With a week to go before a referendum vote on a new Heat
area, the Stop New Arena Committee -- headed by Miami attorney
Dan Paul -- has "begun to reach out to voters," according to Don
Finefrock of the MIAMI HERALD. The organization has started a
"low budget" ad campaign that uses comic strips printed in local
newspapers telling voters they would be "foolish" to support the
arena. Monday's strip depicted a fictional conversation between
Heat Owner Micky Arison and Knight-Ridder CEO/Arena financing
architect Tony Ridder, where both depict the voters as "chumps."
Ridder called the strip "outrageous," noting, "I think it's
really sad they would sink that low" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/29).
GET ON THE BUS: In an event sponsored by the Coalition
for a Greater Miami, Heat President Pat Riley and several players
will ride a bus through Miami's Little Havana and Liberty City
today to stump for the new arena. Following the bus tour, the
team will hold a public scrimmage and sign autographs at Miami
Arena. The HERALD's Finefrock notes it's the first time Heat
players have played a public role in the arena campaign (MIAMI
HERALD, 10/29).
