For the last four years it hasn't even been an argument. LeBron James (sigh) was the best athlete in South Florida. But now that the dirty liar/coward he's gone, things get interesting (read: less good) again. For example, this potential conversation could happen at any South Florida bar tonight.
Dude: CHALLENGE: Who are the top 10 athletes in South Florida now that LeBron left? Bet ya don't know, you're a bad sports fan. Or haven't you heard?
Dude1: [thinks for a second] Shit. You are right.
Alas! Good thing we got you covered. After all, we've been about championships and rings long before LeBron got here, and that ain't changing.
So, here are our Top 10 South Florida Athletes Post-Lebron.
No. 10: Udonis Haslem
All right, so you could make a case others in our city are better at what they do for a living than Haslem. Perhaps Tannehill is a better quarterback than Haslem is an enforcer but you try telling the man he doesn't belong on a Top 10 list. Dude left $14 million on the table in '10 to stay here and he left money on the table again this offseason to help the franchise. He's the best.
"@IraHeatBeat: Udonis Haslem's Miami Heat return being finalized at the moment." pic.twitter.com/3BzSiTtvty
— Eric Lauzin (@Lauzin) July 15, 2014Udonis Haslem to Lance Stephenson: "I'm going to f--- you up." Video: http://t.co/tjNwb2mKbD pic.twitter.com/4eCy0ybm9E
— Larry Brown (@LBSports) May 31, 2014I got a feeling Mr.West might get to talk to his old friend Mr. @ThisIsUD tonight. pic.twitter.com/z6n9jyMrRj
— Rizz (@Rizzmigizz) March 26, 2014No. 9: Mike Wallace
So, after signing a 5-year $60 million deal in '13 -- and putting up seasons in Pittsburgh that included 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns -- Wallace's debut season with the Phins was a disappointment. He had 73 catches for 930 yards and 5 touchdowns, but it's hard to separate in football just how much of that was Wallace underperforming versus him having a worse quarterback than he did in Pittsburgh. As Tannehill (hopefully) continues to improve, so should this guy's numbers. But ya never know -- it's the Dolphins.
Mike Wallace speaks the truth @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/iARSJXdaAY
— D4VID (@TheOfficialD4VE) July 31, 2014Ryan Tannehill is one for four on deep balls to Mike Wallace in camp? pic.twitter.com/BGUZicRXYI
— Pablo G (@PabloGRadio) July 27, 2014RT:"@JMP1063: Mike Wallace saying Mike Wallace things. #Dolphins camp is back baby! #WeakerTogether" pic.twitter.com/DX92ghndoT
— Joseph Dredd (@JDGDredd1050) July 25, 2014No. 8: Luol Deng
For years, this guy has been a player almost all Heat fans both respect and hate playing. As opposed to, say, Joakim Noah who is just an asshole. Deng, though, is a legitimate wing defender that will help any new defensive system Erik Spoelstra trots out and he's still only 29 despite playing heavy minutes in Chicago.
Who needs @KingJames when you got @LuolDeng9 pic.twitter.com/as8SKpSvLK
— EasyMac® (@iankumar_) August 1, 2014#WelcomeLuol great to see you join the HEAT! we take care of out family like no other. #DENGfever
Cc @LuolDeng9 pic.twitter.com/M6YhGF95bh
— Miami Heat (@iAmMiamiHEAT) July 16, 2014International Play of the Day: Luol Deng Finishes Strong
http://t.co/hYtkQLm0Rp
... pic.twitter.com/jvLXpWvRVN
— Sam's AllStars (@samsallstarz) July 25, 2014No. 7 Steve Cishek
It's a little odd, granted, to have a little known closer crack this list, but Cishek's really good. There was talk recently the Marlins might flip him at the MLB Trade Deadline yesterday but he's still here, and with good reason -- last year he converted 34 of 36 saves and this year he's nailed down 27 out of 30. And he's got a badass throwing motion.
Finally, a sign that's completely inarguable. You can't possibly deny that his name is Steve Cishek. pic.twitter.com/6jE7gAL3Rg
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 16, 2013Steve Cishek is the first pitcher in Marlins history to record 6 saves in an 8 day span, via SQ's @Brendan____Hall. pic.twitter.com/A8EQ95HBn7
— The Sports Quotient (@SportsQuotient) July 28, 2014RT if Steve Cishek (@srSHREK31) is your boy! pic.twitter.com/zlTktqRM
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 15, 2012No. 6 Cameron Wake
The three-time Pro Bowler for the Dolphins is still a beast, although he's now 32. Last year, as Adam Beasley of the Herald points out, he was the second-most productive pass-rusher in football according to Pro Football Focus. Combining sacks, quarterback hits and hurries (a PFF stat called "total pressures"), Wake had the fourth-most in the league with 71.
