The regular season is set to begin in mere hours. But before the sounds of frenzied cheering rain down across Biscayne Boulevard, the Miami Heat want you to proudly remember every moment of the team’s 26-year history.
A new short film produced by the team captures the essence of South Florida and the feeling of being a part of the “Heat Nation.” The film was posted on the team’s website on Tuesday or you can watch it below:
Narrated by Hall-of-Famer Alonzo Mourning, this stylish video highlights key moments in Heat history – from the team’s first opening night in 1989 (at the old Miami Arena, no less) to Ray Allen‘s iconic Game 6 shot in the 2013 NBA Finals.
Players from this year’s team are shown at various points throughout the film, mostly staring with grim determination. It’s an attitude that embodies the team’s dedication and championship culture. As Mourning says at one point, “We are the hardest-working, best conditioned, most professional, most unselfish, toughest, meanest, most disliked team in the NBA…and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
While everybody from Dwyane Wade to Justin Hamilton get some face time, the true focus is on the diverse community that encompasses the Heat Nation. A list of neighborhoods throughout Miami-DadeWade County are mentioned as images of fans celebrating at home, in bars, on the street and at the AmericanAirlines Arena flash across the screen.
It’s a true microcosmic look at life in South Florida. Bikini-clad beachgoers proudly wear their Heat colors. Octogenarians slap dominoes in Jose Marti Park while drinking Cuban coffee from cups bearing the team’s logo. Streetball is played under the overpass of I-95. The glittering beauty of Ocean Drive. And the loud, frenetic chaos of pots and pans – “not used for cooking” as Mourning reminds us – clang in celebration of the team’s three championships.
It’s a powerful reminder that a team that underwent vast change this summer is sill committed to excellence and that a much-maligned fan base is truly passionate about Heat basketball. The season tips off soon and while there are many questions that remain unanswered, one thing is made abundantly clear by the video: We are all part of Heat Nation.
Enjoy the film and the regular season.
And most of all, let’s go Heat.