HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jupiter socialite Filomena Tobias – aka the Miami Heat’s middle finger lady – came out of her self-imposed silence before tonight’s Heat-Bulls playoff game! Through Anthony Barbuto, her lawyer, Tobias acknowledged that her flipping the bird at former University of Florida star and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was indeed ill-mannered – but she maintains she didn’t deserve the media dredging up her past, especially her third husband’s mysterious death. “Ms. Tobias has been a devoted Miami Heat fan for as long as she can remember, and like many other devoted fans, she unfortunately allowed her passion for the team to disregard proper fan etiquette. She is only human, and her emotions got the best of her,” Barbuto wrote after consulting with Tobias. “She offers her genuine apologies to anyone she has offended, and she requests that her privacy, as well as the privacy of her family, be respected at this time.” gossipextra.com

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Filomena Tobias 

Thibodeau revealed that the plantar fasciitis in Joakim Noah’s right foot could require surgery but that Noah would try rehabilitation first. “That hasn’t been determined,’’ Thibodeau said of Noah undergoing surgery. “Obviously, we’d like to avoid the surgery. He has responded a lot better. He has found something that has worked. “We want him to get completely healthy That will be the focus, getting him back to 100 percent. He needs some rest, as most of the guys do. Same thing with Luol. We have to get him completely healthy again. Those are two players that we’ll be on top of right away.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: DRose and Noah stayed in Miami and not present at practice facility. Team knew this last night. #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau said they are hoping to avoid surgery on Noah's chronic plantar fasciitis. #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Jupiter socialite Filomena Tobias – aka the Miami Heat’s middle finger lady – came out of her self-imposed silence before tonight’s Heat-Bulls playoff game! Through Anthony Barbuto, her lawyer, Tobias acknowledged that her flipping the bird at former University of Florida star and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was indeed ill-mannered – but she maintains she didn’t deserve the media dredging up her past, especially her third husband’s mysterious death. gossipextra.com

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Filomena Tobias 

Jeff Zillgitt: Noah on Rose: "It was hard. As a player, you want him to come back. At the same time, you understand you’ve got to look at the big picture." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Chris Andersen said he told Joakim Noah that the reason he was signed was to counter him. Andersen told that to Noah in the hallway at the United Center on March 27, the night Noah’s Bulls snapped the 27-game winning streak of Andersen’s Heat. “He’s a big threat. I’ve always been going against him,’’ said Andersen, who was signed in January and has guarded Noah since Noah entered the NBA in 2007-08. “You got to match his energy and style of play.’ Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Joakim Noah 

Memo to Bulls: Wednesday's Game 5 tips at 6 p.m. Central. "We have a lot left in the tank," Joakim Noah said. After a season of so much adversity and injury, players unanimously rejected the fatigue angle, even if their performance at both ends suggested otherwise. "They put a lot of pressure on us with their defense and we didn't execute very well," Noah said. "It's tough. We're disappointed with the way we played, especially in a big game. There's no turning back. We just have to keep fighting." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah 

Eric Koreen: NBA 1st-team all defence: LeBron, Ibaka, Chandler + Noah (tie), Allen, Paul. 2nd team: Duncan, George, M. Gasol, Bradley, Conley. Twitter @ekoreen

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Paul George, Avery Bradley, Tyson Chandler, Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka 

As with the moments with James and Wade that have become less frequent, Chalmers said he did not take umbrage. "That was a conversation Chris and I were having and we were trying to figure out something," he said. "I wasn't worried about what Joakim was doing." Of Noah's clapping, Bosh said, "Of course I was aware of it, but that just goes in there with all the other distractions that I don't pay attention to. At that time, me and 'Rio were working things out. "Playoffs bring out the monster in you sometimes." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: No fine for Noah, per NBA PR. Mario Chalmers' neck grab of Noah has been upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul. Called a technical on the floor. Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Mario Chalmers, Joakim Noah 

Bulls center Joakim Noah says he's flattered that Charles Barkley calls him his favorite player. "That means a lot,’’ Noah told FOX Sports Florida about being No. 1 on Barkley’s list. “Chuck was one of my favorite players growing up. He’s always somebody who speaks his mind. And it’s humbling.’ Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Charles Barkley, Joakim Noah 

After watching Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah get ejected in the embarrassing Game 2 loss Wednesday night in Miami, coach Tom Thibodeau started planting the seed that the series hasn’t been officiated equally. “Not only Joakim, but our entire team,’’ Thibodeau said about his players having to show more composure. “We’ve got to do better, do a better job with that. You can’t get sidetracked. Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Tom Thibodeau, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Referees 

It’s just been one of those days for Steve Mitchell, the USA TODAY Sports Images photographer who snapped the viral photo of Miami Heat fan Filomena Tobias giving Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah the finger. “I did not think it was going to be like this,” Mitchell told For The Win, when asked about all the attention his picture is getting. For The Win

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Images, Filomena Tobias 

Mitchell was busy transmitting photos to his editors when Noah got thrown out of Game 2 Wednesday night. He said he didn’t even see the play, but once the commotion started, he grabbed his camera and started shooting. “I see him arguing with the refs, so I quickly jump up and grab my Nikon 600 mm lens,” Mitchell said. “I see him get ejected and I see him walking and I’m just taking pictures, and as I’m taking these pictures, the shutter, which is a Digital SLR, is going so fast I can’t see her hand. I see him walking and I thought she was just trying to touch him.” For The Win

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Images, Filomena Tobias 

As Mitchell’s shutter kept going off, he caught Tobias looking mighty proud of herself, giving the man accompanying her to the game a high-five. “Then Taj Gibson gets ejected and she does the same thing to him,” Mitchell said. As Mitchell’s shutter kept going, he caught the man with Tobias in a wonderful action shot. For The Win

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Images, Filomena Tobias 

The Miami Heat fan who gave the one-finger salute to Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has a message to the world of Internet trolls: Get a life. The woman whose one-finger salute has become an Internet sensation overnight is Filomena Tobias, the widow of former CNBC commentator and financial wizard Seth Tobias, said Filomena Tobias' daughter, Victoria Racanati, when reached by phone by the Sun Sentinel. "She's embarrassed, but she is being a good sport," the daughter told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday. "She was having fun just like any other fan. All she has to say is that people need to get a life." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: Noah: "We came here and did our job. We won a game. We’ve got the homecourt. We got punched in the mouth. But we’ll be back." Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

Evans Clinchy: Joakim Noah on his second tech: "I just wanted to let the referee know how I felt about the game. I definitely deserved to get kicked out." Twitter @evansclinchy

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, Referees 

Joakim Noah was ejected, the Bulls were whistled for six technical fouls, and Chicago got blasted, 115-78, by Miami in Game Two of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Noah’s ejection was particularly enjoyable for this Heat fan, who screamed in his face why dropping a middle finger in his eye. Her husband’s right there with her. The young kid below both of them looks appalled. The usher looks indifferent. The Big Lead

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, Referees