Hey Chicago Bulls, Cut Dwyane Wade Some Slack on Loyalty Comment

Dwyane Wade’s comment on the Bulls’ loyalty most likely erased any interest (from both the Bulls management and fans) in pursuing him as a free agent.

Wade just insulted the Bulls organization and even the Bulls’ legendary history by mentioning Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

That’s how the organization and fans took it. (Sorry Wade, even if you said you weren’t “taking shots at the Bulls,” your words did leave a lasting scar.)

So lesson to learn for professional athletes when talking to the media—watch your words.

Although I’m a big Bulls fan, I have to defend Wade—not that he was justified in questioning the Bulls loyalty. Rather, that he was a victim of the media blowing words out of proportion.

Through my journalism experience, I’ve noticed how easy it is to take apart an interview and make certain quotes seem as notorious as they should not be. And that’s what I feel happened to Wade.

He was being interviewed by Chicago Tribune reporter Fred Mitchell about Wade’s and other notables like LeBron James' and Joe Johnson's plans about free agency.

Obviously Mitchell, being a Chicago sports reporter, would bring the Bulls to Wade’s attention, and the conversation went from there. The whole interview could not have been about Wade talking about the Bulls’ loyalty. That was just a portion of the interview. But it’s funny how, perhaps, a 30 second quote on the record can turn into a 500-word story.

The reporter asked a question. The source responds.

Mitchell asked Wade what is most important when considering free agency. Wade said loyalty—he simply doesn’t think the Bulls organization is loyal (in other words, he doesn't want to go to Chicago).

Wade didn’t have a note pad or bullet points listed on what he was going to say during the interview. What he said, instead, was a “spur-of-the moment” type, like having a conversation with a friend. You don't plan ahead on conversations—unless you're on a date.

The thing with interviews is that unlike conversations, they usually only last about five minutes or less. Wade didn’t have much time to elaborate on his opinion, and Mitchell took the interview as it was on his digital recorder. The next day, Wade is given the chance to defend himself by being given more time to elaborate on what he said.

But few journalists want to write a 500-word story about what Wade meant to say.

I know Wade is a professional athlete and has dealt with the media numerous times, and he definitely was caught off guard this time. He should’ve anticipated that he was only digging himself a deeper hole once he mentioned loyalty and talked about how the Bulls don’t seem to have that. But we can cut the guy some slack.

The media is annoying. And every time Wade goes to Chicago or is interviewed by a Chicago source, he is probably always asked about the Bulls. It’s his curse for being a Chicago-native but playing for another team.

I wanted to bash at Wade once I read the web head that he questioned the Bulls’ loyalty. But it’s not like he called a press conference asking for trouble. He was being honest when Mitchell was interviewing him.

Wade is entitled to his opinion, and the media can play around with his words anyway they want to.

Wade doesn’t want to be a Bull.

For Bulls general manager Gar Forman, now your list of possible free agents is narrowed by scratching off Wade.

For Bulls fans, now you know you don’t like Wade.