Prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat on Wednesday night, there was a moment of silence to remember the lives lost in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday. But the Heat went a step further.
When the moment of silence was complete, public address announcer Michael Baiamonte also urged fans to contact their senators, “to leave a message demanding their support for common sense gun laws.” The message was met with applause from those in the arena.
A moment of silence. pic.twitter.com/8Ycn1uqN0i
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 26, 2022
The same message was displayed on the videoboard at Miami’s FTX Arena.
Heat pregame announcement: pic.twitter.com/6IGeWCBb4f
— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) May 26, 2022
The people in the arena were not the only ones who supported the message. NBA fans on Twitter were left pleasantly surprised by what they saw and heard.
Im extremely proud of the NBA and the Miami Heat for taking a moment of silence before the national anthem to mourn those lost yesterday and encourage people to ask their state senators to pass common sense gun laws.
— cody wyatt twittеr (@insidercory) May 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/lecavanaugh/status/1529623508455661568
The Heat arena announcer just said the number for their senators offices during pregame after a moment of science, telling people to blast them for gun control measures.
The basketball game will happen, but the Heat have a win tonight already
— Otter (@OtterRuin) May 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/lecavanaugh/status/1529624779287846912
https://twitter.com/Chris_inBigD/status/1529625127167705089
https://twitter.com/BomberATDoc/status/1529623361449500674
Wow. The PA announcer at the Heat-Celtics game, after the obligatory moment of silence for the shooting victims, urged people to call Congress and demand common sense gun legislation. Crowd roared in approval. Thanks @NBA.
— Greg Olear (@gregolear) May 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/Pawgba/status/1529624467839799330
Wow, impressive. Before Celtics-Heat game, PA announcer encouraged fans to contact their senators and push for common sense gun laws — and also to get out and vote. Not just the usual moment of silence/thoughts/prayers. And this game is in Florida.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) May 26, 2022
This is more or less in line with what Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in the more immediate aftermath of the tragedy, in his press conference prior to Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra had similar sentiments in his pregame press conference on Wednesday.
Erik Spoelstra speaks on the tragic shooting in Uvalde, TX: Feels like just yesterday we were going up to Parkland. We don't have the answers but we want to be heard by the people that can actually make change happen. pic.twitter.com/dDcHvrj3rz
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) May 25, 2022
If similar tragic events do occur in the future, expect to see more of this from athletes, coaches, teams and leagues. If nothing else, the shooting in Uvalde has shown us that they aren’t willing to be content with the normal moment of silence.
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