Miami shocked the world with their incredible comeback in 2007. Reeling after an 0-3 start, the Sharks had a 1-4 record halfway through the season and were considered an afterthought in postseason discussions. GM Julio Becerra, the 2006 and 2007 USCL MVP had other plans. He played great down the stretch, and the rest of the team got their act together just in the nick of time. They had to defeat the Seattle Sluggers in the final week of the season to qualify for the postseason, and they managed to do so after a tense battle.
The Sharks had more tricks up their sleeves in the playoffs, as they eliminated the defending champs, the San Francisco Mechanics. FM Marcel Martinez won Game of the Week for his impressive opening novelty against IM Dmitry Zilberstein. This victory was made possible by Julio Becerra, as the powerful novelty that Martinez uncorked was shown to him in pre-match preparations by Becerra himself. The Sharks were finally ousted by Dallas in the SemiFinal, however they had to be happy with their play in the latter part of the season.
Sharks fans are hoping that Miami won't need any late season heroics in 2008. New manager, Gil Luna, is expecting to make some key changes to the roster. In 2007 many of the Sharks were unavailable on a regular basis and frequently breaking their commitments to play, resulting in time penalties. In 2008 the Sharks plan to ensure that all team members are 100% devoted to the team, giving them the flexibility they may need to get over the hump and battle for their first USCL Championship.
