It might be the most memorable image of the 2023 NBA Finals. Not MVP Nikola Jokic hoisting the championship trophy high into the air. That was awesome but not as crazy as what happened last week during Game 4 in Miami. You know, when UFC legend Connor McGregor knocked out the Heat mascot Burnie and sent him to the hospital.
Oh, yeah, it happened, and McGregor is now talking about the details of the “skit” that got a little out of hand.
It all went down at the Kaseya Center Friday. McGregor was there to promote his recovery spray, and in the middle of the act, he punched Burnie so hard that the man inside the costume had to get emergency medical treatment. Luckily he was in one piece, with all his organs intact and only needed some pain pills at the hospital
The big question was, did McGregor go too far? Come on; this is the notorious former UFC champ. What did the people who came up with this idea think was going to happen? Tuesday night, McGregor talked to TMZ Sports about the incident and said the man in the costume was okay.
“The mascot is good. It was a skit, and all is well. I spent a lot of time with him afterward; we talked it out, everything is great. It was all part of the show!”
The reactions of other high-profile sports personalities were classic. UFC boss Dana White defended his former fighter. “What do you expect? I mean, what are those mascot things made out of? … Unless you’re like, the Golden Knights mascot — I don’t even know what he wears, but I’m assuming it’s a metal helmet — I wouldn’t have professional fighters punching me in the face if I was a mascot. Doesn’t seem like the brightest thing in the world.”
Eric Spoelstra, the coach of the Miami Heat, joked about the whole thing before Game 5, saying the mascot was just like Pat Riley, Jimmy Butler, and the rest of the Heat organization. Tough as nails.
“That’s the Miami Heat toughness that we’re talking about. We won’t reveal who that is, but he’s tough. He can take a punch and get back up. He’s not going to miss any time.”
Unfortunately for Burnie, he has about four months to recover fully. The Heat were eliminated in Denver Monday night.
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