OT: When did YOU become a Heat fan?

TRG · Post #1 » by **TRG** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:42 am

I've only been active on RealGM for 2 months so I haven't really had a chance to get to know my fellow Heat fans. Who are the die-hard fans? Who are the casuals? Who are the ex-Cavs/Raptors fans that just hopped on the bandwagon last season (nothing wrong with that btw I welcome all Heat fans both old and new)? Hopefully this thread can answer these questions.

Here are some general questions we can all answer: Have you been a Heat fan for life? If no, at what point did you become a Heat fan and why?

I'll start us out. Ever since I was little I've lived in Georgia, but while I was at a young age I never really had much of an interest in NBA basketball. Like many, I was the kid who would only end up casually watching the playoffs, so quite naturally I never really became a Hawks fan since they weren't there very often... In fact I was more of a casual Lakers fan lol. After I watched my favorite player at the time (Shaq) get traded to the Heat, I started to occasionally follow them and watch a game here and there. Then at the age of 13, the 2006 playoffs happened, and I was completely blown away by the upcoming superstar we now know as Dwayne Wade. The things he did on that magical championship run reminded me of the past fondness I had for Kobe, and from that point on, I knew Dwayne Wade was my guy. The more I watched the Heat the more respect I had for Pat Riley and the Heat organization so I then became a casual Heat fan for the next few years... Which eventually led up to the craziness of the summer of 2010. I don't even need to explain. After the arrival of the Big 3 I knew my favorite team had just gone from being an OK team to one of the baddest teams in NBA history. From that moment on I quickly went from being a casual NBA fan to a die-hard fan and followed pretty much anything Heat related. The more games I watched last season the more obsessed I became with NBA basketball to the point where I started lurking RealGM and the Miami Heat forums on a constant basis (I could have easily joined RealGM over a year ago). After the lockout finally ended I decided it was time for me to join in on the discussion for this upcoming season a couple of months ago. I only missed 8 games last year, and I don't plan on missing a single one this season (you can expect to see me in nearly every game thread this year). Not sure what this historic team will be able to accomplish these next few years, but one thing I do know is that I'll definitely be a Heat fan for life! I love this team! LETS GO HEAT!

Well that's my story. Share yours everyone!

narmerguy · Post #2 » by **narmerguy** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:46 am

As soon as they signed Mike Bibby...I knew this was the only team for me.

lolcat · Post #3 » by **lolcat** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:56 am

When I moved down here in 2007 lol. I'm a pretty loyal fan to whatever city I live in. I used to live in Toronto and was a big fan of Bosh and the Raptors (still am but don't follow them as much). When I moved down here they had just won the championship the year. I instantly became a fan of the Heat and Heat culture.. started going to games and loved it.

Then FA happened lol my two favorite players (Bosh and Bron) joined Wade and the Heat! Lol best moment as a Heat fan. Even if I move now I'll still be a Heat fan because my love for basketball grew more and more while I was in Miami and was rooting for the Heat.

Post #4 » by **kyphi** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:02 am

In 1995

Akshan · Post #5 » by **Akshan** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:05 am

narmerguy wrote:As soon as they signed Mike Bibby...I knew this was the only team for me.

LMFAO that was funny and I became a Miami Heat fan in 2003 when Dwyane Wade was selected with the number 5th pick in the draft growing up in New York as a kid I was a New York Knicks supporter but just like you I wasn't crazy about basketball until I got to high school and Dwyane Wade ended up on the Miami Heat.

Watching him play just made me admire him so much and than hearing about his story made me respect him and make him my role model. The Miami Heat with Caron Butler, Rafer Alston, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant with the fellow rookie Dwyane Wade leading the way made me watch them often and when Dwyane hit that game winner against the Hornets I knew this man would be my main reason for watching the NBA.3 years into the league what he ended up doing in the NBA Finals in my eyes is probably the greatest performance in the NBA Finals I have seen since I'm only 20 years old and at that time I was 15 years old and going crazy in my house loll.

