Culp, Heat's first trainer, steps down after 37 seasons

MIAMI -- Fittingly, in a year when the Miami Heat were ravaged by injuries, they spent the season's final night paying tribute to their trainer.

Ron Culp, the longest-serving trainer in NBA history and one of the Heat organization's last remaining original employees, is retiring. His final game in his full-time role -- the 3,001st regular-season game of his 37-year career -- was Wednesday night, when the Heat hosted the Atlanta Hawks.

Sometime soon, Culp will slide into an undetermined role with the franchise. He was presented with a new truck as a going-away present Wednesday, and the Heat training room was renamed "The Culp Room."

And then came the big honor: A banner, just to the left of the 2006 NBA championship one, was unfurled from the rafters bearing Culp's name.

"He's been here 20 years," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "He just got it done."

Culp, a three-time NBA trainer of the year, was honored in a lengthy halftime ceremony. Every Heat player and coach was seated at midcourt instead of retreating into the locker room as per usual, and Culp was flanked by his two daughters, who were presented flowers by the team.

"You represent everything good that the Miami Heat stands for," Heat center Alonzo Mourning told Culp during the ceremony.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist sent a letter honoring Culp, and even NBA commissioner David Stern chimed in with a videotaped statement honoring what he called Culp's "spectacular service to the NBA."

"Thank you from the NBA," Stern said. "Thank you for what you've meant to us."

Riley said he and Culp began discussing retirement plans two years ago, and added that one of his fondest memories of this dismal Heat season was when Culp -- who also served as Miami's travel coordinator -- poured a round of champagne after Miami's final road game this season.

Culp had a style -- and a look -- all his own. It wasn't uncommon to see him walking through the locker room before games in shorts and a Heat golf shirt, with a distinctive bright red apron strapped across his body.

The team had the apron framed, much like a retired jersey would be.

"All of us players know he cares about us as individuals," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who presented Culp with the apron.