Standing five rows directly behind the Heat's bench, the man in the blue jeans, white T-shirt and filthy mouth launched an object that was headed directly toward the back of James' head as the superstar sat unaware watching his new team finish off his former squad.
This time, it turned out to be knotted rally towel, which fell about two feet short of striking James before it was swatted down by a Heat security officer. Maybe that fan -- who was quickly whisked out of the arena with a taser aimed at his back by police -- wasn't aiming at James after all.
Perhaps he was attempting to do everyone in the building a favor. Because someone probably should have thrown in the towel for the Cavaliers way before things got as ugly as they did in the fourth quarter of Miami's 118-90 victory that was part coming-out party, part confirmation hearing for James.
To James' credit, he largely ignored the chaos that started when someone threw a battery from the stands that landed right in front of the Heat's bench. That drew a warning from the public address announcer.
The battery was thrown right around the time when a man apparently tried to rush the court from one of the tunnels leading to it but was picked off by a security officer, which led to a scuffle. As the Heat's lead grew, so did the craziness in the stands. One fan wearing a Heat jersey was showered with cups of beer in the upper deck. He didn't duck. Instead, he basked in the beer until he was escorted out.
Then came towel man. Maverick Carter, James' business manager, left his courtside seat moments later and had to be escorted through the crowd by three bodyguards. James, meanwhile, was oblivious to his surroundings. Or at least he did a remarkable acting job.
