occasion. Home games are currently played at SunLife Stadium, which is also home to the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Football Team. In 2010 construction began on a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins within the city limits of Miami, on the site of the old Orange Bowl stadium. The ballpark is expected to open in 2012 and the team's name is expected to be changed to the Miami Marlins.
Ice Hockey - Florida Panthers
The Panthers came to be when the NHL expanded in 1993 to include the southern states of America (although the expansion was not exclusive to the southern states). H. Wayne Huizenga, then owner of the Blockbuster Video chain, was awarded an expansion franchise by the national hockey league and the team filled out their roster during the expansion draft in Quebec City. They reside in the South East Division of the Eastern Conference and play their home games at the Bank Atlantic Center. The Panthers had only been part of the NHL for a mere three seasons when they qualified for the playoffs with a record including 41 wins. The team went on to advance to each round defeating all their opponents on the way to their first and only, Stanley Cup Final. Despite defeating heavily favored opposition including the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, they were unable to defeat the Colorado Avalanche, losing the series in four games.
Miami is also the home of many college sports teams. The two largest are the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Florida International University Golden Panthers. The Hurricanes football team formerly played at the Miami Orange Bowl from 1937 until 2008 when they mov to Sun Life Stadium. The Panthers football team play at FIU Stadium. There is also professional tennis, Jai Alai, and NASCAR to choose from in addition to the "big four" sports and college sports. Sports fans have a plethora of possibilities all year round in Miami, whatever your interest, there is a sports team for you!
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