We're sorry, Dwyane. We're sorry for your pathetic excuse for a professional basketball team.
We're sorry that your Hall of Fame coach would rather scout college basketball games than give you his all.
And we're sorry, Dwyane, for questioning your not playing the last 21 games of this dreadful season for the Miami Heat.
Every year the NBA watches at least one superstar miss the playoffs because he has the misfortune of being on a bad team. Sadly, this year it is Dwyane Wade.
Wade is not just a big name player. He is a superstar, a competitor, and a class act.
Two years removed from an NBA championship, Wade has found himself at the bottom of the league. And let us remember that there would be NO championship without Wade carrying the Heat on his back to win the 2006 Finals series, 4-2 after trailing 2-0.
We're sorry that management decided that since they had won a championship, there was no reason to keep up with the team. True, they were built to "win now," but bringing in players such as Ricky Davis and Smush Parker was not a very smart decision.
I am disappointed that Wade is not playing the rest of the season. That's because I love to watch him play, not because I (the fan) think I am bigger than the player.
We, as fans, have many gripes with athletes. Some decide to sit out games when they don't feel well, others sit out when they have minor injuries.
But Wade doesn't do that—he plays through it. In fact, he plays his hardest night after night. Season ticket holders should be thankful they are only losing 21 games, and not an entire career.
Some will bash Wade and Yao Ming for their desiring to become Olympic champions instead of struggling through an 82-game season with major injuries. I, instead, commend them.
How many times do we hear fans complaining that we don't care enough about the Olympics, that we don't do enough to represent ourselves properly? Well, fans, you can no longer make that claim.
In the end, it is Wade's decision. He has the support of his coach and teammates. And the bottom line is, he's earned it.
Wade is the first person in the gym and the last one out—and he's worked this way since high school. When we put the time, work, effort, and heart into our lives that Wade puts into his, then, and only then, will we have the right to gripe.
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6 months ago
I like your devotion in this piece, but isn't being part of a superstar driving your team to greatness? I know he is hurt and that is unfortunate, but there are several teams in the league who have a lot less talent than the Heat and they aren't in last place in the league. I like D-Wade, but no one should pitty him. I look at it as he had a great opportunity to lead his team this year and it didn't happen. Is it all his fault? No, but no one owes him a thing! And the every year the league watches lots of players miss the playoffs. I am not saying he should have to carry his team, but if you want to be the superstar than you have to take the responsibility that comes with that.
6 months ago
You make a good point nobody owes him a thing. I wrote this because i feel too many people are bashing him for doing this when really, playing out the season on a bad knee will only hurt the team and his career. Now the team has a chance to prove to themselves that they can succeed without Wade and if they win a few games they will have confidence heading into next year.
6 months ago
wade is simply THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD COWARD.period. hes a FRAUD a COWARD..he TURNS HIS BACK on his teamates and for what??? the sake of being healthy for next year?? do u guys SERIOUSLY think that kobe or lebron would of done that?? i mean honestly?? its called BEING A MAN and not screwing season ticket holders..do u think hes gonna give back their money while he sits on his ass and makes millions?? hes simply a MODERN PENNY HARDAWAY..just some hype around shaq and thats pretty much it..hes a GOOD player AT BEST..not great..not EVEN CLOSE. he should be ashamed of himself for turning his back on his fans..do u guys SERIOUSLY BELIEVE hes THAT injured?? i mean c'mon people!! just because hes the MEDIA'S LITTLE BITCH wit a smile..which means he gets a FREE PASS from the media and the jackass fans who believe what idiots like benjamin baroff who SIMPLY SUGAR COATS the truth and all of the public eats it up wit a spoon..it was his decision to screw the fans and i honestly dont know how this jackass can shoot for the olympics and leave his team just cause they aint makin the playoffs, look in the mirror and still call himself a man. dwayne wade YOURE A COWARD and youre sooooooooooo damn lucky that people like benjamin give u again A FREE PASS and sympathize you for being a such a clown. i hope youre happy that people who work their ass off workin regular jobs DONT CARE IF U MAKE THE PLAYOFFS BUT SIMPLY WANT YOU TO PERFOM AND EARN YOUR MILLIONS ONCE IN A WHILE..seriously wade. f*ck you...u lost a fan.
6 months ago
The Heat were favored in the game over the Knicks tonight. How can you be favored with an 11-51 record? Who is the guy who picked the heat as a favorite in a game? Is he friends with the guy who wrote this article? I think wade has talent, and has proven himself in the playoffs, but that was a long time ago now, and I just don't understand why he is so popular. How can someone on such a bad team go to the all star game? The all star voting should really come from a committee, and not the general public voting. The fans don't vote for the MVP, do they? It's a good thing fans don't vote for MVP since they would likely vote in someone like Wade who just cannot produce anymore. If Wade really "carried the Heat on his back" for the championship a few years ago, shouldn't they still be a good team right now? When I started reading this article, I thought it was being sarcastic, in fact, I had to read it twice just to make sure.
This article represents everything that is wrong with the NBA. The league celebrates individuals way too much, and it allows these "superstars" to ride their previous accomplishments while they become mediocre. This is really going to turn into a rant, I tried to avoid it but I just can't help it. David Stern is the worst. Players complain after every call that doesn't go their way, the level of tolerance for this needs to go way down. Throw out some technicals. If players get into fights, don't handout huge suspensions, I mean, god forbid the players show some emotion in a sport which is becoming as intense as baseball (sorry baseball fans). I'm not saying that fighting become part of the game like it has in hockey or something, but this game lacks heart. Just watch some March madness games, then go back to NBA, and try not to fall asleep. Okay this is so long now that nobody will read it but anyway...
6 months ago
Thank you. I appreciate this article probably more than anyone. It has been a tough year, but I am happy that they shut him down. For none other than I want a healthy D-wade come next year. The olympic part is very true. You are a heck of a writer, and I made this my pick of the day.
6 months ago
Everything you said is completly true. The average NBA players are all a bunch of weak ass pussys. Complain when they get tapped on the wrist. Complain when they run into a crowed and dont get a foul. Complain when the refs wont hold their hands and spoon feed them. There used to be days when tapping the shooter on the arm was good defence. When the only flagrant fouls where when it was truely a none play on the ball (not this "oh, he fell pretty hard lets give him a flagrant foul"). All these "grown men" are all to fucking sensative.
6 months ago
The team Wade won a championship with was completely different then the team he is playing for now. Watch him play and tell me he has no heart. He is a hell of a competitor and the point that I am trying to make is that he is what the league needs and lacks.
6 months ago
Wade needed to do more than play hard this season, he needed to inspire his team and act the superstar he gets so much credit for being. Despite the fact that the heat are in the Eastern Conference, they only managed 11 wins so far. If you want to see NBA players with heart, watch a Golden State Warriors game. They are really not much more talented than the heat, yet they can win games. Personally I would take Baron Davis over Wade, yet I would have to say Wade has more talent. You can blame injuries all you want, but eventually, players need to produce results. If Wade continues to be injured, he will just turn into Grant Hill (The next Micheal Jordan).
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