Michael Farmer

MIAMI, June 7 – Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations, has been named a “2018 Champion of Diversity” by SAVE, South Florida’s leading organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. The award will be presented at the Champions of Equality Gala on Friday, June 8th at the Penthouse at Riverside Wharf in Miami. Woolworth will be honored alongside Daniel J. Oates, Miami Beach Police Chief and Mark Gilbert, Board Chair of Outshine Film Festival.

“During my 23-year tenure at the Miami HEAT, I’ve celebrated three NBA Championships, for which I am eternally grateful,” said Woolworth. “But it’s both special and humbling to be recognized as a Champion of Equality—because this award is not about what we do; it’s about who we are.”

Since 1993, SAVE has advocated for equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities through grassroots efforts focused on: 

Additionally, for the past two seasons, the HEAT has hosted the HEAT Loud and Proud Dance Party at AmericanAirlines Arena to celebrate South Florida’s LGBTQ community.

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Woolworth Named “2018 Champion of Equality” by SAVE

MIAMI, April 13 – With the 2018 NBA Playoffs beginning tomorrow, the Miami HEAT announced the return of its immensely popular promotional campaign: White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoffs presented by Miccosukee Resort &amp; Gaming. HEAT fans everywhere are encouraged to embrace their role throughout the post-season by wearing white to support the HEAT in all daily activities, particularly HEAT playoff game dates. HEAT fans can shop for the latest White Hot HEAT fashions at all The Miami HEAT Store locations.

The franchise also welcomes back Miccosukee Resort &amp; Gaming as the presenting sponsor of White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoffs. Miccosukee Resort &amp; Gaming will be entitled to have its name and logo incorporated into the HEAT Playoff theme including signage, on print and outdoor advertisements promoting the Playoffs, and on in-arena giveaway items.

The AmericanAirlines Arena will offer exclusive food and beverage options including a White Hot Burger, White Hot Cheddar Popcorn, White Hot Nachos and more. 601 will offer a special White Hot post game happy hour menu including specialty cocktails and White Hot menu items. Hyde Lounge will also offer a special White Hot Playoff experience.

Moët &amp; Chandon’s Moet Ice Impérial will be the Official Champagne of White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoffs and will be served in large and distinctive white goblets throughout AmericanAirlines Arena. Moët Ice Impérial will be available at Section 123.

White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 14th as the team goes on the road for Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. To celebrate White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoffs, the city of Miami will enjoy a series of White Hot HEAT Week events including:

HEAT Legend Glen Rice will be on hand to meet HEAT fans at the Florida Blue in Hialeah on Saturday, April 14 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Rice will sign autographs and take photographs with fans. HEAT fans will have the opportunity to win tickets to a White Hot HEAT Playoff game. The HEAT Dancers and Burnie will also be in attendance. Florida Blue is located at 1001 West 49th Street Hialeah, FL 33012.

White Hot Block Party and Road Rally at Miccosukee Resort &amp; Gaming

Join the HEAT Experience outside of the entrance to the Miccosukee Resort &amp; Gaming Entertainment Dome (500 SW 177th Avenue Miami, FL 33194) for a White Hot Block Party. HEAT fans can enjoy food trucks, HEAT giveaway, prizes and tickets to a HEAT Playoff game.  The Mountain Dew sampling team will also be on hand sampling the latest Dew Ice flavors.  HEAT fans can stick around after the block party for a White Hot HEAT Road Rally which will broadcast the first playoff matchup of the first round as the Miami HEAT take on the Philadelphia 76ers.

White Hot Sunday Funday at Fado’s Irish Pub

Stop by Fado’s Irish Pub in Mary Brickell Village with your best White Hot outfit for a chance to win HEAT Playoff tickets. The best dressed fan in attendance will get the chance to attend a Round 1 playoff game in first round. Fado’s Irish Pub is located at 900 South Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33130.

White Hot HEAT Road Rally Presented by Bacardi

Join the Miami HEAT Dancers, Burnie, the Xtreme Team, In-Arena Announcer, Michael Baiamonte, In-Arena host Uptown Dale and other HEAT fans at Duffy’s in North Miami as they gather to watch the FOX Sports Sun telecast of the HEAT taking on the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 2. The festivities, including Bacardi drink specials, HEAT giveaways, the chance to win HEAT Playoff tickets and more, begin at 6:30 p.m. The White Hot HEAT Road Rally is presented by Bacardi. Duffy’s is located at 3969 NW 163rd Street North Miami, FL 33160.

The HEAT Experience will head over to the Verizon Store in Doral fully equipped with White Hot giveaways and prizes. HEAT fans in attendance will also have a chance to win tickets to a HEAT Playoff game. The Verizon Store is located at 1450 NW 87th Avenue Doral, FL 33172.

HEAT fans ages 18 and older are invited to the AmericanAirlines Arena to engage in the excitement of playing in a pickup basketball game on the Miami HEAT hardwood. Hosted by In-Arena Host, Uptown Dale, fans will enjoy an evening of hoops, music and special lighting along with visits from the Miami HEAT Dancers, Burnie and Xtreme Team. It’s like “midnight bowling,” but basketball at the HEAT’s house. HEAT fans in attendance will receive a HEAT t-shirt, while supplies last. This is a free event but registration is required.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami HEAT: Round 1 Game 3

The Miami HEAT will travel back home to take on the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 3 of the first round of White Hot: The 2018 HEAT Playoff. Tickets for Round 1 games are still available. Fans can purchase tickets directly from the team or from HEAT season ticket members and other fans posting their tickets for resale online at NBATickets.com, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX, or at the AmericanAirlines Arena Ticket Office. Doors to the AmericanAirlines Arena will open at least one hour prior to the published game time.

