Times have been better in Miami. They're taking a bit of... um... uh.... well, you know... for not living up to everyone's insane expectations (including their own). And its not just the team that has been less than expected. The fans haven't exactly stepped up either (exhibit A: the scene at the buzzer in an OT thriller vs. Utah. That's a lot of empty seats).
So the Heat have resorted to flat out BEGGING fans to act like fans.
Yes, what you're reading in that photo is an INSTRUCTIONAL HAND OUT on how to be a basketball fan. If that's not bad enough... there's a VIDEO to go with it... asking people to show up on time and to cheer.
Let that sink in for a minute. The Heat are handing out a manual and an instructional video on how to be a fan.
But wait... there's more.
A writer for Esquire.com had some particularly harsh words about LeBron... calling him "The whore of Akron." Miami's response: They banned the guy.
Touchy, touchy.
I'm on record as saying the Heat deserve a little humble pie after the events of this summer. I think they came off as celebrating a title like it was suddenly their birthright. So a little early-season struggling is a nice little dose of humility. But I had no idea that the Heat were so desperate. Begging fans and banning a guy for expressing an opinion (an extremely harsh and bitter one, but an opinion nonetheless) comes off pretty bad. It smacks of a franchise more interested in image than substance.
"Please, fans, make us look good. And no, Mr. writer, you can't say bad things. Away with you. Smiles everyone. SMILES!!"
If anyone needs an instruction manual, it the Heat front office. You guys have no idea how to handle the big time... and this makes it pretty obvious.