The Heat Off the Court
The game was a bust for Heat fans, but in true Heat-fashion there were plenty of other items to catch the eye at Tuesday’s opening night ring ceremony and banner raising.

AmericanAirlines Arena has been decked out in championship fashion with large photos from the team’s playoff run ringing the event level. South Florida artist Lebo (David LeBatard) has brought his playful painting
to “Uptown” the new name for the upper levels of the arena.
The store is stocked with new merchandise with many items featuring the championship trophy.
The NBA also has new items for sale this year, such as bathing suits and board shorts with team logos.

HEAT IN HD
On television, Sun Sports will begin airing the first of 20 Heat games in High Definition starting with Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle SuperSonics.
Meanwhile, the Heat ranks as only the third favorite NBA team in an ESPN Sports Poll in which 13,843 fans responded. The Los Angeles Lakers were first; the Chicago Bulls, who beat up on the Heat Tuesday, were second.
CRAIG DAVIS In more than 33 years at the Sun Sentinel, Craig Davis has written about a wide variety of sports topics from baseball to yachting, fishing to triathlons, and also worked as a copy editor and page designer. Recently he reported on local sports, including running, swimming, cycling, equestrian and beach volleyball. He enjoys sports as a participant as well as a spectator, is active in the South Florida running scene plays in the curling club at Saveology Iceplex. This blog offers a glimpse at the business side of sports in the interest of enhancing enjoyment of the games and sporting options as a spectator as well as a participant.