Originally posted to the official Miami Heat forum http://fans.heat.nba.com/community/index.php?/topic/16471-why-im-a-heat-fan/
I'd always hated on basketball, mainly because it's not hockey. Sure, it's fun to play a game of pickup once in a while or shoot 21, but what a wimpy sport, c'mon. Why can't you lay a body check? Where's the slapshots, the goalies? Did I mention the "inventor" of basketball Naismith was Canadian? That's all I knew about the sport.
Had only ever watched one game live, back when the Vancouver Grizzlies were around. It was just "okay".
Fast forward 15 years, it's 2010. Chris Bosh going to Miami. Okay I've heard of him, he played with the Raptors, right? And what's with this Lebron James character. That name sounds familiar. I guess he's supposed to be pretty good.
So me and my old man happened to be planning a trip to Miami, and decided to catch a Heat game instead of a Florida Panthers hockey game, which would have been our default. "Dad, I can go watch an Edmonton Oilers game any time I want. Let's try something new."
So we picked up a pair of tickets in "uptown". I was fairly impressed with this Lebron's play.
"Lot's of people have Wade jerseys, who is he?"
"I dunno, maybe they drafted him?"
LITTLE DID I KNOW! Never watched another game again that year on TV or live. Fast forward another year. I'm in Florida again for my holidays. And towards the end I'm looking for stuff to do. There happens to be a three game home-stand. Okay I'll get tickets. Went to three games. Haven't missed a SINGLE Heat game since then, in January '12.
I love the game now. It's still new to me. I've learned so much from watching it, and even applied it to playing defence in hockey! (i'm not the first- it was the USSR hockey teams who first started running picks that they stole from watching B-Ball, so the legend says).
I love watching a big guy like bosh with his gangly arms having such fancy footwork. It just amazes me. Lebron is one of the most impressive all round athletes out there Imagine if he'd have been a hockey player. Who knows! Wade is just a beauty to watch too! Then I got to know all the other players too.
I'll always be a Heat fan. Love the city, love the team, the arena, THE WEATHER, THE BEACH. Even if they are last place every year I'll still be a HEAT fan for life! Even though I'm a hockey fan at heart (nothing beats skating, around with a club in your hand to bash people), the Miami Heat are my favourite pro sports team of all time.
To all you locals, do yourselves a favour and go check out a Panthers game sometime. You may discover a new passion. I've met several "converts" at Panthers games.
Team Canada fan for life since '81
Hockey Fan for life since '81
Basketball fan since '12
HEAT FOR LIFE since '12
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