Christian Yelich is easy to overlook. Unlike his cartoonishly muscular teammate Giancarlo Stanton, he doesn't resemble Dwayne Johnson. He isn't flashy and lightning-quick like second baseman Dee Gordon. The man they call "Yelly" is more a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race kind of ballplayer. If you're looking for all the bells, whistles, bat-flipping, and over-the-top swag, you've come to the wrong place. But the thing is, the list of those unimportant things Yelich doesn't have is dwarfed by the vital roles he plays for this Fish team. In 2016-17, Yelich exploded in the second half of the season, yanking pitches into the outfield stands more often than he ever has before. He finished with 21 home runs and 98 RBI. Maybe most important, Yelich missed only seven of the Marlins' 162 games. On a team that had a lot of ups and downs, Yelich was a reliable leader in the middle of the lineup and the corner of the outfield. Yelly should be in Miami for years to come, and for beleaguered Fish fans, that's a rare bit of great news. Now if Jeffrey Loria would just sell the team already.

Readers' choice: Giancarlo Stanton

Cats fans had to put their rubber rats back in storage last year. After pulling off a surprising run to the playoffs in 2015-16 and making their signature favorite rodent rain all over the ice, the Florida Panthers regressed last season, stumbling to a mediocre 81 points and missing out on the postseason. But even without any fake-rodent fun, fans weren't totally without reason to cheer thanks to Vincent Trocheck. The 23-year-old continued his rise to NHL stardom, tallying 23 goals and 31 assists while playing all 82 games. Trocheck was a constant in an ever-changing lineup, making it clearer every night that he — along with fellow youngsters Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau — is the future of the team. With Trocheck in the center of the ice, the Panthers have a cornerstone to build around, and fans have a reason to continue stockpiling those rats.

Among pro sports presidents, Pat Riley has been in a class all his own for decades. But the 2016-17 Miami Heat was an accomplishment right up there with luring LeBron James to Dade County and assembling the Big Three. When the Heat started the season 11-30, that sentiment would have seemed insane. The team's blazing-hot second half, though, when it flipped its record to go 30-11, showed that the Godfather knew exactly what he was up to, even when he was thrown massive curve balls such as Chris Bosh's medically induced retirement and Dwyane Wade's shock defection to Chicago. Between the signings of James Johnson, Dion Waiters, and Wayne Ellington and development of Rodney McGruder and Willie Reed, Riley put together a completely revamped roster on the fly. Not even the most diehard Heat fan saw this year's team becoming an all-time favorite. And now Riley has the Heat in a perfect spot to compete in the near future. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame for many reasons, but this year's performance in the front office shows he's not resting on his reputation. Bet against Riley at your own risk.

For Miami basketball fans, Tony Fiorentino is family. He's been with the Heat since day one, starting in 1988 as an assistant coach under then-head coach Ron Rothstein and then keeping that job under both Pat Riley and Alvin Gentry. In 2004, Fiorentino moved to the TV booth as the team's main color commentator. After 13 years of him calling games, his sayings have become downright synonymous with Heat basketball, especially his ringing "Yeah, baby!" after big dunks or game-winning three-pointers. Fiorentino is basically the Italian uncle most of Miami has never had. His lovable demeanor and smiling face alongside longtime lead Heat analyst Eric Reid have become a damn near tradition in Dade County. Yes, Fiorentino is an unapologetic homer, but he isn't afraid to mix in moments of "I'm really disappointed in you now" dad dialogues when the team messes up. After several seasons of turmoil — from the Big Three breakup to Dwyane Wade's shocking defection to Chicago — it's nice to know that one member of the Heat Lifer family will always be around for the big games.

Readers' choice: Donovan Campbell

From the early days of D-Wade through the rise and fall of the Big Three, one constant has stood on the Miami Heat's sideline for more than a decade. No, not Burnie. Jason Jackson patrols the hardwood as courtside reporter for Heat telecasts, hosting in-game spots and postgame "Winners Circle" interviews. Known for proudly rocking an ascot, Jackson also hosts the team's Emmy Award-winning Inside the Heat series that could become a spinoff show in its own right. His smooth style is intoxicating, and his demeanor makes players comfortable enough to let loose instead of giving the robotic answers they're usually programmed to spit out at the mere hint of a reporter's voice. Whenever Jackson hits Heat fans before tip-off with his trademark "It's time to ball, y'all," it's a ticket to goose-bumps city.

