The Palm Beach Post

The LeBron factor: $7,500 tickets for Heat opener

James' first moments in a Heat uniform in July (Click on the photo for more)

James' first moments in a Heat uniform in July (Click on the photo for more)

Two months before the Miami Heat and its all-star trio — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — take on the National Basketball Association, scalpers report ticket prices for Heat games home and away are burning up.

A Fort Lauderdale ticket broker tells Page2Live that some courtside seats for the Heat’s Oct. 29 home-opener against the Orlando Magic are selling for $7,500-a-piece!

“And if the Heat win their first 10-12 games, it’s going to go past $10,000,” said Todd Chitoff of ticketplayground.com.

Nosebleed ducats with face values around 50 bucks are going for an average of about $450 at the Boston Celtics, where the retooled Heat open the season Oct. 26, and at American Airlines Arena for the Orlando home opener.

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Vodka, nude women, tequila, panties: LeBron James’ wild side hidden — well, not quite!

Partying alongside nude women in rose-covered bathtubs.

Shots of Grey Goose and Patron.

Wishing that a waiter hanging from a wire overhead were a pantie-less woman instead.

That’s LeBron James, unplugged.

Problem is, not too many people got to learn about it.

The new superstar of the Miami Heat was the subject of a controversial story in ESPN’s Los Angeles website last week about his partying at Tao, a Las Vegas club. The yarn, however, was pulled by the editors.

Of course, the full story — a good snapshot of James’ intimate life — crept back onto the web.  Here’s a copy:

lebron1For more, and the poll, look below or click (Read more…)

LeBron James’ excellent Bahamas adventure

New Miami Heat star LeBron James, Sunday in The Bahamas (Click on the Splash News photo for more)

New Miami Heat star LeBron James, Sunday in The Bahamas (Click on the Splash News photo for more)

So LeBron James, you just signed a $110 million-contract to play basketball in South Florida, where do you go? Why, The Bahamas, of course! Instead of helping out new teammate Dwyane Wade with his Summer Groove Sunday, the Miami Heat’s newest superstar was frolicking on Paradise Island with his baby mama and high school sweetie, Savannah Brinson. The big guy was spotted on the beach near the Atlantis Resort, where the two were with their children, LeBron Jr. , 5, and Bryce, 3. Notice the tattoo on the left side of Bron’s torso and abdomen. It reads “Loyalty.” I’m sure there are a few folks in Cleveland who might scoff at that!

LeBron and galpal Savannah Brinson, Sunday in The Bahamas (Click on the Splash News photo for more)

LeBron and galpal Savannah Brinson, Sunday in The Bahamas (Click on the Splash News photo for more)

Now that LeBron James moved to Miami, from Cleveland, how long until the girlfriend is replaced?

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Click here for a look at the Coral Gables house James is eyeing

Dwyane Wade out of the closet, with actress Gabrielle Union

Wade with Union Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood (Click on the photo for more)

Wade with Union Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood (Click on the photo for more)

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is finally out of the closet. With B-list actress Gabrielle Union. For the first time in the nearly two years they’ve been dating, Wade and Union, 37, walked the red carpet of an event together instead of having her sneak in through the back door. Wade, 28, a former Father of the Year, had his divorce from high school sweetheart Siohvaughn finalized last month. Lovebirds Wade and Union were at his, and former Heat star Alonzo Mourning’s, the Summer Groove’s Comedy Jam Friday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Resort in Hollywood. Then Sunday, she visited D-Wade on the bench of at the Groove’s All-Star game at the American Airlines Arena.

Union visited D-Wade on the bench during the Groove's hoops game Sunday (Click on the photo for more)

Union visited D-Wade on the bench during the Groove's hoops game Sunday (Click on the photo for more)

Now that he's "free," should Dwyane Wade get rid of Gabrielle Union, too?

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Click here for more on The Summer Groove

Walmart-sized Coral Gables house in LeBron James’ sight

Didn’t take long for new Miami Heat superstar LeBron James to start looking for that special bachelor pad!

LeBron's new house? (Click on the photo for more on this home, and the South Florida homes of celebrities)

LeBron's new house? (Click on the photo for more on this home, and the South Florida homes of celebrities)

LeBron greets his new fans (Click on photo for more)

LeBron greets his new fans last week (Click on photo for more)

The 25-year-old has been checking out properties in the Coral Gables area and, according to the celebrity weekly Life & Style, he’s fallen in love with a $49.5 million crib with view on Biscayne Bay. James last week signed a six-year deal with the NBA’s Heat worth an estimated $110 million.

A realtor with Avatar Real Estate Services, which has the listing, confirmed the house was taken off the market temporarily a day after James arrived in South Florida.

The 20,000-square-foot digs, on Casuarina Concourse, sit on nearly four acres of prime land in Miami-Dade County’s swankiest town. It boasts eight bedrooms, including three full suites, eleven baths, a world-class gym, a pond, a media room and a 12-camera security system.

