My Miami Heat Experience Part 1

I've been a Heat Nation fan since my all time fave player Alonzo Mourning was drafted in 1992 and traded to the Heat in 1995 and I stayed there ever since. I decided to take a trip to the States and watch my very first NBA game, it's not hard to guess which team I went to watch. I have family in Oakland California so I decided to schedule my trip when the Heat was visiting the the Warriors, this was January 11.

My seat was just behind the Heat bench and there they all were, all of them were right there literally two steps from my seat! Long story short I got to meet the entire Miami Heat team, all the players (don't get me started on meeting Birdman, Wade, CB, Stoudemire!). I was even interviewed by Heat TV and Fox Sports (I have the 2 minute segment as evidence!).

I'll be sharing the photos and new maildays but first this one's dedicated to my man Amar'e Stoudemire aka STAT. I actually enjoyed watching him in his Phoenix Suns days when he played alongside Steve Nash and then when he was with my second fave team NY Knicks. I was super excited when I heard the Heat acquired him this past season, sure he's way past his prime but this guy can still give some minutes off the bench.

He did win rookie of the year in 2003, NBA All-Rookie First Team and made 6 All-Star appearances.


View from my seat, Heat bench was just a few steps to my right. There's STAT in front and rookie Winslow on the right. And there's Curry #30!!


Ok here's my Stoudemire mailday.


Let's start with a tag 5/5

He played half a season in Dallas before joining the Heat.




Tasty Gold Prizm 3/10




Immaculate Logo 14/16



BOOM 1/1! Not quite a logoman but still a sweet jersey numbered tag




One of One




Another jersey numbered card, one of my favourite STAT cards! The logoman tag from his Christmas Day jersey (from the jersey he's wearing on the card)



Just waiting for this baby to arrive anyday now..

And yet another jersey numbered card...Select Black Prizm 1/1





Last card of the bunch...



My STAT pride and joy...



First one in my collection...



My first ever logoman jersey numbered 1/3




One last surprise...





Got to meet Stoudemire after the game!


Thanks for stopping by!

Man you are a lucky guy! Amare is one of my favourite players, really hated how things worked out for him on NY.

Hey mate, a lot of your images arent working?

Jaames said:

Man you are a lucky guy! Amare is one of my favourite players, really hated how things worked out for him on NY.

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Knicks can't seem to get their act together, even just getting the right coach seems to be a challenge. I love Stoudemire, I'm just happy he's with the Heat he seems happy there and content with his role.

Matt26 said:

Hey mate, a lot of your images arent working?

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Hey Matt fixed now

Wow, great story and what a place to watch a game. I saw MIA at GS last year

Awesome pick ups too.

Thanks for sharing.

The word amazing doesn't do this justice, absolutely phenomenal mailday!

Indeed you are one lucky man, definitely hope I'll be able to see Kyrie one day and maybe even meet him

drobfan8 said:

Wow, great story and what a place to watch a game. I saw MIA at GS last year

Awesome pick ups too.

Thanks for sharing.

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Cheers for that Ben. Oracle Arena was just magic and the fans were crazy passionate. My aunty is in her 80's and born and raised in Oakland and she's a die hard Warriors fan she never misses a game. She's always mailing me newspaper clippings about the Warriors all season long Did Miami win the game you watched?

Harsha_12 said:

The word amazing doesn't do this justice, absolutely phenomenal mailday!

Indeed you are one lucky man, definitely hope I'll be able to see Kyrie one day and maybe even meet him

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Thanks for the kind words Harsha, I only had a few Stoudemire autos, now that he's playing in Miami and I met him I decided to chase a few more cards...think I went a bit overboard haha You'll meet Kyrie I'm sure, he did an appearance in Melbourne a year or two ago, no doubt I'm sure he'll do more in Australia and you'll meet him and you'll be like me when I met Birdman, I was shaking and all haha

Still chasing Amare cards? I have a 1/10 auto I'm thinking of moving on.

Nice work mate! Some great tags and patches on display there - best of all was the pic at the end - I'm guessing you;re not exactly 6'10' tall then!

Jaames said:

Still chasing Amare cards? I have a 1/10 auto I'm thinking of moving on.

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I'll take a look Jaames and let you know if I'm interested, PM me.

skip20 said:

Nice work mate! Some great tags and patches on display there - best of all was the pic at the end - I'm guessing you;re not exactly 6'10' tall then!

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Haha Stat makes me look like Muggsy Bogues!! I'm Spud Webb's height 5'7" which I thought was kinda tall

Aronzo33 said:

Thanks for the kind words Harsha, I only had a few Stoudemire autos, now that he's playing in Miami and I met him I decided to chase a few more cards...think I went a bit overboard haha You'll meet Kyrie I'm sure, he did an appearance in Melbourne a year or two ago, no doubt I'm sure he'll do more in Australia and you'll meet him and you'll be like me when I met Birdman, I was shaking and all haha

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I know what you mean! I was devastated I couldn't go to Melbourne when Kyrie came cause of school exams I can't imagine how nervous I'll be if i ever meet him, probably need a paramedic on stand by haha

Crazy experience at the game, getting to meet the man himself must have left you speechless.
Those cards are literally beyond description, awesome stuff mate.

Awesome mate, the Amares are really sweet!

DAAAAMMMMNNNN SON!!!!! that is an awesome story matched by an even better mailday. I'm still dreaming of getting over to wander the halls of Chicago....... one day

amazing story, really happy for you to get that experience! amazing mailday aswell loved everything!

Awesome work Aaron! How did you get the chance to go out the back and meet STAT? Love ya work! looks like a great trip.

Nice work Aaron. Will look forward to the responses to the next part (s) of this epic day out that you had.

That's so cool man! Looks like you had an amazing time.

Great cards too, those Select 1/1s are awesome in hand as is the Logoman of course!

Look forward to seeing more photos

Sounds & looks like it was an incredible experience for you! Those Stoudemire cards are amazing too, he was an absolute beast before the injuries hit.