For decades, Miami has struggled to find its center. With downtown largely a ghost town and towering new condos largely vacant for years after the Great Recession, the Magic City often felt like an urban metropolis without a core. That's all changed. Just look at the huge protest marches that broke out after Donald Trump's inauguration; the tens of thousands who gathered sent a powerful message that Miami now firmly has a focal point. And there's no surprise that it's right along Biscayne Bay, where Miami is stockpiling evidence of its transformation into a world-class city. Begin with Bayfront Park Amphitheater, a strikingly beautiful space that hosts everything from huge national musical acts to weekly free yoga classes. Next comes Bayside Marketplace, the spot to take your visiting relatives shopping when they want a photo of themselves with a parrot on their shoulder. Then you hit American Airlines Arena, home of our beloved Miami Heat and a stop for the biggest musical tours in the world, from Kanye to Radiohead. Finally comes the open greenery of Museum Park and the venues that gave the park its name, Pérez Art Museum Miami and the long-awaited Frost Museum of Science. It feels good to have a center.

We cannot confirm whether Will Manso's apartment smells of rich mahogany and leather-bound books, but this much is clear: Manso is sort of a big deal. When he's not a part of the sports segment on the nightly WPLG Local 10 news, he's in the studio for the Miami Heat's pregame and postgame shows on Fox Sports Sun. When he isn't in either of those places, he's appearing on 790 AM the Ticket. If you miss him all of those places, a bus drives by, and there he is, plastered across it. He's everywhere, and for good reason: You can always count on him to get you ready for that night's Heat game or the upcoming Dolphins matchup. Manso, who was raised in South Florida and graduated from the University of Miami, doesn't pretend he's not a homer, but he also doesn't pull out his pompoms. You stay classy, Will Manso.

Do you like dogs? What about naked people? Or kites? You've gotta like kites! OK, that combination might make a strange Venn diagram of hobbies, but bear with us: The point is there is one beach in Miami-Dade where all of these interests come together, and it's at Haulover Park. The 1.4-mile stretch of white sand is one of only two public beaches operated by the county, and it sits on 177 acres of glorious barrier island. On the north end of the park sits the self-proclaimed "best clothing-optional beach" in America. You'll know you've hit it when you reach signs warning, "Attention: Beyond this point you may encounter nude bathers." The south area of the park, meanwhile, is home to the county's only canine-friendly beaches, where dogs are welcome to romp through the surf from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. every day (and till dusk in the dog park itself). To top it off, as the only stretch for miles without any beachfront high-rises, Haulover boasts incredible winds that make it an ideal spot for an annual kite-flying festival every February. Grab your dog and your kite or just leave your clothes at home, and head to Haulover.

Strolling on the recently renovated pier at South Pointe Park is already cheap enough. For the low price of zero dollars, you can walk along the Atlantic Ocean, bask in beautiful sunrises in the morning, and watch massive cruise ships float by a few feet away in Government Cut in the late afternoon. But unlike the rickety old pier that used to be a favorite spot for teenagers to do backflips into the channel, there's now a strictly enforced no-jumping rule at the new structure. Luckily, right next to the pier is a long rock jetty that juts into the ocean seemingly forever. Hopping from rock to rock tests your agility as you try to reach the horizon while waves crash below and churn up salty spray. How far will you go? And more important, just how big was the crab you just saw scurry under that stone?

No matter who you are or where you're from, there's one thing we all have in common: We are going to die. If that thought freaks you out, you might take comfort in finding out whether something awaits on the other side. The Deering Estate, the more than 450-acre homestead of South Florida industrialist Charles Deering, is said to be one of Miami-Dade's most haunted places, rife with paranormal activity. Guests have reported seeing the ghosts of everyone from a Native American to a little boy who likes to move furniture. Why not check it out yourself with the help of some professional ghost hunters? The Deering Estate holds regular ghost tours, but you can also set up your own private ghostly encounter. You'll have the run of the estate and the use of divining rods, EVP meters, and digital recorders to discover all manner of things that go bump in the night. The private tour: $1,000. Knowing there's life after death: Priceless.