Heat apologize for Stoudemire remark
Announcer used 'inappropriate choice of words'
By SPORTS NETWORK
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  Amar'e Stoudemire, of the New York Knicks, sits on the bench against the Miami Heat on May 9, 2012 at the American Airines Arena in Miami, Florida. (GETTY) |
MIAMI - The Miami Heat issued an apology on Thursday for public-address announcer Michael Baiamonte's "inappropriate choice of words" for Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire.
Stoudemire fouled out late in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' 106-94 loss on Wednesday at American Airlines Arena. Baiamonte said Stoudemire "has been extinguished from the game."
The remark came off as a cheap shot at Stoudemire, who punched the glass case of a fire extinguisher after New York's loss in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday in Miami. He was treated for a laceration to his left hand at the arena and underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a small muscle.
"Last night at our game, our PA Announcer had a momentary lapse of judgment and used a poor choice of words in describing Amar'e Stoudemire's fouling out of the game," The Heat said in a statement Thursday. "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."
