FOXSPORTS.com's Alex Marvez wrote the Dolphins are "no longer the ruling franchise in South Florida sports." While the Heat lost in the NBA Finals, just reaching the championship "spurred impromptu street celebrations and a mania the Dolphins haven’t seen in decades." In addition, TV ratings "dwarfed what the Dolphins usually draw even against archrivals." South Florida "has embraced the Heat and will pay the same kind of close attention to their offseason personnel moves that was once given to the Dolphins." Dolphins CEO Mike Dee: "One team’s success does not have to come at the expense of another team’s success. We have to take care of what we can take care of. That’s putting a quality product on the field, marketing aggressively and making Sun Life Stadium a desirable place to come" (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/15).
ACE IN THE HOLE: In N.Y., Micheline Maynard notes Tigers P Justin Verlander is the team's "biggest drawing card, providing a reason for fans to climb into their cars and drive hundreds of miles from across the state and other parts of the Midwest to watch him on the mound." Verlander is second in the AL with eight wins and first in strikeouts, and Tigers fans "turn up in bigger numbers on nights when he pitches than when he doesn’t." In his seven home starts this season, the Tigers have "averaged 26,981 fans; in the 27 without him, the team has averaged 21,844" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/16).
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE: The Toronto City Council yesterday "iced any support for a second NHL team." The Council "faced off on a recommendation from the city’s economic development committee asking to send a letter to the National Hockey League expressing City Hall’s support for another hockey franchise in Toronto" in the wake of the Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. City Council member Josh Colle argued that "his motion was Toronto’s chance to make a powerplay for a team which would be an economic win for the city and not hurt" the Maple Leafs (TORONTO SUN, 6/16).
IF IT SUITS YOU: Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio last night said that he "might wear a suit on the sidelines again this fall, especially with two home Monday night games on the schedule." Del Rio "did that a few years back and then abandoned the idea" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 6/16).
