Spectator Sports

Check the Miami Herald's sports section for a daily listing of local events and the paper's Friday "Weekend" section for comprehensive coverage and in-depth reports. For last-minute tickets, call the venue directly, since many season ticket holders sell singles and return unused tickets. Expensive tickets are available from brokers or individuals listed in the classified sections of the local papers. Some tickets are also available through Ticketmaster (tel. 305/358-5885; www.ticketmaster.com).

Baseball

The 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins shocked the sports world in 1997 when it became the youngest expansion team to win a World Series, but then floundered as its star players were sold off by former owner Wayne Huizenga. The team shocked the sports world again in 2003 by winning the World Series, and turned many of Miami's apathetic sports fans into major-league ball fans. The Marlins are not that good anymore after trading its best players, and rumor has it that the team is looking to move to another state. The Maine Marlins? Sounds fishy. Anyway, if you're interested in catching a game, be warned: The summer heat in Miami can be unbearable, even in the evenings.

Home games are held at Dolphin Stadium, 2269 NW 199th St., North Miami Beach (tel. 305/623-6200). Tickets cost from $4 to $50. Box office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm and before games; tickets are also available through Ticketmaster. The team currently holds spring training in Melbourne, Florida.

Basketball

The Miami Heat (tel. 786/777-1000), once again led by celebrity coach Pat Riley and featuring star player Shaquille O'Neal, is one of Miami's hottest tickets, especially since the team won the NBA championship in 2006. Courtside seats are full of visiting celebrities. The season lasts from October to April, with most games beginning at 7:30pm. The team plays in the brand-new waterfront American Airlines Arena, downtown on Biscayne Boulevard. Tickets are $14 to $100 or much more. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm (until 8pm on game nights); tickets are also available through Ticketmaster (tel. 305/358-5885).

Football

Miami's golden boys are the Miami Dolphins, the city's most recognizable team, followed by thousands of "dolfans." The team plays at least eight home games during the season, between September and December, at Dolphin Stadium, 2269 NW 199th St., North Miami Beach (tel. 305/620-2578). Tickets cost between $20 and much, much more. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm; tickets are also available through Ticketmaster (tel. 305/358-5885; www.ticketmaster.com).

Horse Racing

Located on the Dade-Broward County border in Hallandale (just north of North Miami Beach/Aventura) is Gulfstream Park Casino and Racing, at U.S. 1 and Hallandale Beach Boulevard (tel. 305/931-7223; www.gulfstreampark.com), South Florida's very own version of the Kentucky Derby, but without the hats. This horse track is a haven for serious gamblers and voyeurs alike. Large purses and important races are commonplace at this sprawling suburban course, and the track is typically crowded, especially after receiving a multimillion-dollar face-lift that has added to the park a brand-new flashy casino, nightclubs, and restaurants. Admission and parking are free unless you want to go to Gulfstream's dance club Serenata, where there's a $20 cover after 10pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. January through March, post times are 1:30pm on weekdays and 1pm on weekends. It's closed Tuesday. And while not exactly racing, a newish event that takes place on the sands of South Beach is the Miami Beach Polo Cup, featuring hard-core sand-kicking polo matches, a parade of the ponies down the beach, and chic parties. General admission to matches throughout the weekend is free to the public, while VIP tickets are available for those seeking more than a view from the sidelines and for coveted events outside of the arena. Visit www.miamipolo.com.

Ice Hockey

The young Florida Panthers (tel. 954/835-7000) have already made history. In the 1994-95 season, the team played in the Stanley Cup finals, and it has amassed a legion of loving fans. Much to the disappointment of Miamians, the Panthers moved to a new venue in Sunrise, the next county north of Miami-Dade, more than an hour from downtown Miami. Call for directions and ticket information.

Jai Alai

Jai alai, sort of a Spanish-style indoor lacrosse, was introduced to Miami in 1924 and is regularly played in two Miami-area frontons (the buildings in which jai alai is played). Although the sport has roots stemming from ancient Egypt, the game, as it's now played, was invented by Basque peasants in the Pyrenees Mountains during the 17th century. Players use cesetas, curved wicker baskets strapped to their wrists, to hurl balls, called pelotas, at speeds that sometimes exceed 170 mph. Spectators, who are protected behind a wall of glass, place bets on the evening's players. The Florida Gaming Corporation owns the jai alai operations throughout the state, making betting on this sport as legal as buying a lottery ticket.

Jai Alai Explained -- Jai alai originated in the Basque country of northern Spain, where players used church walls as their courts. The game looks very much like lacrosse, actually, with rules similar to handball or tennis. The game is played on a court with numbered lines. What makes the game totally unique, however, is the requirement that the ball must be returned in one continuous motion. The server must bounce the ball behind the serving line and, with the basket, must hurl the ball to the front wall, with the aim being that, upon rebound, the ball will bounce between lines four and seven. If it doesn't, it is an under- or overserve and the other team receives a point.

The Miami Jai Alai Fronton, 3500 NW 37th Ave., at NW 35th Street (tel. 305/633-6400), is America's oldest fronton, dating from 1926. It schedules 13 games per night, which typically last 10 to 20 minutes, but can occasionally go much longer. Admission is free. There are year-round games. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, there are matinees only, which run from noon to 5:30pm. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, there are matinees in addition to evening games, from 7pm to midnight. The fronton is closed on Tuesday. This is the main location where jai alai is played in Miami. The other South Florida jai alai venue is in Dania, near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.