Optimism for South Florida sports in 2022? Let us count the ways
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South Florida 2022 Outlook
A look at the issue South Florida will face in the areas of real estate, technology, schools, Latin America and the Caribbean, major events, sports, courts and politics in the upcoming year.
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Could South Florida’s sports scene be on the verge of a breakout year?
The pieces are certainly there, the trajectory looking like it could head in that direction.
The Florida Panthers and Miami Heat, when healthy, both look like legitimate playoff teams. The Panthers have been one of the top teams in the NHL despite playing almost half of their games so far without their team captain and top player Aleksander Barkov. The Heat has been without Bam Adebayo for a month and played their share of games without fellow stars Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro as well and are still staying afloat in the standings.
South Florida hasn’t had a professional sports team win a championship since the Miami Heat’s 2013 title — the second and final of the Big 3 era.
Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes’ hirings of football coach Mario Cristobal and athletic director Dan Radakovich have rejuvenated UM’s fan and alumni base. Cristobal is already off to a strong start on the recruiting trail and has one of college football’s top quarterbacks at his disposal for the 2022 season in Tyler Van Dyke. Will he turn “The U” back into a consistent contender in the college football world? His first game is Sept. 3.
Even the Miami Marlins are showing signs of life after making moves in the early portion of the off-season as they head into the fifth season under the Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter-led ownership group. They gave starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara a contract extension, signed outfielder Avisail Garcia to a four-year deal and traded for catcher Jacob Stallings and All-Star infielder Joey Wendle. The Marlins say they’re not done adding, but exactly who they bring in and when they make those moves is on pause at the moment until Major League Baseball and its players association work out a new collective bargaining agreement.
And while the Dolphins still need help to make it to the playoffs, the Dolphins have shown glimpses of what could be during their ongoing seven-game winning streak that has them in the playoff mix after a 1-7 start to the season. The off-season will be primed for news, with the Dolphins’ impending decision on what to do at quarterback — stick with Tua Tagovailoa or potentially try to make another run at Deshaun Watson — serving as the headliner.
Elsewhere, Inter Miami heads into its third season and looks to bounce back after an 11th-place finish in MLS’ 14-team Eastern Conference; FIU athletics begins a new chapter under athletic director Scott Carr; and don’t forget about South Florida’s high school sports.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 1:08 PM.
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