HEAT SAYS RADIO ANNOUNCER'S JOB SECURE FOLLOWING COMMENTS

          The Heat said team radio announcer David Halberstam's
     job "is secure" in the wake of comments he made during a
     broadcast last week, according to Barry Jackson in the MIAMI
     HERALD.  Heat VP/Media Development & Operations Steve Watson
     "said Halberstam definitely will return next season in the
     final year of his contract" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/23).  Heat
     players said they were "offended" by Halberstam's comments
     during Wednesday's game after Halberstam referred to the
     Heat's John Crotty, who attended the Univ. of VA, which
     Thomas Jefferson founded.  Halberstam: "When Thomas
     Jefferson was around basketball was not invented yet ... But
     those slaves working at Thomas Jefferson's farm, I am sure
     they would have made good basketball players."  On Thursday,
     Halberstam, a Heat employee, issued a statement that said he
     "made an off-the-cuff comment that I regret.  Please accept
     my sincerest apologies" (Steve Wyche, MIAMI HERALD, 3/22).