MIAMI – Pat Riley stands in front of 20,000 people Wednesday night. And everyone seemed to be applauding when the Miami Heat formally dedicated their home court in his honor.
But when it came time to finish his remarks and near “Pat Riley Court’s” halftime birthday celebration, the Hall of Famer and team president was talking to just one person: his wife, Chris.
“Someday it’s going to end here. And that stamp here and that stamp there, that’s what it’s all about, baby,” Riley said, pointing to the two places in the court record that now feature his signature and call. “We did it. We did it. I love you. Thank you.”
A host of former players (Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Mike Miller and Jamal Mashburn among them) returned for the birthday celebration, and many others sent thanks to Riley. Getting the court named after him was not his idea; Warmth’s General husband, Micky Arison, told Riley of the verdict on September 22, completely shocking him.
“This is beyond my imagination as a reward for one man’s life’s work,” Riley said. “We are big dreamers and Micky has made mine. It wasn’t something I wanted or pursued, but I’m going to accept it.”
Riley came to Miami in 1995 to become coach and team president. He came out of practice unwell twice, first in 2003, then again and finally in 2008, but not before leading Miami to its first NBA title in 2006.
When he left training for the general occasion, he promoted Erik Spoelstra as his replacement. Spoelstra arrives at the 17th hour of the show.
“I think it’s a really special moment, not only for me but for a lot of us in the building,” said Spoelstra, who, along with the remains of his coaches, wore Nike Cortez shoes Wednesday in tribute. to Riley, who appreciated them more when he trained. “These years go by quickly; 30 years is like the blink of an eye. He has been with us all on the journey and we will be eternally grateful for that. He has given us a role model that leads us to win.”
The fragment of the court record that Riley obtained as a commemorative plaque reads: “On September 1, 1995, the future of the Miami Heat changed forever.” Alonzo Mourning, now Warmth’s vice president, was the first big-name player Riley dropped in South Florida.
“Coach, 30 years ago you welcomed me to this franchise with an open heart and a singular vision to host a championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard,” Mourning said. “And since our first season here in Miami, you have done nothing but deliver on that vision time and time again, with a mix of class and competitiveness that this game has never seen and will never see again.”
Riley noted that he coached 188 players in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Pristine York Knicks and Miami; more than 100 of them were rejected in their Warmth days. He thanked them, he thanked his staff team, other executives, his people and more.
But it was surely his wife, who helped organize Wednesday’s game, who was the centerpiece of his comments again and again. Riley even impressed how they met.
“I want to do this right,” Riley said. “It was a summer night on a crowded mezzanine in San Diego and I saw the perfect, most beautiful woman who had ever lived, her flowered summer dress swaying gently as she walked toward me. I saw those hazel eyes and my heart skipped a beat. … I was “For her, like Udonis Haslem, he’s going to look for a loose ball on that court over there.”
The Warmth even aired the clip of the private meeting in which Arison told Riley that he and his son Nick, the group’s executive director, had decided the court would accept his call. Riley looked stunned.
“Enjoy it,” Arison ordered Riley. “It’s going to be there forever.”