The next year when Shane Battier caused Dwyane Wade to severe a shoulder injury I saw the glory days tumble before my eyes and than to trade Shaq have a 15 win season and it was though to be a Miami Heat fan but the second we got LeBron James and Chris Bosh I was happy that I stayed loyal and now am enjoying watching the Miami Heat more and more especially now since I'm older.

Vertical Limit · Post #6 » by **Vertical Limit** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:14 am

Around 1994, living with my uncle in first grade, all he would put on in our only TV were Dolphins, Marlins, Heat, and Panthers' game. Not a Panthers'/hockey fan anymore though but 95-96 was exciting. Their mediocrity made me lose interest to that sport and it got to the point where they were literally giving tickets away to see the Panthers if you got an Honor Roll in elementary. :lol:

OtW · Post #7 » by **OtW** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:14 am

2005, but I was pretty young at the time, really my first exposure to pro sports at the time. I became more heavily interested and invested as a fan during the 2008-2009 Season.

Post #8 » by **DefenseWins** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:17 am

2004 when Wade hit that shot against the Hornets in the playoffs. I knew he was special and for some reason I knew they were going to win the title soon. I didn't even anticipate Shaq coming or anything. After the Pacers I'm like, they'll win next year! Then they got even closer and I KNEW 2006 was going to be the year lol. I didn't even look at it from a basketball standpoint, I was praying the same way I was praying for the Marlins to comeback in Game 6 NLCS against the Cubs in 2003 LOL.

I was a Marlins fan (still is) though before I was a Heat fan lol. I live in South Florida as well.

But yeah I remember hearing these things about Wade and how the Heat got somebody good out of the draft. Just got caught up in sports overall ever since.

It was really tough to see this team be terrible the next year after the title and get swept in the 1st round, then a lottery team the next. They bounced back but Wade needed help. Not in a million years did I think they'd be this relevant again.

Also I always knew about Heat forums and stuff, but never really joined. Though I DID join the official Heat forum awhile ago but it was just nothing to talk about (2008 season lol). I forgot my password and changed emails do I didn't care to recover or make an new account. Then this happens to the Heat, I finally get time on my hands and decided to join RealGM since all fans of teams could interact. It's fun yet a bit frustrating with trash talking and trolls, but whatever. I saw other forums, but this was the most active. I also like the wiretap too.

GreenHat · Post #9 » by **GreenHat** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:31 am

I'm not really sure of the year but I remember getting swept by the Bulls and that was back in 91-92 so it would have to be before that.

I moved to Miami really young around '90 from an area without a basketball team so I just started watching basketball around then and the Heat were always on TV. I remember staying up to watch even the west coast games back then that ended at like 1

Miamis3rdRing · Post #10 » by **Miamis3rdRing** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:39 am

When LeBron, Bosh, and Wade teamed up.

Lived most of my life in L.A.. I liked the Mourning and Hardaway teams, though I'd only be able to follow them when they were on national television. Still remember exactly where I was when Houston got that lucky bounce on his shot.

However back then I was more of a casual fan.

After that era ended, I became a T-Mac fanboy (Not to be confused w/Magic fan) and really got into the NBA. Still followed the Heat in the newspapers/whenever they were on, but they weren't very good. As much as I liked McGrady I never had much confidence in him. Not sure how to explain it but I got the vibe that he was never going to go far in the post-season. Part of that was on him and part was on the team Orlando surrounded him with.

Then Wade came aboard along with Caron and Lamar. Again that team wasn't on national television much up until the playoff's. I'd check the box scores daily and stuff like that. Seeing Wade dominate in the playoff's I became hooked. I could tell this guy was going to be a big time player.

The rest is history. With the improvement in technology it's become rather easy to watch every single Heat game and I've seen the vast majority (Probably over 95%) dating back to when Shaq came aboard.

Short version -
- Casual fan during the Mourning/Hardaway days.
- T-Mac fanboy for a while during the "dark years" for the Heat. Never a Magic fan however. Got hooked to NBA at this time.
- Turned into a hardcore fan during Wade's rookie year, particularly due to playoff's since those games were all on t.v.
- Even though you can say Wade got me hooked I only really care about the team. If he had left during free agency I would have remained a Heat fan. I'll always appreciate the 06' title but I would not follow him if he left.

