The in-arena voice for Miami Heat home games will sound different next season.
That’s because long-time Heat public address announcer Michael Baiamonte will retire at the end of this season after 35 seasons in the role. Baiamonte’s first season as the Heat’s full-time PA announcer came in 1991-92 after serving as the team’s fill-in PA announcer for a game on Feb. 21, 1990.
Baiamonte, a local icon for his booming voice, begins his final season as the team’s PA announcer when the Heat plays its home opener on Sunday against the New York Knicks (6 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun).
“After giving this much thought and consideration, I have decided that this season, my 35th with the Miami Heat organization, will be my last,” Baiamonte said in a statement issued by the Heat on Saturday. “I want to thank the Miami Heat for their understanding and support of my decision as I move to the next chapter of my life with my wife Natalie and our daughters. I also want to say THANK YOU to all of Heat Nation. For all of the love you have shown me, I am forever grateful. During my final season, let’s continue to make some more noise, share some more laughs, and, as always, give all our collective support to our Miami Heat. LET’S GO HEAT!”
Baiamonte is the second-longest tenured public address announcer in the NBA and has announced more than 1,500 professional basketball games, including six NBA Finals. He has also been the Heat’s in-arena voice for all three of its NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
“In addition to the incredible level of energy and enthusiasm he has brought to each Miami Heat game, for more than three decades Michael B’s professionalism and affable personality have endeared him to all of us in the front office and to Heat fans everywhere,” Heat executive vice president and chief marketing officer Michael McCullough said in a statement. “His voice will forever be a part of our franchise history.”
Baiamonte, 62, grew up in Miami and attended Gulliver Prep, and developed an interest in basketball and announcing at a young age.
After serving as a PA announcer at Gulliver and Florida International University, Baiamonte started working for an insurance company and became the Heat’s PA announcer in early 1990s. He worked both jobs until making PA announcing his one job in 1999.
Through the years, Baiamonte has created plenty of trademark calls. But none may be bigger than the “Dos Minutos” he announces at the two-minute mark of every quarter to inject some Spanish into home games.
Beginning with Sunday’s home opener, the Heat will celebrate Biamonte’s 35 seasons as the PA announcer through a season-long campaign, Mike Drop. The Heat said “a nationwide search for his replacement will commence in the coming weeks.”