Heat President Pat Riley tops a list of 30 people who have "impacted the organization most -- from players to the front office" -- as the team kicks off its 30th season, according to Manny Navarro of the MIAMI HERALD. Riley was the "architect of the Heat’s three championships as team president and the franchise’s all-time leader in wins as a coach." Only the Spurs and Lakers "have won more" than the Heat since Riley’s arrival in '95. The Arison family, which founded the club in '87, rank No. 5 on the list. Also included in the top five were Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Alonzo Mourning (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/18). Riley said of his time in the NBA, "For 50 years I shut the world out. Everything (but basketball) became second. Now, as much pressure as I have here, I’m not going to allow it to do to me what it used to." In Miami, Greg Cote wrote Riley is in a "good place" personally now. He is in a "good place professionally, too." He has "learned to trust, to delegate." Heat Owner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison and Senior VP/Basketball Operations & GM Andy Elisburg "enjoy his faith." Riley said, "I always felt if I wasn’t sitting in that chair eight, nine, 10 hours a day, people would walk by saying, ‘He’s not committed anymore.' That’s a pretty bad way to go through life. Now I feel a freedom from that. We all know how to get the job done." Cote: "Do not mistake Riley’s late-career epiphany of perspective for nonchalance. The man who has nine NBA championship rings as player, assistant, head coach or executive is hungry for one more" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/18).
