In the interest of full disclosure, I’m married to our story subject, sports writer Tim Reynolds, and edited his new book.
Since 2002, Tim Reynolds has worked for The Associated Press. His sports writer credential gets him access to numerous teams, their games and championship runs, including the Florida Panthers; Inter Miami FC; University of Miami football and the Miami Heat.
In February, Reynolds will travel to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy to cover his 13th Olympics and to report on the sliding sports: bobsled, skeleton and luge.
In November, Reedy Press published his book, “The Miami Heat: An Illustrated Timeline.”
“Basketball has always been the sport I loved the most, and this book is chance to help Heat fans remember some of the stories that makes this franchise so unique,” said Reynolds, who lives in Miami Lakes.
So far, his book tour has taken him to the NBA store in New York City and to Books & Books in Coral Gables. Future appearances are to be announced.
The Coral Gables event -- when Heat Captain Bam Adebayo turned the tables and interviewed Reynolds -- delighted 100 sports fans, elite coaches and executives from professional sports teams.
Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra; Bill Zito, president and general manager of the Panthers and Mario Cristobal of UM football; A’ja Wilson, center on the WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces and Heat Senior Vice President and General Manager Andy Elisburg were in the audience.
Reynolds draws on two decades of covering the Heat to pair 160 photos with stories about its beginnings, coaching changes, star players and quirky fan favorites (Chris “Birdman” Andersen, anyone?).
Sections describe early stars like center Rony Seikaly; memorable plays and statistics and contracts. Also, tales from three NBA championships, the Big Three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) and today’s ballers.
The book also places the team in the history of South Florida, some of the tragedies its people have endured and how the Heat helped them cope.
A gripping photograph by a Getty Images photographer (the agency provided all the book’s pictures) captured Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava as then Heat Captain Udonis Haslem held her up on their way to a memorial at the collapsed Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside.
“Continue to pray,” Haslem said while holding up the mayor with one arm, his other carrying a spray of red and white flowers.
There are images of Heat culture -- work harder than anyone else -- being waged on the court during championship runs and playing in the bubble during the pandemic, too.
There is also joy: the flights of Wade; locker room celebrations and visits to the White House ... Adebayo’s jubilation after winning Olympic gold for the USA in 2021 and 2024; Tyler Herro being crowned the league’s 3-point king during an All-Star weekend and 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and several stories about the unique athlete Jimmy Butler.
The book ends with a tribute to the Heat’s dedicated audience. The team announced its arena has sold out for a record 15 seasons.
Whether new to the Heat or loyal from the 1988 start, fans from the courtside seats to the 400 level will find something to enjoy in this book.