Where do Messi, Tua Tagovailoa rank on our Top 10 sports stars in South Florida list?
We had a lively discussion in our weekly Palm Beach Post sports meeting on Monday.
It all started with the question of if Tyler Herro is one of the Top 12 sports stars in South Florida.
I listed Herro as a "South Florida sports star" in a post on X and was met with resounding pushback.
"Tyler Herro a 'star,'" posted @ashsantana, with a series of crying emojis.
"You snuck in Tyler Herro," replied @primetimefields.
"Herro not a star," said @perezdaniel0811.
OK, we get it.
Herro has averaged 20 points or more in three straight seasons.
Herro is a very good 3-point shooter. He's been NBA all-rookie and NBA sixth-man of the year.
He's pretty clearly Miami's third-best player.
But based on social fury, Herro is considered more of a disappointment than a star.
So, look, we're scaling back to the list to 10.
Current age of some South Florida sports stars
Lionel Messi 36
Sergei Bobrovsky 35
Jimmy Butler 34
Tyreek Hill 30
Jalen Ramsey 29
Aleksander Barkov 28
Sandy Alcantara 28
Tua Tagovailoa 26
Matthew Tkachuk 26
Bam Adebayo 26
Jazz Chisholm 26
Jaylen Waddle 25
Tyler Herro 24— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 2, 2024
We also want to be clear we're not considering players in individual sports such as tennis or golf.
And we're not considering just South Florida natives or residents.
This is Top 10 sports stars in South Florida playing now on major sports teams.
Colleagues wanted to know how I'll define star.
Does this mean the biggest international or national star?
Does this mean the player who would be most easily recognizable at the local Wawa or create the most hoopla and hysteria at the local Best Buy?
Look, a star is, as they say, easy to know when you see it.
Charisma? Gravitas? Super Skill? Fame?
Well, yeah, sure, all that stuff.
Social following? Well, I guess. But I'm thinking more about South Florida status.
Who are the most popular players in South Florida?
Who commands attention and respect and who would most South Florida residents want to meet?
For purposes of unofficial polling, I asked followers on X who they'd most like to spend a two-hour meal with.
The results?
Tua Tagovailoa: 49.4 percent.
Lionel Messi: 21.3 percent.
Jimmy Butler: 20.9 percent.
Matthew Tkachuk: 8.6 percent.
I am fully aware that the Dolphins and the NFL are my primary area of sports coverage.
Which sports star would you choose to have a 2-hour dinner with?
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 3, 2024
Clearly, Messi - 503 million Instagram followers - is a global phenomenon.
He is one of the most famous people in the world.
But specific to South Florida, I would argue that here, Tua Tagovailoa is at least as big a sports star.
Why?
Well, largely, because American football is king in this country, and it is especially king in Florida.
Quarterback of the Dolphins is like being quarterback at Notre Dame in American college football.
It's a big deal. And it always will be.
And Tua is a big, big deal.
Anyhow, here you go: our Top 10 sports stars IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
This is who we believe SOUTH FLORIDA views as THEIR biggest stars in THEIR market:
10. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
9. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
8. Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
7. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
6. Jalen Ramsey, Dolphins
5. Bam Adebayo, Heat
4. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
3. Jimmy Butler, Heat
2. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami
1. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Messi, Tua Tagovailoa and the Top 10 sports stars in South Florida
