By Kyle McCarthy<\/p>\n
It may not be obvious to everyone, but Florida is a big sports state. In the three major sports, the NBA, NFL and MLB, Florida holds seven teams. California holds an astonishing twelve and Texas has seven. The New York metropolitan area only has six teams. However, those Florida teams aren\u2019t always at the top of the sports world, but they certainly are moving up.<\/p>\n
The Miami Heat, Florida\/Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all delivered championships in the past decade, but none since the Heat in 2006. Most people have noticed the Heat recently, reaching the NBA Finals last season after signing the now-infamous LeBron James and Chris Bosh to team with Dwyane Wade. They have become a force in the league, but hated among anyone but their die-hard fans, quite like the Yankees and Red Sox. Being compared to them is no small feat, and they may be responsible for bringing big sports to South Beach.<\/p>\n
Most of the Florida teams are relatively new, with the Heat, Orlando Magic, Jacksonville Jaguars, Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays all being established in 1988 or later. The NFL teams are now largely uncompetitive, leaving a hole in the most popular sport. But the Heat have seemingly broken new ground and the Rays have become a force with a minimal payroll. Now Florida has another team to root for: The Miami Marlins.<\/p>\n
Until this season, they were the Florida Marlins. They also averaged just over 19,000 fans a year last season at their games, which was actually better than two teams. One was the Oakland Athletics. The other, sadly, was the Rays. They have recently beefed up fan interest and are always talented but perennially overshadowed by the Yankees and Red Sox, who play in the same division. They now have a new name, new stadium and flashy new uniforms.<\/p>\n
The Marlins have always played in Sun Life Stadium and had one of the lowest payrolls in the major leagues since their inception in 1993. They actually won championships in 1997 and 2003, but angered their fan base by selling off players the following years, slipping back into mediocrity, and seemingly leaving them without fans.<\/p>\n
Now, thanks to owner Jeffery Loria, they have a new stadium in Little Havana, Miami. Loria, who took the reins in 2002, has constantly refused to spend big money until he had a new stadium built. Now that he has one, the Marlins have skyrocketed into popularity.<\/p>\n
The Marlins went on a shopping spree this winter, signing big free agents Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle to contracts, the former of which was the biggest in franchise history. They also made offers for top players Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson before they both split for Anaheim. They now have those stars to team with Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez, along with the rest of the team that may actually now care about playing. They also snagged a new manager, the ever-offensive and entertaining Ozzie Guillen, formerly of the Chicago White Sox. Most importantly, they now seem committed to building a winning team.<\/p>\n
Long ignored by the media, fans and wins, they now seem to be the talk of the baseball world. Their first two games of the regular season, played in the new Marlins Park, will be nationally televised. They have been all over the news for their bold moves. They have even been selected to featured on the Showtime reality series, \u201cThe Franchise\u201d, which follows the team and gives an exclusive look to them on and off the field. They open their season April 4 against the defending champion Cardinals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Kyle McCarthy It may not be obvious to everyone, but Florida is a big sports state. In the three major sports, the NBA, NFL and MLB, Florida holds seven teams. California holds an astonishing twelve and Texas has seven. The New York metropolitan area only has six teams. However, Continue reading Campus Confidential<\/span>