Fan Who Flew 4K Miles to See Jimmy Butler Reacts to Late Scratch
The Heat tried to make it up to the fan who’d wanted to see Jimmy Butler play.
It's the scenario every fan fears: arriving at the ballpark, stadium or arena, shelling out money to see a superstar player, only to find out the player is absent due to injury, rest or otherwise extenuating circumstances.
One Heat fan experienced a particularly crushing version of this experience Tuesday evening before Miami's home game against the Celtics. The young fan was captured on camera holding a sign that read "Dear Jimmy (Butler): We flew over 4405 miles to see you play. Can we get a photo or a big face coffee? ;)," and appeared to have an Argentinian flag with him.
Just before tip-off, Butler was ruled out with back soreness, leaving the fan despondent.
The story, however, has a doubly happy ending. First, according to the AP's Tim Reynolds, the fan got "a trip to the court, a jersey, a ball [and] a memory."
The exchange was captured on TNT.
Second, the Heat recovered to win in Butler's absence, beating Boston 98–95 behind 30 points and 17 rebounds from center Bam Adebayo.