"Even just a few years ago, to merely raise the question would have invited incredulity if not laughter, and to dare ask it aloud might have branded you a lunatic."
"The Panthers are on top of the world in their sport as the Heat is sinking in theirs."
"One team is coming off a second straight Stanley Cup championship celebration while the other tries to move on from being swept from the first round of the playoffs by a humiliating 122 combined points."
"In sports, it's a good thing when your team is hated nationally. It's how fans convey respect."
The Florida Panthers may be surpassing the Miami Heat in the South Florida sports landscape. The Panthers are coming off consecutive Stanley Cup championships while the Heat suffered a humiliating playoff exit. The Panthers have successfully retained their key players while the Heat appear stagnant. This year marks the first time there is a debatable second-favorite team after football, as the Panthers' success contrasts sharply with the Heat's standings. National animosity towards successful teams can be a sign of respect among fans.
Read at Miami Herald
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