Under Huizenga's stewardship, the Marlins in '97 won the World Series in their fifth season of existenceGETTY IMAGES
Nobody had "more to do with advancing pro sports in South Florida" than former Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers Owner H. WAYNE HUIZENGA, who died Thursday at the age of 80, according to Clary, Pounds & Davis of the South Florida SUN SENTINEL. Huizenga "used his wealth and persuasiveness to bring baseball and hockey to South Florida," and in the early '90s, he owned three of South Florida's pro sports teams. Huizenga also "had a hand in building the sports teams' homes." His push to find the Panthers a "permanent place to play led to the construction" of BB&T Center. Additionally, after he bought the Dolphins in the early '90s, Huizenga "purchased their home field," Hard Rock Stadium. Under his stewardship, the Marlins in '97 "won the World Series in their fifth season" of existence while the Panthers in '96 "reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their third." Huizenga became a "polarizing figure with local sports fans." He spent "lavishly on premium free-agent players to build" the Marlins' '97 team, then "almost immediately sold them off in order to sell the franchise." He became "disillusioned when he saw that the sports business didn't adhere to the same bottom-line principles that guided his other enterprises." The Dolphins were his "first, and perhaps his only, sporting passion." He became part owner in '90, and in early '94 "completed the purchase of the team and the stadium" from the estate of JOE ROBBIE for $168M. Fifteen years later he "sold the team" to STEPHEN ROSS for $1.1B. Huizenga had said that his "No. 1 regret was that he couldn't bring a Super Bowl title to South Florida." Huizenga was "most comfortable deferring to the experts in the field running his teams, but criticism found him and confounded him" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 3/23).
A SOUTH FLORIDA GIANT: In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib writes Huizenga "claims a perch on South Florida's sports Mount Rushmore ... among those who neither played nor coached." Habib: "Without Huizenga, there might be no Miami Marlins. No Florida Panthers. No comfortable bridge between Dolphins founder Joe Robbie and current owner Stephen Ross." There also might be "little use for the term 'fire sale' in local sports lexicon" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 3/23). Former Marlins President David Samson tweeted, "Love him or not, two facts are undeniable: his charitable character and his role in bringing major sports to South Florida." Former NFLer Keith Sims: "It was an honor to be part of the @MiamiDolphins when he owned the team. He treated everyone with great respect and had such a passion to win." Miami-based WQAM-AM's Orlando Alzugaray: "A great owner who helped South Florida become a 4-Sport town."
HIS ONE TRUE LOVE: The AP's Wine & Spencer note the Dolphins were Huizenga's "first sports love," as he has "been a season-ticket holder since their inaugural season" in '66. He earned a "reputation as a hands-off owner and won raves from many loyal employees, even though he made six coaching changes" (AP, 3/23). In Miami, Cohen, Beasley & Jackson note Huizenga kept a 5% interest in the team and stadium "after selling" to Ross. During his time owning the Dolphins, Huizenga "never could match the success he experienced with his other two franchises," as the team advanced "no farther than the divisional round of the AFC playoffs." The careers of "two Dolphins icons," DON SHULA and DAN MARINO, ended "under strained circumstances while Huizenga ran the team." However, the Dolphins "remained one of the NFL's signature franchises under Huizenga's reign and reached the playoffs in his final season" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 3/23).
MORE THAN JUST SPORTS: Miami-based WPLG-ABC's Kathy Corso notes before entering the sports realm, Huizenga "had built an enviable reputation as a businessman and entrepreneur." He was "involved in the founding" of three Fortune 500 companies: Waste Management, Blockbuster and AutoNation. Huizenga and his late wife MARTI were "major philanthropists in South Florida." The couple "donated hundreds of millions to charities like the Boys & Girls Club, Humane Society and Junior Achievement World." Huizenga in '11 was designated Ft. Lauderdale's "Man of the Century" (LOCAL10.com, 3/23). ESPN's Jeff Darlington tweeted, "Some might remember Wayne Huizenga simply for his sports ownership. But as those in Florida know, especially those in South Florida, 'Mr. H' changed a community." South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Linda Trischitta: "South Florida would be a very different place if H. Wayne Huizenga hadn't built so many businesses here, supported so many charities and invested in so many pro sports franchises." Forbes' Darren Heitner: "A brilliant businessman who did a lot for South Florida sports & was a huge philanthropist. Will be missed in the community."
