City's Best: Miami's Top Five Athletes

FanHouse is posting the top five current athletes for America's top 25 cities with the following criteria: 1) Who would a Miami sports fan say is his/her favorite athlete? 2) Would the player's name (or face) be familiar to locals who don't follow sports?

Find your city's top five: ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DC | DEN | DET | HOU | IND | LA | MIA | MIL | MIN | NO | NY | SF | PHI | PHO | PIT | SD | SEA | STL

5. Zach Thomas: When people have a conversation about the most dominating middle linebackers in the NFL, Zach Thomas' name is sure to come up. The seven-time Pro Bowler has spent his entire 11-year career with Miami and figures to eventually enter the Hall of Fame wearing their jersey. He barely beat out fellow teammate Jason Taylor for the number five honor.

4. Dontrelle Willis: Although he's having a down year, Dontrelle "D-Train" Willis is easily one of the most popular athletes in Miami and it's not because of his highly exaggerated delivery. He won the N.L. rookie of the year award in 2003 after posting a 14-6 record with a 3.30 ERA, at only 21 years of age. Willis and the Marlins also went on to defeat the dreaded New York Yankees in the World Series that year.
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3. Miguel Cabrera: José Miguel Torres Cabrera is probably the most talented and consistent baseball player that you never hear about outside of Florida. At only 24 years old and after only four and a half major league seasons, Cabrera is sporting a .313 lifetime batting average and .543 lifetime slugging percentage. Additionally, he has been named to the All-Star game in three of his first four seasons and figures to have a spot on that bench again this year.

2. Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq hasn't quite been himself since joining the Heat in 2004, but that hasn't stopped the fans from worshipping him. Forget the injuries, forget the age and forget the free throws; "The Big Daddy" only had to do one thing for Miami and he did it. He delivered on his promise to bring an NBA Championship to Miami and he'll be loved forever because of it.

1. Dwyane Wade: I don't think there is a person alive that could argue that the most successful and popular athlete donning a Miami jersey is D-Wade. In only four NBA seasons, Wade has become an icon. His numbers have gotten statistically better each year and every 8-16 year old kid playing basketball in the park dreams of being the next Flash. Wade is Miami.

Honorable Mentions: Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Ronnie Brown, Hanley Ramirez and Ed Belfour.