MIAMI — The Miami Heat apologized yesterday after its public address announcer said Amar’e Stoudemire was “extinguished” when the Knicks star fouled out of Wednesday night’s playoff game.
With under five minutes to play in Game 5 at AmericanAirlines Arena, PA announcer Michael Baiamonte yelled, “He has been extinguished, from the game!” after Stoudemire committed an offensive foul, charging into Shane Battier.
Stoudemire, who missed Game 3 after he severely lacerated his hand by punching the glass enclosure of a fire extinguisher, downplayed the joke after the season-ending loss and said he did not mind, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The Heat, however, were not as forgiving, issuing an apology for the “lapse in judgment” and “poor choice of words.”
“This is not who we are as an organization or who he is as an announcer. Both the Miami Heat and Michael Baiamonte apologize to Amar’e and the New York Knicks for the inappropriate choice of words.”
Baiamonte, who has been the PA announcer since 1990, reportedly works off a script that has been approved by the Heat. — News Core
Miami clinched the series with a Game 5 victory and will now play the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.