From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

UDONIS HASLEM

Starting forward for the Miami Heat

April 20 2005

In the new Miami Heat comic book series, power forward Udonis Haslem is named the Seer and given supersensory powers to match his 6-foot-8, 228-pound frame. "To tell you the truth, I was kind of disappointed with my powers compared to the others," Haslem admits. After all, the comic book's writers turned guard Damon Jones into the Splitter, enabling him to be in three places at once.

But the Seer fits perfectly into Haslem's reality, because those superpowers remain when he steps off the comic book's pages and onto the court. Playing at home and away, Haslem has racked up some astounding stats, especially for a guy who wasn't even drafted out of college in 2002 and had to spend a year playing for a team in Chalon sur Saône, France, before signing with the Heat as a free agent in August 2003.

Bring up France -- known for its romance and cuisine -- and Haslem, 24, dismisses his time there. "It was nothing but a business trip," he says. He knew he belonged in the NBA.

A native Miamian, a star at the University of Florida and, now, a member of the Heat's elite starting lineup who's on his way to the NBA playoffs, Haslem is not the type of person to be amazed at where he is today. "I've never stopped moving forward," he says. "I realize what's happening is all pretty huge, but I think I'm exactly where I should be."

At UF, he had a pet snake named Tango, and the address of his Web site is www.udominator.com. Haslem's personality is as large as his game. His pregame ritual comprises prayer and hip-hop. "John Legend is good for the ride home," he says. "But before a game, I've got to have Southern hip-hop to get going -- Trick Daddy."

Occasionally this season, the Heat seemed to be having too much fun, especially during a rout of the Boston Celtics when Haslem hilariously dangled from the rim after an extreme dunk. Haslem laughs at the memory but explains the team's wild camaraderie this way: "Our relationship off the floor shows on the floor."

So far, the only drawback to his phenomenal success is that his friends have now surpassed him on Madden 2005. "They've been playing while I've been busy, so I can't even compete anymore," he says. "Now, I have to wait for the next one in the series to come out to get a jump on them."

Recently, he has had to fend off relatives and friends asking him for free playoff tickets. "It's just too much. I'm already telling people, 'You're on your own,' " he says.

But Haslem wants them there, for sure. He wants you all there. "We've won games because of our fans," he says. "I never forget that."

-- T.M. Shine