Bonus -
I never hated LeBron when he was in Cleveland. Always thought he was an incredible player.

My dislike for Boozer dates back to his Jazz days. Living in L.A. everyone I know is a Laker fans, and most of them are obnoxious as hell (At least the people I know are. On this site some of them are cool). He put up such a crappy fight against them in the playoff's and was completely dismantled. Ever since then I can't stand him.

KDS91 · Post #11 » by **KDS91** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:43 am

When I was younger my parents would watch Heat games a lot during the Zo/Hardaway years. I got into them a little bit as well. After that era I kinda lost interest.

I paid a little more attention to them after the 2004 Playoffs with Wade, and when Shaq arrived I started to get excited. Then they won the trophy in 2006. Been following the Heat full-time ever since.

Moggs24 · Post #12 » by **Moggs24** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:04 am

Early 90's went to a Heat nets Preseason game and bought a Heat banner. Became a huge glen rice fan after that game and have been a fan ever since.

This IsMy House · Post #13 » by **This IsMy House** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:21 am

Don't know an exact season, but I moved down from NY as a baby(3 years old) and basically grew up on Heat basketball so mid-late 90s.

ReturnofMVP3 · Post #14 » by **ReturnofMVP3** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:46 am

When Rafer Alston signed and everyone here was super excited for our saviour.

Heats_Finest · Post #15 » by **Heats_Finest** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:16 am

I was a HEAT fan in the 04-05 season. I'm from Australia so didn't really have big ties to NBA, in fact I hated basketball. But I had a PSP and decided I was going to get a sports game, and for some reason I thought I'll get an NBA game because I'll never get bored of them. So I knew nothing about basketball and I first turn on the game, I was looking through the teams and logo's, and I thought Miami's logo looked the coolest so I decided they were my team.

I started a season with the team and I had trouble with Wade and thought he was over rated, as Iverson was my favourite player I traded Wade for Iverson lol and thought I got a steal when they accepted the deal straight up.

When did I become a serious NBA fan? The year Miami won 15 games was the real year where I started checking the results after every game and reviewing box scores and highlights, 08-09 was the first year I found online streams and started watching games about 30% of the time. Two years ago I bought league pass and watched any game I could. This year I've only missed one game and that was because my internet was over my downloads.

betterdayz02 · Post #16 » by **betterdayz02** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:36 am

in the 03-04 season started really watching basketball and D-Wade caught my eye been watching ever since.

Pimpwerx · Post #17 » by **Pimpwerx** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:28 am

I'm not from the US, so I was really a Pat Riley fan. I was a fan of the Lakers in the 80's, then the Riley Knicks in the early-90s, then the Heat ever since. So, I guess 1995.

I started off a Canes fan and became a Gators fan. Started off a Bills fan and became a Dolphins fan. Started off an Oilers and Kings fan, and became a Panthers fan. Was a Pirates fan and became a Marlins fan. We moved to Miami in the mid-80's, but I didn't start to like the city until I left it to go to college in NY. That's when I started to rep all the local teams (except the Gators).

So yeah, I'm 305 'til I die, and I rep the Heat, Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers (and Gators). PEACE.

Kerosene · Post #18 » by **Kerosene** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:44 am

Since the "Taking my talents to south beach" thing. I get a lot of hate from the cats out here in NY who love the Knicks/Celtics/Lakers, but honestly idc; I grew up watching crappy Knick basketball in the early 2000's and it's not much better now. I've always acknowledged Wade and loved what he did back in 06' but Lebron is my guy. That's pretty much it.

dan_atko97 · Post #19 » by **dan_atko97** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:09 am

probly when my big brothr got the basketball game 2k6 and i played for 1st time. so like 2005? i liked Shaq cause id heard of hime but stayed with the Heat through the good and rough

orangeparka · Post #20 » by **orangeparka** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:54 am

Not sure exactly, but I became a Heat fan because Shaq was one of the only players I knew when I was an NBA noob.

Then I loved Dwyane Wade.