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APIf you review every NFL, MLB and NBA season during the past quarter-century, you’ll find that only four sports regions have finished dead last in two of those leagues in seasons starting in the same year.
There was South Florida in the seasons starting in 2007, with the Heat and Dolphins. Here were the other three.
Chicago, 2000
Start with the last overall Cubs (MLB) and Bulls (NBA). The Bears (NFL) and Blackhawks (NHL) were lousy, too. Still, at least the White Sox (MLB) finished with the best record in the American League.
Southern California, 1994
The Clippers (NBA) were last overall, naturally. The Padres and Angels tied for last overall in baseball’s strike-shortened season. The Rams (NFL) finished 5-11. The Kings and Mighty Ducks (NHL) missed the playoffs, and the Dodgers (MLB) were headed toward a similar fate. The San Diego Chargers did make the Super Bowl, however.
Northern California, 1984
The region was a two-time ultimate loser, with the Giants (MLB) and Warriors (NBA), who tied with the Indiana Pacers for the most defeats. But Bay Area fans could take joy and comfort in the San Francisco 49ers’ nearly flawless march to a Super Bowl.
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The list of last-overall cities expands by one if you include intrastate teams, such as the 2002 Cincinnati Bengals and 2002-03 Cleveland Cavaliers that embarrassed Ohio. It grows by another if you include the NHL: the 2007-08 Tampa Bay Lightning finished in a tie for last, and the 2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays had the cellar to themselves.
The list swells by two more if you are really relax the rules, and include both NHL and intrastate teams in the calculation. The 2005 Kansas City Royals and 2005-06 St. Louis Blues that failed to show up for the Show-Me State. And neither the 1998 Florida Marlins nor 1998-99 Tampa Bay Lightning brought supporters much sunshine.
Yet, on the peninsula, 1998 was light years better than 2007.
The state actually swept the four basements.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays recorded baseball’s most losses in 2007, while the 2007-08 Lightning tied the Los Angeles Kings for the NHL’s fewest points.
At least the Northwest Floridians could take solace in the playoff appearances of the Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
South Floridians had nothing.
So they’ll find optimism in just about anything.
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The NFL Draft, which will begin with the Dolphins taking Long and then picking twice in the second round, represents hope. So does the Heat’s lottery shot, which could mean a chance to choose Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose. So does the Marlins’ surprisingly decent start. So does a coaching change for the Panthers.
The Dolphins had the only perfect season, back in 1972. The Heat and Marlins won three championships between 1997 and 2006. Even the Panthers made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996.
What if newfound hope is justified?
What if the franchises rise to previous prominence?
Will fans appreciate it more?
“I think at least initially, that will be the case,” Sedano said. “But I think that will be short-lived.”
Alzugaray agrees. He thinks South Florida fans are spoiled, especially after recent championships by relatively young franchises.
“People don’t look at the big picture and appreciate something that Cubs fans haven’t been able to enjoy for 100 years,” Alzugaray said. “That’s where it is taken for granted. This is a big event town. Fans are interested when you’re in it and, when you’re not, they’re out of it.”
Lately, the only big events have been the drafts, like the one this Saturday.
That’s the only time that South Florida’s teams are listed first.
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Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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