Memo To All the Miami Heat Haters: Deal With It

I just read yet another article filled with hateful complaints about the new-look Miami Heat.  This time, it was an article in the latest gossip-riddled Sports Illustrated.

As a die-hard Heat fan, I was ecstatic to hear that both Chris Bosh and LeBron James were signing contracts to play with the Heat along side Dwyane Wade. That excitement was quickly tempered, though, as I read blogs, articles, and reader comments bashing the trio for coming together to form one team rather than continuing down their own professional paths as opponents.

I've been a Heat fan since day one: November 5, 1988.  I remember the 17-game losing streak.  I remember the team's first victory: oddly enough, on my birthday, December 14, against the LA Clippers.  I remember the Heat's first Home win versus the Jazz on December 23.

I remember "G-Money" Glen Rice, Steve Smith, Grant Long, and the franchise-debilitating waste known as Harold Miner.  I remember watching the Heat's first winning season in 1993-94, and the epic playoff series that it produced: No. 8 Miami vs. No. 1 Atlanta, an utter brawl (literally) from start to finish.

Year after year I've watched teams stockpile talent and retool their rosters to make their own championship runs.  But never in my life have I seen such a public backlash as what I've seen the past few weeks in the aftermath of Wade-James-Bosh-apalooza 2010.

In certain circles, I expected the hatred.  Being a Heat fan and a Miami native, I expect all of New York to hate us down here.  We hate them right back.  We wish PJ Brown could body slam every New Yorker like he did Charlie Ward back in the late 90's.  It's a healthy sports rivalry, and the hatred ends when the clock hits 0:00.  New Yorkers will talk smack until they book their vacations in SoFla.

Apart from the Big Apple, I'm shocked and stunned at how others are painting the "Three Amigos," or, "Tres Leches" as many of the locals are calling them. 

Dwyane Wade made a great point on National TV.  He said that every superstar in the NBA had a few great players around them: Wilt, Kareem, Larry, Michael, Kobe, Shaq, Bill Russell.  No one player led a dynasty on his own.  It seems that the media and many armchair loud-mouths have lost sight of this point. 

There's no Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen (how did Jordan do in a Wizards uniform?) or Tony Kukoc or Dennis Rodman.  Isiah Thomas and Bill Lambier would never have faired well on opposing rosters.  Remove Magic from Kareem and those two aren't winning multiple titles.  And if memory serves, wasn't Kobe Bryant whining about having no support, and threatening to leave, during the Lakers' recent dry spell?

The venom spewed at LeBron has been unwarranted, resentful, and childish.  To say that James tarnished his legacy by coming to Miami—D Wade's team—is ridiculous.  It was obvious to everyone on this planet who possesses the gift of sight that Dan Gilbert has no idea how to assemble a world-class roster, (let alone an appropriate email), starting with the front office, the coaching staff, and the players.  James gave Cleveland seven years to put a contender together.  That was a failure.

So James ends up in Miami.  I don't like how some writers have coined his maneuver "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."  LeBron's nemesis has never been Dwyane Wade.  Nor has it ever been Chris Bosh.  Just like the Celtics (twice), the Lakers (numerous times), the Bulls (twice), and the Pistons, the Heat are attempting to construct a championship roster that will have the opportunity to win multiple titles. 

There isn't a single player in the NBA that can win a title on his own with no help from other superstars (check that—D Wade did it in '06 with a group of has-been's and never-was's while Shaq rode the pine, but nothing like that will ever happen again). 

Because LeBron (1) left Cleveland (what great athlete doesn't leave Cleveland in every scenario), and (2) teamed up with two other All-Stars, he's ruined his legacy?  Please.  I heard Michael Jordan's words.  I heard Charles Barkley's words.  I heard all the jersey burners in Cleveland.  Apparently, Jordan forgot he had an All-Star team and a hall-of-fame coach helping him fill his trophy case.  Apparently, Barkley forgot the amazing rosters he got to take the court with every night; rosters that also paved his way into the Hall.

What people seem to ignore is that these three guys haven't accomplished anything in their careers yet.  Wade has ONE championship, and it was four years ago.  Bosh and James haven't done much in this league yet when comparing them to "the greats."  Writers keep saying, "Jordan and Magic would have never teamed up to win championships." Really?  If Magic went seven years without a title, and didn't have Pat Riley on the bench, and had an opportunity to go to a high-caliber team for less money, he wouldn't have done it? 

I'm not even going to get into Jordan, because he was surrounded by talent from year four or five on.  Jordan might have left, too, if things went sour because that's what players do: they get paid (first and foremost), then they follow that ellusive dream of hoisting a trophy.  Once he realizes he doesn't have a chance in his current town, it's time to go.

I've read that many are disgusted at Miami's celebration, when the big three had a few moments on stage to talk to the fans about the upcoming season.  Really?  Obviously, those people aren't familiar with Miami.  "Dis iz how we do," (sic) is all I can say. 

We partied like the world was coming to an end when Shaq signed here; we had a championship parade in front of a quarter of a million people in 98 degree heat when the Heat won it in '06; the city goes wild when the Hurricanes win NCAA championships in football; we even had a parade when the Panthers got swept out of the NHL Finals in '96.  "Miami" equals "party," and if you don't already know that, have your pulse checked. 

No one ever bats an eye when the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Boston Celtics, and LA Lakers devour the lion's share of talent every offseason.  It's what they do, and we've come to expect it over the years.  Now that a team from Miami is doing it, though, there is outrage, uproar and the inevitable "Haters."  All I can say is: deal with it. 

There's nothing unfair about it.  And trust me: there's no forgone conclusion about titles down here.  Anyone that thinks the Heat are going to just roll up to Arenas across the U.S., go 82-0, and take a title is an idiot.  This league is too good, and there's too much talent out there. 

I'm glad my team looks this strong, and proud of Riley's maneuvers, and if you're jealous, resentful, and full of hate, eat a Rolaids.  It's the Heat's time to shine.