An Overview of the Miami Heat’s Championship History

  Chelsie Zents is an associate IT analyst with Erie Insurance Group in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has held the position for more than two years, following time as an IT intern while studying accounting and management information systems at Penn State Erie. Away from her work as an IT analyst, Chelsie Zents enjoys reading and following pro sports, particularly her favorite basketball team the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an expansion team prior to the 1988-1989 season. Despite a relatively short 32-year history, which included the Michael Jordan Chicago’s Bulls era, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs dynasties, the Heat have won three championships and are tied for the sixth most championship wins in league history.

Like many expansion teams, the Miami Heat started slow, winning a total of 57 games over three seasons. However, the combination of head coach Pat Riley and players such as Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning allowed the Heat to gain relevance in the league’s championship race, winning 61 and 55 games in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, respectively. After a lockout-shortened the 1998-1999 season, the Heat again reached the 50 win mark in 2000 and 2001.

Unfortunately, regular season wins did not translate to post-season success until several years later, when the combination of a young Dwyane Wade and veteran Shaquille O’Neal led the franchise to its first championship. Following a 52-win 2005-2006 season, Wade and O’Neal helped Miami come back from a 2-0 series hole against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. It was Finals MVP Wade’s first title and Shaq’s fourth.

The Heat’s fortunes varied considerably over the next few seasons until the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh transformed Miami into perennial title favorites. The Heat reached four consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 through Jame’s departure in 2014, winning in 2012 and 2013 over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Spurs, respectively.

American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Work in the Bahamas

An alumna of Penn State University, Chelsie Zents is an associate IT analyst at Erie Insurance Group. Active in her local community, Chelsie Zents has supported a variety of charitable causes and hosted blood drives in support of the American Red Cross.

From small house fires to natural disasters, the American Red Cross responds to an average of 62,000 incidents per year. In addition to on-the-ground assistance following natural disasters, it has supported long-term recovery efforts via community-based grants following Hurricane Harvey and the wildfires in California in 2017. After Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 storm that touched down in the Bahamas and hit the southeastern coast of the US and parts of Canada in September, the American Red Cross has focused its efforts on helping the residents of the Bahamas as well as those who were forced to evacuate.

Working with Palm Beach County Emergency Management, the American Red Cross has provided shelter, food, water, and health services for evacuees arriving in Florida, while volunteers helped reconnect families. The nonprofit also sent more than 20 disaster responders to the Bahamas to help rebuild critical infrastructure and distribute resources. Moreover, it has committed $6.1 million in disaster relief funding for the people of the Bahamas.

Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett Launches Indie Music Venue in London

Mumford & Sons
Image: mumfordandsons.com

An associate IT analyst with Erie Insurance Group, Chelsie Zents is an accounting and management information systems graduate of Pennsylvania State Erie. A music lover, Chelsie Zents enjoys bands that range from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Mumford and Sons.

Interviewed recently by Milwaukee’s NPR station WUWM as part of its World Cafe London trip, Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett detailed his efforts to draw attention to worthy independent artists who would otherwise fall through the cracks.

This impetus began in 2015, while touring in support of his group’s album Wilder Mind. Having already successfully helped launch Communion, a club that evolved into an independent record label, Lovett started taking notes related to a “dream venue” whenever he had the chance.

This recently became a reality through the launch of the 320-capacity Omeara venue in the heart of London. Situated near London Bridge, a former railway arch has been transformed into a space that is completely soundproof and dedicated to breathing new life into the local music scene. On the night that WUWM interviewed Lovett, the venue was playing host to The Amazons and Another Sky, two bands associated with independent label Fiction Records.

The American Red Cross Reports Emergency Blood Shortage

Chelsie Zents serves as an associate IT analyst at Erie Insurance Group. In addition to her professional activities, Chelsie Zents has helped to prepare food and fulfilled the role of a receptionist at multiple local blood drives by the American Red Cross.

A not-for-profit organization committed to supporting those affected by disasters, the American Red Cross is confronting an emergency blood shortage across the nation. The summer months are a predictably difficult time to acquire blood, as many blood banks see a drop in regular donors. This is in part due to many donors going on vacation. Additionally, many blood drives take place at universities, high schools, and other institutions that are less active during the summer months.

To assist local blood banks in rebuilding their blood supply, the American Red Cross is calling on Americans to take one hour out of the day to donate blood. An ongoing blood supply shortage could result in such healthcare challenges as postponed surgeries. Interested parties can donate by visiting a local American Red Cross donation center.

Miami Heat Sign Rookie Guard Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro
Image: nba.com

An associate IT analyst at Erie Insurance Group, Chelsie Zents has served the Pennsylvania-based company since 2017. Outside of work, Chelsie Zents enjoys a variety of activities including listening to music, reading, playing sports, and cheering on the NBA’s Miami Heat.

In a recently released statement, the Miami Heat announced that the team had signed Tyler Herro to a rookie contract. The 6-foot-5-inch, 195-pound guard was drafted by Miami 13th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He played college ball at the University of Kentucky, averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 37 games over one season. He also shot an impressive 46.2 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 93.5 percent from the foul line.

After being drafted by the Heat, Herro played in five Summer League games for Miami during the California Classic in Sacramento and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A starter in all 5 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists while maintaining a field goal average of 39 percent.

Herro also averaged just over 1 steal a game and shot 96 percent from the foul line during Summer League play. Miami Heat fans and management are hoping that Herro continues his solid play when the team begins the regular 2019-20 season in the fall.

