Heat, LeBron OK, but Chalmers gets cheers in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Only in Kansas City.

Mario Chalmers should have had his folks back home in Alaska record Friday night's preseason game between his Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He may need video evidence to prove that one day in his life, he received a louder ovation than LeBron James.

Yes, it's true. Almario Vernard Chalmers got more love than King James. Chalmers scored five points and still was voted the player of the game.

This must be Kansas City, where a former Kansas Jayhawk holds more clout than the league's two-time Most Valuable Player. Where courtside celebrity-watching includes Chiefs coach Todd Haley slapping hands and laughing with Dwayne Bowe, and Bill and Cindy Self kissing, to the delight of 18,222 cheering fans.

Only a mixed plate would have set this off even more as Miami defeated Oklahoma City, 103-96.

Billed as a Miami home game, the opening notes of "Enter Sandman" filled the arena and Michael Baiamonte bellowed "Ladies and gentlemen, now arriving at Sprint Center, your Miaaaammiiiiii Heeeeaaaat!"

Kansas City seems a far cry from South Beach, but the fans made LeBron and company feel right at home.

"The fans were great," said James, who flirted with a triple- double - 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. "It's always fun coming into cities where they don't have an NBA team and they get an opportunity to see us live."

The Sprint Center may have sold out because bandwagoners wanted to see the sexiest story in the NBA - Miami's Big Three - but the Jayhawk fans here Friday night remembered Chalmers. And his big three - the one he drained in the 2008 NCAA championship game - trumps everything else.

Chalmers still keeps Kansas close. Right above the "AK'' ink on his right wrist - that tattoo representing his home state - Chalmers still wears a beaded KU Jayhawk bracelet. He hasn't taken it off since a young fan made it for him back in 2008.