Only 9 games remain in a regular season that has been the most interesting NBA regular season in recent memory. Of course it began with a free agency that destroyed any ounce of journalistic integrity that still existed in a world dominated by social media. Hopes were dashed and hearts were broken as Miami captured the 3 most coveted free agents of the field.
After landing Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade Miami celebrated in a fashion that left all NBA fans outside of South Florida downright pissed off. An anger that has yet to subside and may possibly only grow stronger.
The pep rally was not intended to rub it in to the other teams and fans around the league. Rather it was a celebration for dominating the most highly anticipated free agency period I have ever seen. Fans, players, coaches and local media got drunk from the hype. It was easy to fall victim to. Take this rant from Dan LeBatard for example.
Go ahead and try to convince me that any organization in the league would not have done the same exact thing in that situation. The fact is that any team in that spot would have done the same exact thing.
I even understood the initial backlash that followed. The overwhelming majority had already fallen out of favor with James following his decision. Watching him talk about winning not 5, not 6 , not 7 championships only fueled the nation’s newfound hatred.
What I do not understand however, is a segment I came across on Jim Rome’s ESPN television program. Rome was very critical of the press conferences from the Heat’s Big 3 following the victory over Houston. Not only was he unfair, but he was especially selective with the quotes he used.
Rome railed against the Heat for being proud of accomplishing something that has not happened in 50 years. Of course he failed to mention that what Miami’s trio did against Houston had not been done since 1961. Instead, he took part of a Chris Bosh quote and made it look like pure arrogance, when in reality it was a reference to a team featuring Oscar Robertson.
Rome quoted Bosh as saying, “one of the things we talked about when we came together was making history.” Bosh was simply referring to matching what Oscar Roberton, Wayne Embr and Jack Twyman of the Cincinnati Royals accomplished back in 1961. Apparently recognizing your own accolades is enough for Rome to infer that Bosh is already in a championship state of mind.
“Bosh sounds like he’s waiting on a podium and a parade,” said Rome during his broadcast. Clearly he is right. Bosh clearly had no business claiming that the Heat made history when they put up statistics that have not been seen by the NBA since the Kennedy administration and I am clearly being sarcastic.
About as sarcastic as Rome is when he congratulated Miami for beating an average Houston Rockets team.
I am obviously of the minority opinion in defending the toxic Miami Heat, but that does not mean I’m wrong. I should be used to this storm by now, but the blatant attacks on this team are so annoying. Especially when it comes every week from the same people. But it seems that the Heat has burned Jim Rome, and he will use any opportunity to slight it.