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With LeBron James on board, Heat star Dwyane Wade focuses on charity

The Summer Groove, a four-day charity fundraiser started by former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning and partly run by Dwyane Wade kicked off with a golf tournament Wednesday at The Doral. The Groove continues through the weekend with a comedy show and a gala at the Seminole Hard Rock Resort in Hollywood, and a celebrity hoops game Sunday at the American Airlines Arena downtown Miami. Click here, or on the photo, for Michele Sandberg’s pictures of Wednesday’s golf, which lured the likes of former Heat star Tim Hardaway and former Dolphins’ running back Keith Byars. New Heat LeBron James has yet to be seen at the event, but there’s a rumor he may play in the celebrity basketball game:

Heat superstar Dwyane Wade prepares to swing Wednesday at The Doral (Click on the Michele Sandberg photo for more)

Heat superstar Dwyane Wade prepares to swing Wednesday at The Doral (Click on the Michele Sandberg photo for more)

Click here for pbpulse’s story on the Summer Groove

EXCLUSIVE! King LeBron James arrives: the first pictures

(Click on the photo for the full gallery)

(Click on the photo for the full gallery)

Hoops superstar LeBron James arrived at the W South Beach about 3:30 a.m. today after announcing he’d be playing for the Miami Heat in the upcoming NBA season. Current team franchise player Dwyane Wade, who was instrumental in convincing James to sign on with the Heat, welcomed James at a small gathering in a secluded room at the hotel. Click here for more exclusive pictures.

lebrondos

(Click on the photo for the entire gallery)

LeBron James slips into Miami’s heat

James (middle with the backpack) arrives at MIA this morning (Mike Jachles Photo/Special to Page2Live)

James, middle with the backpack, arrives at MIA this morning (Click on the Mike Jachles photo for much more)

A new era in South Florida sports officially kicked off early this morning when a private Citation jet carrying hoops superstar LeBron James landed at Miami International Airport.

Wearing a white t-shirt and carrying a backpack, the 25-year-old recruit of the Miami Heat emerged from the jet and into the stifling night about 3 a.m.

James was accompanied by a dozen of his homies when he crossed the tarmac. He was greeted by Heat President Pat Riley, who arrived at the Signature Flight Support terminal 30 minutes earlier on another charter.

Late yesterday, James announced he’d sign on with the Heat during an ESPN broadcast in Greenwich, Conn. He then met with Riley and other team officials in a nearby restaurant before the group hopped on the two planes.

At MIA, about a dozen fans — some wearing home-made t-shirts with James’ name on them — sweated it out behind a fence 200 yards away and hysterically chanted the hoopster’s name when he came into view.

The superstar didn’t acknowledge them.

James and his crew, and the Heat personnel then disappeared into four SUVs. Fans ran alongside James’ Escalade hoping for a word or two from the big guy, but the motorcade sped away.

James arrived at the W South Beach, where he is registered through the weekend, shortly after 3:30 a.m.

Heat President Pat Riley waits for LeBron James' flight this morning at MIA (Mike Jachles Photo/Special to Page2Live)

Heat President Pat Riley waits for LeBron James' flight this morning at MIA (Click on the Mike Jachles photo for much more)

Click here for more exclusive photos

Where’s LeBron James going? This weekend, he’ll be in Miami Beach!

King James, partying in Miami Beach this weekend?

King James, partying in Miami Beach this weekend?

If there’s little doubt basketball superstar LeBron James will pick the Miami Heat as the team on which he’ll win a slew of NBA championships, here’s a clue that should make his ESPN announcement at 9 p.m. even less of a mystery: James and his posse will be partying in South Beach all weekend!

Word is starting to seep out that the dunk demon has reserved two dozen rooms and six poolside cabanas at the fashionable W South Beach, starting tonight and through Sunday.

I mean, if the guy were to tell the world he’ll play in a crappy place like, say, Cleveland, or one full of itself like, say, New York, then would he be planning a weekend in South Beach?

A spokeswoman at the W said hotel officials never comment on guests. But then, she didn’t deny the report, first put out by US Weekly.

The Heat yesterday announced they re-sign all-star Dwyane Wade and Toronto Raptors artist Chris Bosh.

James will make his announcement from Greenwich, Conn. But three hours later, he’s expected at the W.

Welcome home, big guy!

Wanted by the sheriff: Miami Heater Dwyane Wade’s wife!

The Wades, in better times

The Wades, in better times (Click on photo for more)

Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade’s ongoing divorce case is getting stranger by the day.

A week after the baller’s soon-to-be-ex-wife filed a lawsuit against Wade’s mistress, two-bit actress Gabrielle Union, a judge ordered sheriff’s deputies to find and arrest the mother of Wade’s two boys. Siohvaughn Wade failed to materialize for Monday’s divorce hearing in the couple’s hometown of Chicago.

Exasperated by a pattern of erratic behavior, the judge also ordered Siohvaughn to pay a $10,000-bond to regain her freedom if the deputies find her, according to the Associated Press.

UPDATE: Siohvaughn turned herself in Tuesday morning, paid her bond and was released an hours later.

Dwyane Wade’s attorneys were planning to ask for the custody of the boys at Monday’s hearing, which was postponed.

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