Orlando Builds Up Its Rivalry With Miami

In a way, the NBA is responsible for the Miami-based characterization of “Orlandoids” as “low-forehead, nose-picking yahoos.”

The NBA also must take credit, or accept blame, for provoking the Orlando Sentinel to write a story that began, “In Orlando, community leaders often spit out the name as a curse: Miami. Too much traffic, Cocaine Cowboy shootouts and, of course, riots in places like Liberty City and Overtown.”

The NBA ensured a dirt-tossing atmosphere in April, 1987, when it announced not only that only one of these two Florida cities would be awarded an expansion franchise, but also that no decision would be made for six months.

That indecision caused Magic General Manager Pat Williams, Orlando city officials and the Sentinel to quickly go on the offensive. They knew they were the underdogs. Miami had a big-time sports image with the Dolphins and the Hurricanes. It had a bigger TV market. It would be the easy choice, or as Williams fondly put it, “a no-brainer.”

Williams and Orlando supporters suggested that Orlando, although smaller, would be the enlightened choice because it had less crime, fewer racial and drug problems, and a clean, family atmosphere that was as virtuous as Minnie Mouse.

Orlando’s attack on Miami became so vicious that, according to Williams, the NBA had no choice but to end it by announcing three weeks later -- more than five months before originally planned -- that there would be two Florida teams, with the Heat entering the league in ’88 and the Magic in ’89.

Williams basked in the afterglow of his success, but his fun was only beginning. He knew he had irritated Heat officials with his attacks on Miami. So he decided to keep it up and enjoy himself. During the next 2 1/2 years, he never passed an opportunity to tweak the Heat. And so when the teams finally met for the first time Tuesday night in Orlando, Williams’ momentum had reached avalanche proportions.

“This is the biggest rivalry in sports,” he said of the game. “This is bigger than the Celtics-Sixers. This is so big that Donald Trump wants to buy it.”

Heat officials, however, have not been amused. They point out that the city of Miami does not have a rivalry with Orlando. Orlando may feel a rivalry with Miami, but that is a typical second-city complex. And Heat management has greater aspirations -- rivalries with the Knicks, Celtics and Lakers.

“I talk to a lot of fans, and none of them are talking about Orlando,” said Heat GM Lew Schaffel. “There must not be a lot to do in Orlando if this is all they have to talk about. I guess if there was a team in Albany, they’d spend all their time talking about the first game with the Knicks.”

With Heat management taking an anti-rivalry position, the Miami Herald chose to defend Miami’s honor by unleashing the formidable Dave Barry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist. In September, Barry wrote a scathing, hilarious article in Tropic, the Herald’s Sunday magazine.

Barry charged Orlando officials had behaved with “the elegant sophistication of fraternity brothers puking on their dates.” He also said that in Orlando, “the standard of intellectual achievement is set by Shamu the Whale,” that people in Orlando are “only now getting the hang of flush toilets,” and that Orlando would be a nothing town if not for a “hormonally imbalanced talking rodent.

But the most controversial aspect of the attack was the front cover of the magazine, which pictured Barry welcoming Orlando to the NBA while twirling a basketball on his middle finger.

“Unbelievable,” Williams said. “Only the Miami Herald would publish a picture like that. Even the New York Post wouldn’t touch that.”

Privately, however, Williams was thrilled because the response from Barry validated the rivalry. Williams and Barry had a common bond of humor, and neither was reluctant to overindulge. Barry announced a cheer-writing contest with 40 winners receiving a free bus ride and tickets to the Magic-Heat game Tuesday. One of the winning entries: “Hats off to Pat Williams, he’s some kind of fellow. Before the operation, he was Annette Funicello.”

Still, Heat officials refused to smile. ESPN did a feature on the situation before the game Tuesday, and even Barry lamented the uptight seriousness displayed by Heat part-owner Billy Cunningham. “He acted like he was talking about Chernobyl,” Barry said.

In the end, the Magic had the first laugh, defeating the Heat, 104-99. Afterward, Magic players said they could feel the intensity of the rivalry. Heat players said they could not. Barry continued to express amazement at the simplicity of Orlando.

“While this rivalry was building, international communism was falling,” Barry said, “but there was no mention of that on the Orlando TV stations tonight.”

Williams, meanwhile, simply celebrated two victories -- the one on the court and the one he created. “The Heat has denied so many times that there is a rivalry that they confirmed there is one,” Williams said, smiling. “This is one of the great rivalries in professional sports. But it hasn’t been a pretty sight.”