Return engagement to White House for Miami Heat

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama welcomed the Miami Heat back to the White House on Tuesday, this time to honor the team for its 2012–13 NBA championship.

The president opened by recounting the numerous accomplishments of the team last season, including Miami’s team-record 66 wins.

“Extraordinarily impressive, almost as impressive as the (Chicago) Bulls’ 72-win season,” said Obama, referencing his hometown NBA team.

Obama remained lighthearted throughout the ceremony and told numerous jokes that received applause and laughter during a five-minute speech.

In explaining how nothing brings Democrats and Republicans together like sports, Obama said politicians in both parties were excited about Miami making its second trip to the White House.

“Because we all know nothing brings people together like the Miami Heat,” he said. “Across the NBA, there’s just a unifying sense about the Heat.”

No player was safe from the president’s jibes. Obama asked guard Ray Allen if he knew people could read his lips when he made his comments about the ropes being brought out to keep fans from the court during the final seconds of what seemed like a loss in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

“And then Ray Allen saw them bring out the ropes and with five seconds left, Chris Bosh gets an incredible offensive rebound, passes it out to Ray,” Obama said.

“Ray is backing up, he’s got to jump forward (and) hits one of the most iconic shots of all time (to tie the game and send it to overtime). … And then he added a few choice words about the ropes, which we cannot repeat here,” the president said, to much laughter.

The president also made sure Chris “Birdman” Andersen knew the pivotal role his tattoos and mohawk played during the team’s playoff run.

“Everybody on this team participated,” Obama said. “From Ray’s big shot, to the contributions of Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, Birdman. … Birdman’s tattoos, Birdman’s mohawk, the Heat showed us the kind of heart and determination it takes to be a champion.”

The president couldn’t help but laugh at his own joke, and he was joined by members of the team who couldn’t contain their stoic appearance.

This time, the team gave Obama a jersey with the name “POTUS” and the number 44 on the back. Coach Erik Spoelstra also presented the president with a trophy that had signatures from each member of the team, as well as a signed basketball.

“Well, this is a great honor for the entire Miami Heat family. It never gets old,” Spoelstra said.

For the Heat, who closed the final chapter of their NBA championship season when they received their rings opening day in November, the trip to the White House was an opportunity to pause and savor the 2012–13 season one last time.

In the midst of a six-game road stretch, Tuesday’s ceremony was a welcome relief following the Heat losses to the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

Allen, who made his second trip to the White House after being part of the 2007–08 championship Boston Celtics, also organized a team trip to the United States Holocaust Museum.

“It’s important. It’s a matter of humanity,” Allen told the (Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel. “Any time I’ve had time in D.C., I’ve taken my teams to the museum.

“When you see that, it gives you more compassion.”

The Heat also visited wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a tradition begun by Obama of honoring sports teams for their efforts to give back to communities, White House officials said.

Miami will pick up its road series against the Wizards on Wednesday before games at the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks.

Should the Heat defeat the Wizards, they would tie a record that has stood for 53 years. Miami has beaten 22 consecutive divisional opponents, one shy of Boston’s 23 in a row set in 1961.

As the ceremony concluded President Obama wished the team luck on the rest of its season.

“Bottom line: outstanding athletes, outstanding organization, outstanding team, but also outstanding members of their community,” he said. “We’re very proud to have them back. We wish them great luck for the rest of the season — unless they’re playing the Bulls.”