NBA's Miami Heat give Florida airmen a treat

By AP on October 1, 2010

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AP) -- The Miami Heat are hosting 450 guests from the U.S. Air Force for their first full scrimmage of training camp.

A practice unlike perhaps any other in team history, 225 airmen and others will be brought into the relatively small gym at Hurlburt Field for the first half, then replaced by 225 more onlookers for the second 20-minute period. Many of those who received passes to see LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the Heat play were lined up long before the scrimmage began.

The national anthem will even play to begin the event, something that doesn't happen before just any regular workout.

The Heat have trained at the Air Force installation on Florida's Panhandle since Tuesday morning. They return to Miami on Sunday.