LeBron James is gone, but criticism of the Miami Heat's fans has stuck around like a cranky, drunk party guest.
Heat fans didn't see it, but during the local D.C. broadcast of Wednesday's opener against the Wizards, Washington's play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz accused the Heat of pumping in fake crowd noise. Because apparently that's "something you have to do when LeBron James leaves."
We'd say way to hit a fan base when it's down ... but it was Washington who lost that night.
Heat Executive Vice President Michael McCullough quickly lashed out in comments to the Sun-Sentinel.
"I don't know who Steve Buckhantz is. I don't give a crap who Steve Buckhantz is," he said. "I am happy to have him sit in our sound booth and see we don't pump in extra crowd noise. We don't have to.
"We never have, never will, and don't need to pump in crowd noise. We don't do that here."
McCullough also said the noise might have been even louder than usual because of the loss of LeBron.
"We had pent up emotion and it came out last night," he told the daily.
Miamians are not known for being a quiet people, but the lax level of fandom of people who can afford court-side seats has long haunted the team's entire fan base.
Though, anyone who has sat in the upper levels during an exciting game can tell you it does get loud.
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