dickface
07-05-2010, 11:46 AM
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-dwyane-wade-arrival-s070510,0,7054933.story
Heat plan to greet Wade at Miami airport fizzles, as guard returns
MIAMI — For the first time since the NBA free-agency period began last week, the Miami Heat has Dwyane Wade back on its home turf.
Only, like so much that has gone on during these first few frantic days of the league's personnel period, the team found itself misconnecting with the All-Star guard.
With the Heat summoning fans early Monday morning to greet Wade at the Signature Air terminal at Miami International Airport, the rally wound up missing its leading man when Wade instead arrived at the airport's main terminal.
"We had conflicting information on the airline," Heat Executive Vice President Michael McCullough told the 50 or so fans gathered at 8:15 a.m. at the Signature Air terminal.
In addition to McCullough, team executives Andy Elisburg and Kim Stone represented the team at the hastily called event.
"We love him," McCullough told the assembled media, which included reporters and camera crews. "We're not the only ones, and we hope that he comes back.
"It's time for him to make a decision, and we want to help him make that decision by showing him all the support he has from fans in South Florida and around the world."
The Heat was attempting to emulate the embrace the Cleveland Cavaliers offered their star free agent, forward LeBron James, last week in Cleveland, when fans lined downtown streets as James entered for a series of meetings with teams interested in signing him. Those rallies drew hundreds of fans, with the Heat meeting for almost three hours with James on Friday.
Monday's attempted welcome was the latest effort by the team to show its support for the player that helped lead it to the 2006 NBA championship. Wade is considering competing contract offers from the Heat and his hometown Chicago Bulls.
Wade met briefly with the Heat's recruiting team last week in Chicago, where he had been spending recent weeks with family.
While teams were able to begin free-agent negotiations July 1, signings are not allowed until Thursday, when the 2010-11 NBA salary cap will be announced. Wade has a six-year, $125 million contract offer on the table from the Heat. The most the Bulls, as an outside team, can offer is $96 million over five seasons.
Early Monday morning, on its official Twitter site, the Heat issued consecutive posts that Wade was scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. at the Signature Air terminal at Miami International Airport, rallying fans to greet him.
While the turnout was modest, it perhaps was not surprising, since word of Wade's return was not put out by the team until about 1 a.m. Monday.
While Wade is scheduled for a Tuesday morning promotional appearance in Davie at Nova Southeastern University, where he is operating a youth basketball camp, the early return could signal additional meetings with Heat management.
It was confirmed to the Sun Sentinel late Sunday that Wade would be meeting with Heat owner Micky Arison, and possibly others from the team, this week.
Wade confirmed his return on his Twitter feed, posting: "Back in MIA excited about the D. Wade All-Star Camp."
Wade has been heavily courted by the Bulls, while also receiving offers from the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.
The Heat got out word of Wade's arrival through the same medium that Wade has often addressed its fans.
The first post on the Heat's Twitter site regarding Wade's South Florida return read: "THIS JUST IN! Wade is arriving in MIA at 8am tmrw (monday). We need u there 2 show him WeWantWade! Spread the word! Meet us at Signature Air."
A second post, shortly thereafter, read: "Show up in your Wade gear before 8am at Signature Air, 5700 NW 36th St and tell ur friends. THE TIME IS NOW HEAT FANS!"
Just an hour before Wade's arrival, while Wade's flight was in the air and headed to the airport's main terminal, the Heat was attempting to rally fans to what proved to be the wrong location, with a post that read, "Wake up! Its time 2 head 2 Signature Air (5700 NW 36th St) 2 meet D.Wade & show him that WeWantWade. He arrives at 8. Lets go!"
The Heat, on that same Twitter feed, later offered an apology, posting at 9:15 a.m.: "Thanks everyone for coming out. We didn't catch D. Wade this time, but there are still plenty of chances to show WeWantWade. Stay tuned."
From there, the team's Twitter feed returned to its normal programming, already in progress, with a post that read: "Our MV3 is back in the MIA so make sure to wear your Wade gear today! Show everyone this is Miami-Wade County!"
