Before I start with this column, I would like to establish two quick things. Number one: I am a female and number two: I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida.

And now the point of this – I am a huge Miami Heat fan. I’m talking decked out pj sleeping, jersey wearing, Tervis drinking Miami heat fan. I decided to start this article how I did, because I am aware of the hatred that can come about with saying that this is about being a Miami Heat fan in Maverick’s country.

Ever since I was a kid, I have grown up watching Dolphin football and Heat games (always with my dad). I was a fan when Shaq and Wade were the dynamic duo, when Shaq got traded to Phoenix, when Lebron and Bosh came on to join Wade, when my heart ached for a runner up title; I’ve been a fan through it all.

So being that I live surrounded by a blue and silver nation of Mavs, the spring is always an interesting time of year. Needless to say, the spring of 2011 wasn’t necessarily the best year. If you aren’t familiar, this is when the Mavs won the championship, beating the Heat in the finals. Whether it was on Twitter for all to see, messages via text, or even people showing up to my house; no one feared rubbing their win in my sad and upset loss. No one questioned my pride for my team or my knowledge on the sport at all, they just flaunted their win (as they deserved). But I knew deep down that things would get better because the cream always rises to the top.

A year flew by and things were different. Miami won the championship, Lebron won MVP, the team rattled off 27 straight wins marking the second longest winning streak in the history of the NBA, and all of a sudden people’s reactions changed. I was questioned on my loyalty to the team and people even claimed I didn’t know anything because I was just a girl. My response, with a simple smirk upon my face was always “who has the rings?”

Overall, it’s never a dull moment in the spring for me and my Heat. Win or lose, I stand by my team because they represent what is right in sports; unselfish, hard working individuals who have all made extreme sacrifices to fight for what they want most….CHAMPIONSHIPS.