Heat don’t look like champions

The rafters of Miami's American Airlines Arena were barren of banners Monday night. There was no sign of a championship Heat team on the court, either.

Facility workers didn't have time to rehang the banners, reminders of everything from division championships to the 2006 NBA crown, after the arena hosted a professional wrestling show the night before.

Many Heat fans thought another NBA title in Miami was a foregone conclusion after LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in the offseason to form an All-Star trio.

But Miami's pathetic 93-77 loss to Indiana on Monday left fans to wonder -- and boo.

The Heat dropped to 8-6 with their second consecutive loss, committing 22 turnovers.

Wade had the worst shooting night of his career: 1-for-13 from the field and 1-for-5 from the foul line for three points.

"We did not play well," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Dave Hyde of SunSentinel.com is wondering when the cold spell that hit South Beach on Thursday, when the Chicago Bears sacked the Miami Dolphins 16-0, will end.

"What started as a November to remember became a week teams were dismembered," Hyde wrote. "The biggest disappointment? It has to be the Heat. The expectations were bigger for them."

Now Spoelstra is searching for answers. "I won't overreact to this," he said, "but we certainly have to address it."

If the Heat don't start looking like champions soon, Spoelstra could be on the way out, with team president Pat Riley probably itching to take over as coach.

■ PATERNO-ISTIC -- Joe Paterno said Tuesday he will return to coach Penn State next season, completing a three-year contract extension that he signed in 2008.

Paterno blamed his football team's disappointing 7-4 record heading into Saturday's home game against Michigan State on youth and injuries.

For Paterno, 83, "youth" could refer to anyone without an AARP card.

It's time for the popular coach to change his moniker from JoePa to JoeGreatGreatGranPa.

■ BEST FAKE IN NFL -- The Tennessee Titans and their fans didn't have much to cheer about in Sunday's overtime loss to visiting Washington.

Titans quarterback Vince Young injured his right thumb, left the field in a huff, tossed his shoulder pads into the stands and stormed out of the locker room.

For perspective, Young should look to the weekend's greatest fake, which was pulled off by Sgt. Mark Foster.

Foster's wife and daughter were invited onto the gridiron at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., during a first-half timeout to watch a Thanksgiving video message from Foster, an Army sergeant deployed to Afghanistan eight months ago.

To their surprise and delight, Foster was driven out on a golf cart for an emotional family reunion.

Before whining about not starting or getting enough playing time, Young and athletes should watch the Foster family's video and know in two weeks he heads back to a war zone.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL