MIAMI -- On the July 2004 day when he was introduced in Miami, Shaquille O'Neal arrived in an 18-wheeler with "Diesel Power" written on the side and was greeted by thousands of screaming fans.
The whole spectacle reminded O'Neal of championship parades in Los Angeles, where he had won titles with the Lakers from 2000-02. Standing there, O'Neal decided to tell the fans in Miami, "I want y'all to remember this feeling right here. I'm going to bring a championship to Miami. I promise."
In 2006, O'Neal delivered on that promise, bringing the Heat its first NBA title and helping raise the profile of a franchise that would later win two more with LeBron James.