March 2004 Miami Heat Wiretap

Heat Turn Attention To Chris Porter

Sep 30, 2004 6:18 AM

Having missed out on Ryan Bowen, who yesterday signed with the Houston Rockets, the Miami Heat have turned their attention to former Warrior forward Chris Porter.

Porter, 26, helped lead the Dakota Wizards to last season's Continental Basketball Association title, averaging 16.2 points and 6.5 rebounds.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA

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Shaq Fires Back at Kobe

Sep 30, 2004 3:33 AM

They may now be on separate sides of the country but the feud between superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O?Neal appears to be far from over.

The Miami Herald is reporting that on Wednesday O'Neal dismissed as "ridiculous" Bryant's allegations that O'Neal had paid up to $1 million in hush money to various women and then took his own shot by saying, "I'm not the one buying love."

O?Neal was responding to comments made by Bryant to detectives in Eagle, Colorado that "he should have done what Shaq does ... that Shaq would pay his women not to say anything" and already had paid up to $1 million "for situations like this."  The allegations, which O?Neal has known about since last September, were quoted from a police report in the Los Angeles Times.  

The two played through the 2003/04 season as Lakers team mates with the allegations weighing on both their minds before Los Angeles fell to the Champion Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.  It would be the duo?s last time wearing the same uniform with O?Neal being traded to Miami only months later.

"This whole situation is ridiculous," O'Neal told ESPN. "I never hang out with Kobe, I never hung around him. In the seven or eight years we were together, we were never together. So how this guy can think he knows anything about me or my business is funny. And one last thing - I'm not the one buying love. He's the one buying love."

O'Neal's latter comment was an apparent reference to a ring - reportedly costing several million dollars - that Bryant gave his wife, Vanessa, after he was charged with felony sexual assault last summer.

Miami Herald

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA

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Bryant Claims O'Neal Paid Woman for Silence

Sep 29, 2004 3:11 PM

According to a new report by the Los Angeles Times, Kobe Bryant told investigators that other NBA players had paid money to women in similar situations like his, and a name he mentioned was Shaquille O'Neal.

O'Neal was informed of the comment last September, about two weeks before Laker training camp opened in Hawaii, when prosecution investigators made an unsuccessful attempt to question him. His agent, Perry Rogers, said Tuesday that the allegation in Bryant's statement was untrue and "undeserving of a response."

"Bryant made a comment to us about what another teammate does in situations like these," Detective Doug Winters wrote. "Bryant stated he should have done what Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) does. Bryant stated that Shaq would pay his women not to say anything. He stated Shaq has paid up to a million dollars already for situations like this. He stated he, Bryant, treats a woman with respect, therefore they shouldn't say anything."

The reference was first reported by Sports Illustrated, which did not name O'Neal.

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA

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No Comeback for MJ

Sep 28, 2004 2:29 PM

Despite rumors all over the media that the great Michael Jordan is considering a return, MJ himself said there is no comeback. Rumors have been flying that Jordan wanted to play for the Miami Heat.  Jordan said the rumors are false.

"There is no truth to any rumors that Michael has ambitions to return to basketball," Estee Portnoy, a spokeswoman for SFX Sports Group, said Thursday. "He said, 'I think it's time to put the rumors to bed.' He's been puzzled and flattered. He found all these rumors very amusing. But he wanted to let everyone know he just has no plans to play."

Jordan has been seen playing with players like Antoine Walker and Ben Gordon.  Jordan has also played against college players Chris Paul, Mustafa Shakur, Rashad McCants, Jarrett Jack and Joey Graham.

"He's 41 years old. If he wanted to play, he probably still could," a source told Ford. "I would never say never with Michael, but that's not why he's here. He just wanted to get some exercise and some good runs. I don't think you'll see Michael playing in the NBA again"

There is only way Michael Jordan will return to the NBA, as an owner.

ESPN

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Vandeweghe Keeps Interest in Forward White

Sep 28, 2004 5:45 AM

Desite his recent legal troubles, Denver GM Kiki Vanderweghe still has an interest in re-signing guard Rodney White, providing of course he can keep out of trouble.

"We're going to wait and see how things turn out," Vandeweghe said. "We just want to do what's best for Rodney. Obviously, this is a very hard lesson for him."

Vandeweghe believes the parties could reach an agreement soon, with the Nuggets also expected to sign free-agent guard Greg Buckner.

Denver also maintains an interest in free agent Ryan Bowen, who also has the attention of Miami, Houston and Seattle for his services.