#Madden15 rankings are out, & Cameron Wake is a beast. @MiamiDolphins #StrongerTogether @thestephgef @BDOUBLEEKC pic.twitter.com/k9Kzj9Apgm
— Beefy Diesel (@DaveyBoi_OUTLAW) July 31, 2014Forget Hartline, We Thought Cam Wake Would Make a Great Wolverine Last August http://t.co/A0V1VQ9SPK pic.twitter.com/PMrhmAZ6R4
— Page Q (@PageQSports) July 29, 2014Happy Birthday to Pro Bowl DE Cam Wake (@Kold91)!! pic.twitter.com/IeFDfIpbM6
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 30, 2014No. 5 Dwyane Wade
Even though he was crazy efficient last year -- leading all guards with a 54.5 shooting percentage -- it came at the cost of a rest program that had him playing in just 54 games all season. And then he played defense like this in the Finals. Bill Simmons of Grantland first pointed this out during the season, but if other stars only had to play 50 games, their numbers too might look hyper efficient like Wade's. Still, he's Dwyane bleeping Wade and that must be respected always.
Dwyane Wade finalizes two-year Miami #Heat contract http://t.co/aqPs139HUL pic.twitter.com/EgqIA9lrpE
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) July 15, 2014What DWade Really Thinks When LeBron Decided To Leave The Heat! http://t.co/h4bMsO21wo pic.twitter.com/62SV2sECz6
— NBA News and Rumors (@NBAFantasyInfo) July 25, 2014Lance Stephenson gets ejected while Dwyane Wade laughs. pic.twitter.com/vPkzXeGl40
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 27, 2014No. 4: Jose Fernandez
You almost forgot about the electric 22-year-old, huh? After lighting up the league as a rookie with 187 strikeouts and a 2.19 era in 172.2 innings, he was busy at it again this year, firing 70 K's and a 2.44 era in just 51.1 innings. Then disaster struck and now it looks like the kid will be out a portion of '15, as well. Luckily, the success rate of Tommy John surgery is pretty high and he'll be back by the all-star break next season.
Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez gets a kiss from his grandmother before Opening Night /via @hgabino pic.twitter.com/SwG1h3z76j
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) March 31, 2014@ChristianYelich gets a postgame shower from @josefernandez77 #Marlins win 4-2 pic.twitter.com/jUaeQkhDft
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) July 24, 2013#franchisedraft No. 26 pick: @jonahkeri selects @josefernandez77 (@Marlins) http://t.co/T3H4vrtxMv pic.twitter.com/VfLf2mRuxX
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) June 2, 2014No. 3: Giancarlo Stanton
Perhaps no better news passed the wire yesterday than this at 4 p.m. when the MLB Trade Deadline expired: Dongcarlo Stanton is staying home, folks. For now. Chances are the Marlins could still Marlin and flip him in the off-season or before the trade deadline next year, but for now, that monster power is ours and ours only.
Giancarlo Stanton:
DAT ARM SLEEVE
— MLB Memes (@MLBMeme) May 26, 2014Giancarlo Stanton Sat Courtside With Jeffrey Loria at Game 3 of Heat-Pacers -- Ladies swarmed http://t.co/dhUtc75TDV pic.twitter.com/HJGeEbAHAJ
— Page Q (@PageQSports) May 25, 2014Dongcarlo Stanton pic.twitter.com/bHpLN2CTl6
— Sports Bang (@sports_bang) July 15, 2014No. 2: Christopher Boshua
Heat fans are excited to have this man back -- and rightfully so -- after he inked a 5-year $118 million deal, spurning the loaded Houston Rockets to bring another title to Miami. He's fun and quirky and interesting. He learned Spanish, always gives introspective answers and generally loves South Florida and his life down here. We love you too, boo.
Chris Bosh is staying in Miami on a 5-Year $118 Million contract pic.twitter.com/dky3o270Bi
— SneakerFiles.com (@sneakerfiles) July 11, 2014Ironically, this was my "warm up" sketch today-
#HEATLifer @MickyArison @chrisbosh @JoyTaylorTalks @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/dNxNxQVBBS
— Rob (@RobCabrera) July 29, 2014Chris bosh was ducked off during the heat celebration this year lmaoo pic.twitter.com/KGDZyhQpJ6
— Cj McGill (@cjmcgill_4) June 21, 2013No. 1: Mario Chalmers
Or, in the immortal words of Dwyane Wade, Mario motherf'n Chalmers.
"@CM_Hooe: I'm glad to see that Miami is still yelling at Mario Chalmers." pic.twitter.com/8GT478dQQ3
— TheAfrocentricAsian (@jmood88) May 27, 2013Joakim Noah applauding Chris Bosh yelling at Mario Chalmers: pic.twitter.com/Xri2C9SVIe
— Kevin Payne (@KCPayne26) May 11, 2013Miami Heat just resigned Mario Chalmers pic.twitter.com/m4rYuNg9Nw
— Racial Draft (@TheRaceDraft) July 15, 2014Follow Ryan Cortes on Twitter.
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