NBA Finals

The earliest fans outside the AmericanAirlines Arena to see the first game of the NBA Finals was the faithful since the season began, so that the Miami Heat would be if the league was on the line. According to the team wore white, the "White Hot Heat" theme. Some costume: wig horror, basketball caps, rubber clothes and makeup. They took pictures of each other, shouting and cheering along with predicted victory.

"People said they could not make the first season, but showed up and did what he had done, " said Shane McKendrick, 21, a student at the University of Central Florida plantation. The "they" said McKendrick, of course, was the Big Three - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh - who promised to lead the franchise to a second NBA title. "One step, if the others do not," said McKendrick. "So I feel pretty confident."

McKendrick was under 13 years old brother, Kyle, who is a handmade sign: "Let's Go Heat." In fact, all of South Florida basketball seems like this week, as the Heat square off against the Dallas Mavericks in the best of seven series that promises to be one of the greatest finals in the history of hype. "We're going to be a really good team," said James, when he was on ESPN in July announced: "the decision." Later, the All-Star forward promised "not two, not three ... four ... five ... six ... seven", that championship. "I'm not just blowing smoke here."