Heat Fans Await News on Future of Chris Bosh

Miami Heat
Image: nba.com/heat

College student Chelsie Zents serves as a Dairy Queen shift manager in Brookville, Pennsylvania. Aside from school, work, and other pursuits, Chelsie Zents follows the Miami Heat, including star player Chris Bosh.

Doctors found new evidence of clotting in Bosh’s left calf in early 2016, and since then, the Heat have indefinitely removed him from active competition. According to The Sporting News, Bosh has spoken to his Heat teammates about the issue and those in his inner circle report that the 32-year old forward still wants to keep playing.

Normally open with the media, Bosh has remained mum on his medical status. His only recent comment on the issue came in a March press release in which he expressed optimism about returning to the court, and said that his condition was not life-threatening.

Still, Bosh has now faced an early end to two straight seasons due to blood clotting. It is not currently known when or if doctors will clear him to return to action next season. He remains under a $75.5 million contract with the Heat for three more seasons. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insists there is “no dispute” between Bosh and the Heat, though his future is still something of a question mark.

Mumford and Sons’ New Album

Mumford & Sons
Image: mumfordandsons.com

 

Chelsie Zents is studies at Pennsylvania State University, where she majors in marketing and minors in business management. In addition to her student life and other interests, Chelsie Zents is a long-time fan of the band Mumford & Sons.

Mumford & Sons has recently announced a new mini-album project, named Johannesburg, According to NME.com, the band recorded it while touring in South Africa in early 2016. The album was put together over the course of two marathon sessions in between tour events.

Johannesburg is a collaboration between Mumford & Sons and Senegalese artist Baaba Maal, a South African act called Beatenberg, and The Very Best, based in London.

The album’s first single, entitled “There Will Be Time,” was released on Spotify and other online outlets. The track features vocals from Maal and is a fusion between traditional African folk sounds along with Mumford & Sons’ signature style.

MVP Winners from the Miami Heat

Miami Heat
Image: nba.com/heat

Chelsie Zents is an accounting student at Behrend College and made the dean’s list every semester of her freshmen and sophomore years. When she is not studying, Chelsie Zents enjoys following professional basketball, particularly the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) prior to the 1988-1989 season. Following the 2011-2012 season, LeBron James was named Most Valuable Player (MVP), the first Heat player to earn the distinction.

Averaging 37.5 minutes per game, James scored more than 27 points per game and set career marks by shooting 53 percent on field goals and 36 percent from three. He also shot 77 percent from the free throw line, the second best free throw shooting season of his career. James rounded out his third MVP resume with 7.9 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals.

James gave the Miami franchise its second MVP the very next year, elevating his game in several areas. He improved his field goal percentage to 56 while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. His efficiency on offense was reflected in a career high effective field goal percentage of .603, a figure he bested over the 2014-2015 season. He also averaged eight rebounds per contest.

Five of the East Coast’s Top Beaches

Chelsie Zents is an accounting student in her third year at Penn State University and an active participant in her community. Outside of her studies, Chelsie Zents enjoys traveling and visiting beaches throughout the East Coast. The following beaches are some of the most recommended locations by individuals in the travel industry.

1. Cape May, New Jersey. One of the country’s oldest vacation spots, Cape May boasts a paved boardwalk that offers a variety of attractions for visitors of all ages. The gorgeous beach also serves as a good location for dolphin watching.

2. Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Nantucket area offers some of the finest East Coast beaches, including Madaket Beach. While visitors can access most of the area’s beaches via ferry or airport services, Smith’s Point in Madaket is only reachable by boat and offers quality fishing locations and bathing hotspots.

3. Duck, North Carolina. A quiet seaside village, Duck has beaches with fewer crowds than other popular tourist areas. The area serves as an attractive location for fishing, destination weddings, and an assortment of watersports.

4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As one of the largest vacations hubs along the East Coast, Myrtle Beach provides a wide variety of summertime activities. Covered in silky white sand and featuring a gently sloping shoreline, the beach affords excellent opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, sailing, and surfing.

5. Sanibel Island, Florida. Individuals interested in seashell collecting may enjoy visiting Florida’s Sanibel Island, as the location serves as a goldmine for beachcombers and shell hunters. The area holds a shell fair every spring, and its local shell museum can help shell hunters identify the numerous shells that wash ashore.

Basic Kayaking Equipment

An accounting major at Pennsylvania State University, Chelsie Zents graduated with honor cords from Brookville High School. Adhering to the Dalai Lama’s belief that happiness comes from our own actions, Chelsie Zents spends her free time engaging in activities she enjoys, such as kayaking.

Dating back roughly 4,000 years, in recent times kayaking has become extremely popular. Starting out as a beginner can often be difficult, especially when it comes to getting all the necessary equipment. The first major piece of equipment is, of course, the kayak itself. Kayaks hold up to three paddlers and vary significantly in price. Beginner should consider the type of environment in which the kayak will be used, along with the kayak’s maintenance level and durability. Kayak paddles are also necessary. Making sure a paddle is long enough without being too long is important, and getting an extra paddle to store in the kayak can be helpful.

Beyond the basics, beginners need safety equipment. Purchasing a life vest that is specifically designed for kayaks ensures they stay comfortable and safe during their excursion. Some life vests have multiple pockets for carrying food or other small items, which may be helpful when using a smaller kayak with less storage room. Bringing a bilge pump is also a good idea should the kayak take on any water; lastly, a paddle float helps in case a beginner falls out of the vessel.