From the Rafters

If I had an idea of starting a sports blog, this is it! This is the time!

All my life I have rooted for teams from distant places. In 1990 I moved to Miami. The Miami Heat was just in their second year. The Dolphins and the Hurricanes were already here; I moved into their town. I did not feel a sense of belonging. But I did with the Heat. In those first years I remember loving going to those games. Back then, you could get good seats, and it seemed like everytime I went there was a nice give away; hats, bags, t-shirts.

Before Miami, my only NBA experiences came from the old MECCA arena, home of the Milwaukee Bucks. A place where, as a college student, I saw the greats Magic and Bird, and where I was able to slap fives with Dr. J and, on his first NBA (pre-season) game, one Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Back in those days, I was attending a small, Jesuit, college, better known for its basketball history, Marquette University.

Forward to spring 2000. I had configured my internet provider to send me emails news from Marquette basketball. A name kept popping up; Dwyane Wade. In the Spring of 2003, Marquette reaches its first final four since winning the NCAA championship in 1977 behind #3. That Summer, the NBA draft was taking place. Miami had secured the 5th pick. The projections were that Miami would pick Wade. The Marquee names for that draft, a high school phenomena named LeBron James, and the revelation of that year's NCAA Tournament, Carmelo Anthony. I was praying Dwyane would land in Miami so that I could go see him.

In his first year, under the shadow of LeBron and Carmelo he puts on a show at the rookie game that was part of the all-star weekend. He was putting a show all year long and people missed it under the hoopla. Unlike LeBron and Carmelo's teams, Miami makes it to the playoffs on the 2003-04 season.

In July 2004, I am out of town in Business; in Los Angeles. The news that day that Shaquille O'Neal had been traded to Miami. I still have my copy of the Los Angeles Times. He gets to Miami and while shooting a water gun promises 'a parade on Biscayne Bay'. The 2004-2005 season sees the Heat losing to eventual champions Detroit Pistons on a 7th game. Wade and Shaq had been playing hurt during the series.

And then came this season. I bought partial season tickets knowing that was going to be the best way to go to all playoffs and championship games. By then, the world knew who Dwyane Wade was. At every game you could hear the fans chanting MVP. But he trascendentally grew in stature in the biggest stage of all. He has become the only thing comparable to Michael Jordan, only in his third season, making the basket when was needed, grabbing the rebound, making the steal or the block. having the best selling jersey in the NBA.

And the first NBA team that I adopted as mine, who I love, today has won its first championship, behind a classy 24 year old whom I admire not only because of his abilities, but because he is one of those nice guys that do not come too often. And whom I share an important phase of both of our lives.

Thanks for this experience! Thanks Dwyane, Thanks Heat!
CONGRATULATIONS!! Somewhere Queen is playing, "We are the Champions"!

# posted by TMelendez @ 9:41 PM