Well there is a first time for everything this summer. For Lebron James, this is the first time he has been on the positive side of a PR story. Although it is only by affiliation with the Heat, it is still a positive move for an organization who have taken a huge hit with fans outside of Miami for assembling a ‘super team’.
When you think about it, there is really no better group to affiliate yourself with in order to garner public favor, than the military who put their lives on the line every day for their country. The Heat must know that as they will be holding part of their training camp at the Elgin Air Force Base….
LeBron James(notes) will take his talents to a different beach when the Miami Heat open camp.
He’ll get to South Beach eventually. But first—Fort Walton Beach.
The Miami Heat announced Wednesday night that they’ll hold their first camp with James, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida’s Panhandle from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. Miami has typically held training camp at its home arena, but in an effort to limit distractions going into this much-hyped season, the Heat wanted a different locale.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wanted the camp there after getting presented with the idea by team trainer Jay Sabol. Once the base agreed, the deal was struck.
“This is a terrific opportunity for our team,” Spoelstra said. “The base will provide the ideal setting for us to focus on basketball and building camaraderie with limited distractions. It also presents us a unique and fantastic opportunity to spend time with the Airmen who defend our freedom. I anticipate our team and each of us individually will benefit tremendously from being around this environment.”
Eglin officials said Wednesday night they could not recall another professional sports team training at the base, which is about 650 miles away from Miami.
Read more details via Associated Press on Yahoo! Sports
