Two African-Americans with South Florida ties appear in the Sporting News’ list of the top 10 most influential black sports personalities: Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Finance Jonathan Mariner.

The list was developed in recognition of Black History Month and the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

Tiger Woods tops the list, which also includes Michael Jordan (4) and Super Bowl XLI winning Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy (8).

Wade, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP who led the Heat to its first-ever NBA championship, was ranked seventh. Despite shrugging off comparisons to Jordan, the magazine wrote: “Wade has emerged as the NBA's most marketable player -- a humble, family-oriented guy with absurd on-floor abilities. He has boosted Converse into market respectability, appears in popular car, cell phone and sports drink commercials and his jersey has been the NBA's top seller. Wade may not be Jordan, but he's the most like Mike since the league had Mike.”

Mariner, who previously served as executive vice president of the Marlins and still has a home in South Florida, ranked ninth. He joined Major League Baseball as chief financial officer in 2002. The Sporting News writes: “Mariner's reputation as an astute accountant might be unmatched in sports, plus he is a black belt in shaolin kung fu. Good thing he has that fighting spirit -- he took over a financial mess as MLB's CFO in 2002 and has helped direct baseball to better financial times. Ultimately, his job focus is to get owners to keep their balance sheets clean. Knowing Mariner could drop the whirling horse maneuver on them, most listen.”