Special correspondent Chris Perkins contributed to this report. Ira Winderman can be reached at [email protected].
Heat plan to greet Wade at Miami airport fizzles, as guard returns
MIAMI — For the first time since the NBA free-agency period began last week, the Miami Heat has Dwyane Wade back on its home turf.
Only, like so much that has gone on during these first few frantic days of the league's personnel period, the team found itself misconnecting with the All-Star guard.
With the Heat summoning fans early Monday morning to greet Wade at the Signature Air terminal at Miami International Airport, the rally wound up missing its leading man when Wade instead arrived at the airport's main terminal.
"We had conflicting information on the airline," Heat Executive Vice President Michael McCullough told the 50 or so fans gathered at 8:15 a.m. at the Signature Air terminal.
In addition to McCullough, team executives Andy Elisburg and Kim Stone represented the team at the hastily called event.
"We love him," McCullough told the assembled media, which included reporters and camera crews. "We're not the only ones, and we hope that he comes back.
"It's time for him to make a decision, and we want to help him make that decision by showing him all the support he has from fans in South Florida and around the world."
The Heat was attempting to emulate the embrace the Cleveland Cavaliers offered their star free agent, forward LeBron James, last week in Cleveland, when fans lined downtown streets as James entered for a series of meetings with teams interested in signing him. Those rallies drew hundreds of fans, with the Heat meeting for almost three hours with James on Friday.
Monday's attempted welcome was the latest effort by the team to show its support for the player that helped lead it to the 2006 NBA championship. Wade is considering competing contract offers from the Heat and his hometown Chicago Bulls.
Wade met briefly with the Heat's recruiting team last week in Chicago, where he had been spending recent weeks with family.
While teams were able to begin free-agent negotiations July 1, signings are not allowed until Thursday, when the 2010-11 NBA salary cap will be announced. Wade has a six-year, $125 million contract offer on the table from the Heat. The most the Bulls, as an outside team, can offer is $96 million over five seasons.
Early Monday morning, on its official Twitter site, the Heat issued consecutive posts that Wade was scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. at the Signature Air terminal at Miami International Airport, rallying fans to greet him.
While the turnout was modest, it perhaps was not surprising, since word of Wade's return was not put out by the team until about 1 a.m. Monday.
While Wade is scheduled for a Tuesday morning promotional appearance in Davie at Nova Southeastern University, where he is operating a youth basketball camp, the early return could signal additional meetings with Heat management.
It was confirmed to the Sun Sentinel late Sunday that Wade would be meeting with Heat owner Micky Arison, and possibly others from the team, this week.
Wade confirmed his return on his Twitter feed, posting: "Back in MIA excited about the D. Wade All-Star Camp."
Wade has been heavily courted by the Bulls, while also receiving offers from the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.
The Heat got out word of Wade's arrival through the same medium that Wade has often addressed its fans.
The first post on the Heat's Twitter site regarding Wade's South Florida return read: "THIS JUST IN! Wade is arriving in MIA at 8am tmrw (monday). We need u there 2 show him WeWantWade! Spread the word! Meet us at Signature Air."
A second post, shortly thereafter, read: "Show up in your Wade gear before 8am at Signature Air, 5700 NW 36th St and tell ur friends. THE TIME IS NOW HEAT FANS!"
Just an hour before Wade's arrival, while Wade's flight was in the air and headed to the airport's main terminal, the Heat was attempting to rally fans to what proved to be the wrong location, with a post that read, "Wake up! Its time 2 head 2 Signature Air (5700 NW 36th St) 2 meet D.Wade & show him that WeWantWade. He arrives at 8. Lets go!"
The Heat, on that same Twitter feed, later offered an apology, posting at 9:15 a.m.: "Thanks everyone for coming out. We didn't catch D. Wade this time, but there are still plenty of chances to show WeWantWade. Stay tuned."
From there, the team's Twitter feed returned to its normal programming, already in progress, with a post that read: "Our MV3 is back in the MIA so make sure to wear your Wade gear today! Show everyone this is Miami-Wade County!"
Special correspondent Chris Perkins contributed to this report. Ira Winderman can be reached at [email protected].