Filomena Tobias, Bird-Flipping Miami Heat Fan, Becomes Internet Sensation

Woman who gave Joakim Noah the finger identified by newspaper

This Miami Heat fan is one mean mama.

A photo of a brazen fan flipping Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah the bird during Wednesday night's 115-78 Heat win in Game 2 at AmericanAirlines Arena quickly became an Internet sensation Thursday.

But the woman, identified by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel as Filomena Tobias, is just a big Heat fan, her daughter, Victoria Racanati, told the newspaper.

"Yes, it's my mom. She's embarrassed, but she is being a good sport," Racanati said. "She was having fun just like any other fan. All she has to say is that people need to get a life."

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The camera captured Tobias and the gentleman next to her in Noah's face as he was escorted from the court after being ejected from the game in the fourth quarter.

Her gesture wasn’t appropriate, Heat players Dwyane Wade and Shane Battier said.

“We just want to ask our fans just to cheer for us,” Wade said. “To boo them when they come here and all that, but let’s stay first-class around here in Miami.”

Said Battier, “We love our fans. We think we have high-class fans here, so that was a little unfortunate to see.”

Racanati told the paper her mom, the widow of former CNBC commentator and hedge fund manager Seth Tobias, didn't want to comment but said the family are Heat season ticket holders who attend every game.

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