Heat short-changed fans

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So when do the refunds arrive? When do the Miami Heat's season-ticket holders get their money back, at least a pro-rated share to cover the final 10 home games? When can those folks who already purchased single-game tickets return them, or trade them for similar seats next season? Because, clearly, the rest of this season is worthless.Or at least meaningless.Even Pat Riley said so.Through his words.And his actions.Not only has he shut down Dwyane Wade and his troublesome knee for the last 20 games of this forgettable season, but Riley, too, plans to skip a game or two this week -- so he can scout college players he might want to select with the team's lottery pick in next June's NBA draft."I happen to have two titles, but its one job," Riley told reporters last week, referring to his dual role as the Heat's president and coach."The buck stopped with me when we won the championship," he later added, "and it stops with me right now when we've got the worst team in the league. I've got to try to rectify this and turn it around as quickly as possible."That's why he'll take a brief leave-of-absence from the bench.That's also why he ended Wade's season a month early, even though the star guard could play -- and would be playing -- if the Heat were within striking distance of the playoff chase."There's no doubt it's a function of the record," Riley said after Monday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers dropped the Heat's record to a league-worst 11-51. "My God, it didn't take a news bulletin for that."Yes, we aren't going to make the playoffs. It's a lost season. We don't want this to be a lost career."Riley is right.At least when it comes to Wade.There's no sense in adding more wear and tear to Wade's surgically repaired right knee, just to play out a dead season in South Florida -- a fair-weather sports town that cares only when the home team is winning.Given the dismal circumstances, it's also easy to understand why Riley feels the need to do some first-hand scouting.The Heat are now all about the future, about rebuilding, about putting together a supporting cast that gives Wade a real chance to play for another championship.When healthy, Wade is one of the five best players in the game.But will he ever be healthy again? Will he ever again be the daring, unstoppable, athletically explosive force he was in 2006, when he led the Heat to an improbable title? Or have all the injuries -- to his wrist, ankle, hip, shoulder and knee -- taken a permanent toll, robbing him of his ability to fly? Last May, in fact, Wade underwent surgery on both his left shoulder and right knee. And he hasn't been the same since.Truth be told, Wade came back too soon. Doctors told him it would take a year for the knee to feel normal again.Now, the knee still hurts.Hurts badly.So bad that Wade, who had hoped to finish the season, didn't question Riley's call."I'm doing what's right," Wade said.Well, sort of.He's right to rest the knee, which he'll continue to rehab. He'll even experiment with some hi-tech form of shock-wave therapy. And if all goes well, he hopes to be at full strength for next season.But because of the ongoing problems with his knee -- and because he means so much to the Heat's future -- it would be wrong for him to go to this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing."That's Dwyane's decision," Riley said. "He wants to be an Olympic champion."That's nice.But what the Heat need should be more important than what Wade wants.They are, after all, paying him.Millions of dollars.So Wade can afford to pass up whatever cash Converse, one of his many sponsors, might throw his way for pushing their brand on an international stage.Besides, unlike the past couple of Olympics, we're sending our "A" team this year. The U.S. squad is loaded with talent. Wade's presence isn't needed, especially if his knee is still barking.Yet, Wade said: "I'm still committed to the Olympic team. But, right now, my focus is on getting healthy."Sorry, but he can't do both.Or he shouldn't.It's not worth the risk.The Heat need a healthy Wade to win, to get back to the playoffs, to take a run at another title. He is their marquee attraction, the difference maker that makes basketball matter in Miami.Now he's done.What's left of this Heat season doesn't matter.That's what Riley said.So when can do the refunds arrive?(Ray McNulty is sports columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. Contact him at ray.mcnulty@Scripps.com or on the Web at www.tcpalm.com.)