University of Miami junior guard Justin Heller didn’t play in last week’s 54-50 victory against Virginia.
But Neal Heller, Justin’s father, got into the game right away.
Despite owning a courtside seat at the BankUnited Center, the 52-year-old Heller spent the evening on his feet, exhorting the Hurricanes to play defense, pumping up the fans by waving his arms as if conducting the Boston Pops and, mostly, barking at the referees.
The verbal assault began a couple of minutes after tip-off when the three game officials appeared to miss a Virginia foul on UM point guard Shane Larkin. Referee Doug Sirmons, who had the misfortune of being the closest official to Heller, was made to pay for the non-call during this next few trips up the court.
Senior center Reggie Johnson calls Heller “the Spike Lee of UM basketball.” Lee, the noted movie director and ref baiter, sits courtside at Madison Square Garden for New York Knicks’ games.
“He stays on the referee nonstop,” Johnson said of Heller. “He says things to the ref and I say, ‘Man, I’m glad he’s not a player because he’d be put out right now.’”
But don’t get the wrong impression. Heller, a Boca Raton resident and a 1982 UM graduate, is not some R-rated loudmouth who annoys his own side as much as he does referees and opponents.
Heller doesn’t curse, won’t get in anybody’s face and has never been asked to leave a game. UM’s players love Heller — each one stops by pre-game to give him a high-five — and he’s become a favorite among students. Most of his Twitter followers are UM students and one has begun showing up to basketball games carrying a Fathead — a cut out of an over-sized face used to distract opposing free-throw shooters — with Heller’s mug.
“He loves it,” said Justin Heller, a graduate of West Boca Raton High School. “The guys mess with me about it. They say, ‘You’re dad is more famous than you.’ ”
With his dad on-board as the team’s super fan and the fifth-ranked Hurricanes (22-4, 13-1 ACC) enjoying a magical season heading into tonight’s home game against Virginia Tech (12-15, 3-11), Justin said he’s having the time of his life.
But it wasn’t always that way. Growing up, Justin didn’t welcome his dad’s exuberance at games. The gyms Justin played in were small and his dad’s booming, New York-accented voice could be heard from end to end.
“Throughout middle school and high school, I didn’t really like it,” said Justin, a finance major. “I’d be like, ‘C’mon dad.’ ”
That began to change after Justin successfully walked on at UM as a freshman and his teammates started to realize the crazy guy sitting across the court was Heller’s dad. Because Heller’s histrionics are often caught on camera, he’s become a form of comedic relief during team film sessions.
“I think his teammates appreciated it and it allowed Justin to appreciate it,” said Heller, who owns four beauty schools throughout the state. “I think he saw it from a different perspective and said, ‘You know what? He is just supporting my teammates so, who cares?’ ”
Said sixth-year senior Julian Gamble of Neal Heller: “He’s unconditionally there for us.”
Not so much the referees, many of whom are well aware of Heller’s presence.
“I never curse and I don’t say anything personal, but I will dispute calls,” asserts Heller.
One of those disputed calls earned Heller a 30-second stare down from referee Jamie Luckie during a game two years ago. Heller figured his days heckling the veteran official were over until Luckie walked over to him before UM’s game against North Carolina on Feb. 9.
“Can you be nice to me today?” Luckie pleaded.
“Now I’m going to feel bad if I yell at him,” said Heller.
The truth is, Heller hasn’t had much to complain about this season. Before last Saturday’s loss to Wake Forest, UM had won 14 consecutive games and risen to a No. 2 ranking. He also got to experience the thrill of watching Justin — the Hurricanes’ human victory cigar in blowouts — score his first career points when he sunk a jumper against Charlotte on Dec. 14.
“It was one of the most special moments I’ve ever had,” said Heller, who is divorced from Justin’s mother.
There have been quite a few moments like that for UM and Heller this season. Recently, Neal received his first autograph request and he also was profiled on local television.
So is Justin getting upstaged by his dad?
“That’s the last thing I want,” said Neal Heller. “We’re very close and we’ve been close forever. These are going to be memories we share the rest of our lives.”