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White HOT:  The 2018 HEAT Playoffs Presented By Miccosukee Resort & Gaming

MIAMI, March 30 – The Miami HEAT will host the 17th Annual HEAT April Pool’s Day presented by Florida Blue with FOX Sports Sun and the American Red Cross on Monday, April 2nd. The event will take place from 3:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m at Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, and will kick off the Miami HEAT “Learn to Swim” program.

The event will be hosted by In-Arena PA Announcer, Michael Baiamonte. A press conference is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. Guest speakers include Miami HEAT Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael McCullough, Florida Blue South Florida Senior Manager Market President and Community Relations, Martha de la Peña Rojas, City of Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, City of Coral Gables Commissioner, Vince Lago, and American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys Executive Director, Emily Borababy. Photo ops and media availability will follow.

April Pool’s Day will take place on World Autism Awareness Day, in accordance with NBA’s Autism Awareness Week, which begins on March 30th through April 3rd, to further raise awareness and promote equality and inclusion for kids and families living with sensory limitations. HEAT Players, Luke Babbitt and Hassan Whiteside, and HEAT Legend, Glen Rice, will join American Red Cross certified lifeguards and water safety instructors to provide swim lessons to students from Children’s Resources and Crystal Academy- two local schools who cater to the special needs demographic. HEAT Mascot, Burnie, will also attend with Xtreme Team members and Miami HEAT Dancers to encourage students as they learn to swim.

The Miami HEAT Learn to Swim program along with Florida Blue, FOX Sports Sun and the American Red Cross of Greater Miami &amp; The Keys have teamed up to highlight the importance of water safety to parents and children throughout South Florida. Based on the most current statistics from the Florida Department of Health, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of four and is the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of five to nine. The goal of this program is to prevent these tragedies from ever occurring.

 HEAT fans are invited to take advantage of a special $10 off swimming lesson coupon, provided in both English and Spanish, which is available in all TIPOFF magazines for the rest of the season and is available on HEAT.com. The coupon can be redeemed at select authorized providers of the American Red Cross.

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HEAT Kicks off 2018 "Learn to Swim" Campaign

Miami-based Carnival, the Miami HEAT, and Florida Prepaid College Foundation will present local high school students with four-year college scholarships. Purchased by Carnival Foundation – the charitable arm of the Carnival Corporation, the scholarships are being presented to former students of the HEAT Academy, an after school enrichment program for at-risk youth, who currently participate in an innovative workplace mentoring program sponsored by Carnival, the Miami HEAT and in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. Recipients were selected based on academic performance, leadership skills, community involvement and interviews with representatives from the three participating organizations. Each student is also receiving a personal laptop computer courtesy of Carnival Foundation, Dell and Microsoft as well as gift cards from Perry Ellis and Peony to outfit any future business endeavors in these student’s lives.

For the past 15 years, Carnival has purchased Project STARS scholarships from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, representing a collective value of more than $2 million. The Florida Prepaid College Foundation scholarship covers the cost of tuition for two years at a Florida college followed by two years at a Florida public university. This is the eighth year Carnival’s scholarship recipients are matriculating into college.

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HEAT to Honor 2018 Carnival Scholarship Recipients

MIAMI, FEBRUARY 10 – The Miami HEAT announced today that Derrick Jones Jr. has re-joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.

Jones Jr. has appeared in 10 games (eight starts) with the HEAT this season averaging 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 19.3 minutes. He has appeared in 19 G League games (14 starts) this season between the Northern Arizona Suns (16 games) and the Skyforce (three games) averaging 16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.68 blocks, 1.05 steals and 28.7 minutes while shooting 47.9 percent from the field. In his last game with the Skyforce on January 29 vs. the Iowa Wolves, he scored a game-high 23 points while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

Jones Jr. will be available for the Skyforce’s game tonight against the Reno Bighorns.

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Jones Jr. Rejoins Skyforce

MIAMI, December 15 – The Miami HEAT announced today that Derrick Walton Jr. has re-joined the HEAT from the Sioux Falls Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.

Walton Jr. has appeared in eight games with the Skyforce this season averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 32.3 minutes while shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the foul line. In his most recent game at the Oklahoma City Blue, he posted a 12-point, 10-assist double-double to help the Skyforce to a, 121-119, win on December 13th. Additionally, he has appeared in four games with Miami this season, totaling two points, two rebounds, a steal and a block in 12 minutes of action.

He will join the team in time for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.

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Walton Jr. Re-Joins the HEAT

MIAMI, November 30 – The Miami HEAT announced today that Derrick Walton Jr. has re-joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.

Walton Jr. has appeared in five games with the Skyforce this season averaging 15.6 points, 7.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 33.2 minutes while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the foul line. In his most recent game on November 27 against the Erie BayHawks, he dished out a team-high five assists and posted a +22 plus/minus in the Skyforce’s, 136-100, win. Additionally, he has appeared in four games with Miami this season, totaling two points, two rebounds, a steal and a block in 12 minutes of action.

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Walton Jr. Re-joins Skyforce

MIAMI, Nov. 13 – The Miami HEAT announced today that Derrick Walton Jr. has re-joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.

Walton Jr., who joined the HEAT from the Skyforce on November 5, appeared in one game with Miami on their recent road trip, grabbing one rebound in 1:08 minutes of action at Golden State on November 6. Earlier this season Walton Jr. appeared in one preseason game with Sioux Falls totaling a team-high 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 18:31 minutes of action while shooting 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range, and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line.

Walton Jr. will re-join the Skyforce in time for their road game against the Austin Spurs tomorrow.