Miami Will Soon Be "Title Town, USA": Have Patience, South Florida Fans

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the old saying by Cato the Elder (in its many forms), that “Patience is the greatest of all virtues.”

Sitting here this Monday waiting anxiously for Game Five of the first-round series between my beloved Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, I’d have to say that while it may be a virtue, it sure in the hell is hard to have.

As Thomas Kempis once said:

“All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.”

I’ve learned in my nearly 45 years on this planet to practice patience, yet every time I’m placed in a situation where I actually have to, it’s never less difficult to do.

Perhaps this is a character flaw unique to me, and most people are able to learn to “easily” be patient as they grow older. I’m not quite buying that, but I’ll admit it just might be so.

One thing I can do, though, is implore all Miami and South Florida fans to be patient. And oh are there so many reasons for us to be.

First, while the Heat are in a very troubling predicament, down three games to one in their seven-game series with the Celtics, all Miami fans know that no matter the outcome of this postseason, Pat Riley and Mickey Arison are determined to turn this franchise into a dynasty over the summer by acquiring at least one superstar like LeBron James to pair up with Dwyane Wade.

So, in regard to the Heat, Miami fans, be patient. Come the 2010-2011 season, fans of the boys from South Beach will honestly, and with great conviction, be wondering whether the Heat will win six, or seven titles in a row.

And the Heat aren’t the only team in Miami that is looking to give its fans a reward for their patience.

The Miami Dolphins, led by Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and head coach Tony Sparano, look to be building a dynasty of their own. For the first time in my adult life, my beloved ‘Phins actually went out and got a superstar receiver, Brandon Marshall.

Don’t get me wrong; Miami has had some great receivers in the past. I remember as far back as Paul Warfield (but he was when I was a kid). I also remember Nat Moore, the Marks brothers (Duper and Clayton), as well as great wideouts like Irving Fryar, Oronde Gadsden, and Chris Chambers.

However, none of them since Paul Warfield could even come close to honestly making the claim they were the best receiver in the NFL. Brandon Marshall can easily make that claim, and considering he’s now the highest paid wideout in the league, I guess you could say he is. While he’s had a troubled past, his production on the field has been nothing short of stellar. I look forward to seeing it being done in a ‘Phins uni.

Parcells, Ireland, and Sparano didn’t just stop with acquiring Marshall. They’ve made plenty of other moves and I will trust them when it comes to building a dynasty. I think they know what they’re doing, and they have my full support. I’ll be patient and watch this team with eagerness this coming year. I would entreat all ‘Phins fans to do the same. Have a little patience. It’s likely to be rewarded soon.

Then, of course, you have the Florida Marlins, who despite the fact they lost a series for the first time this year this past weekend to the Colorado Rockies, are still doing well and show a lot of promise for this year with a bunch of great young, starting pitchers, and even more impressive young bats. I think Marlins fans have nothing but hope for this season and beyond.

And beyond is just around the corner, as the Marlins move into their new digs in time for the 2012 season and become the Miami Marlins. Have patience with them, Miami fans; they’ll reward you big time. Hell, anyone who knows anything knows they’ve already rewarded their fans with two titles. How many other expansion franchises can say that? None (well, Arizona has one title, but the question was about two…lol).

You also have some great things looking like they may develop with the Florida Panthers of the NHL (they certainly have tons and tons of young talent, especially in net), and the Miami Hurricanes (all three programs; baseball, football, and basketball), seem to be on fairly good tracks (although I’m not a huge fan of Haith).

So, have just a little patience, South Florida fans. I have the feeling very soon Miami is gonna be known as Title Town like no other city has been in the past. I can easily imagine the Dolphins, Heat, and Marlins, along with the ‘Canes baseball and football programs all winning championships in the same year (possibly even multiple times).

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote:

“All things come round to him who will but wait.”

I truly believe that.