Denver Post

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Artest or Patterson Might be Miami Bound

Sep 26, 2004 11:30 AM

Ruben Patterson of the Portland Trail Blazers is available for the taking by a team offering expiring contracts according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  Patterson, the self-proclaimed Kobe stopper who in seasons past has been considered a key member of this Blazers squad, is a victim of not enough minutes at the forward spot with Darius Miles and Shareef Abdur-Rahim both expected to be in front of him in the rotation.  

Owed $5.9 million this year and $19 million over the next three, moving Patterson for expiring contracts will offer Portland cap relief in future seasons.

One such team who could be interested in Patterson is said to be the Miami Heat, but the problem for the Heat is it has little to offer, behind, say, a compilation of the contracts of Wang Zhi-Zhi, Malik Allen, Udonis Haslem and Bimbo Coles.

Pacer Ron Artest, a highly talented but unpredictable player, would cost the Heat much more.  They would have to give Indiana Eddie Jones while taking back the contracts of either Austin Croshere or Scott Pollard.

Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

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Shaq Seeking 3 Years at $90 Million

Sep 26, 2004 11:25 AM

Shaquille O'Neal stepped up on the scales last week and saw a number he hasn't seen in more than a few years: 334.

By Shaq's count, he's already dropped 26 pounds since his final days as a Laker. Thanks to a twice-a-day cardiovascular regimen, he's in his best shape in years. And he's not finished. His goal, he's told friends, is to drop another nine pounds by the time he reports for his first training camp in Miami next week.

Reports indicate that O'Neal will be seeking a three year deal of $90 million.

New York Daily News

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Heat Looking at Bowen to play Small Forward, not Jordan

Sep 24, 2004 3:16 AM

The Miami Heat are looking at former Nugget and hustle player Ryan Bowen to fill their void at small forward.  

"They have a specific need where he is strongest," agent Guy Zucker said of the defensive-minded 28-year-old. "Ryan had been scheduled to come in before the storms, but everything had been put on hold. So it's not as if this is a last-second thing."

Because of salary-cap issues the Heat will only have $745,000 to play with.  In Bowen they get a player who knows his role and plays it well, and would also be content with the low pay and a chance to play.  In other words, the exact opposite of Michael Jordan.

The Sun Sentinel

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"I haven't talked with Shaq. There's no comeback."

Sep 23, 2004 10:38 PM

Michael Jordan has silenced rumors that he is considering a comeback by overtly denying that he will be playing this season with the Miami Heat.

"I don't know how this started. I haven't talked with Shaq. There's no comeback," Jordan told Michael Wilbon of ESPN.

"He's 41 years old. If he wanted to play, he probably still could," a source told Chad Ford. "I would never say never with Michael, but that's not why he's here. He just wanted to get some exercise and some good runs. I don't think you'll see Michael playing in the NBA again."

ESPN

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Shaq Reluctant about the Possibility of Jordan coming to Miami

Sep 23, 2004 4:47 PM

O?Neal has told teammates that Jordan has left him several messages, and is convinced that Jordan wants to play for the Heat.  O?Neal than told teammates that he was not interested in playing with Jordan and apparently got others to agree, even going as far as to try and get on of his teammates to go to management and express their collective feelings about not adding Jordan.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley has dismissed the rumors which originally surfaced in July, stating that he was uninterested in adding a player Jordan?s age.

Last week, Heat general manager Randy Pfund spoke with Jordan?s trainer, Tim Grover, and Grover gave no indication that Jordan was contemplating a comeback.  

The Heat may be able to use Jordan?s services, however, Mr. Jordan has always expressed interest in being a part-owner of a team, and with the NBA?s most dominant player voting to keep you out, his chances are minimal even if he wants to make yet another comeback.

The Miami Herald

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Shaq Makes Public Plea for the Mailman

L.A. Daily News

Heat High on Rookie Wright

Miami Herald

Shaq Still Talking

Brandenton.com

Vince Wants to go to Florida, but Miami is not a Likely Destination

Sun-Sentinel

Laettner Signs with the Heat

Sun Sentinel

Miami Comes to Terms with Laettner

Arizona Republic

Kupchak Next on Shaq's List

Miami Herald

Shaq Raps on Kobe and Big Ben

Detroit Free-Press

Ron Rothstein Stirring Controversy for Heat

Miami Herald

Malone Likely to Stay in L.A.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Shaq Rapping Trash About Kobe

ESPN

A Slimmer Shaq on the South Beach Diet

The Times-Picayune