Why Is He "Wade"-Ing?

We all have jobs.  In most cases it was not the easiest road getting the jobs we have, but with all the work we have put in, many of us have gotten into situations where companies have taken chances on us with the hopes that we bring tremendous success to the organizations we represent.

Take the 2003 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat were hoping that Chris Bosh would be their guy.  Riley loved the kid, and hoped he would get him.  Sorry Riles, cue the voice of Mr. David Stern, "With the 4th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Chris Bosh." The Miami Heat are on the clock.

The following is fictional, but you can imagine it went something like this: Riley - "So uh, guys what of you think of that kid from Marquette?" Staff-"Yeah Riles, that's the guy for us. Let's see if it works, that might really work well with Caron Butler."

Now, to say the Heat took a chance with #5 is a little bit of a stretch, because can you really stretch at #5? But consider the #5's that came before Wade; Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Jason Richardson, and Mike Miller (clearly some better than others).  For Wade, it was a blessing to go to a team like the Heat, and the Heat they took a chance when they could have gone with a Hinrich or a T.J. Ford, a kid that was a little more proven and seasoned in the NCAA's.

The point here is that Wade was very fortunate on many levels to be drafted by a large market team, in a high profile city, under a legendary coach (Riley even though he was the president not coach then). Wade could have gone to Toronto and been what Bosh is right now, talented but in a market where no one watches him, or next to the Clippers where, well we know what happens to guys that play on the Clips, how's Michael Olowokandi doing?

Fast forward to the locker room after the Heat impressively came back from down 0-2 in the NBA Finals to Dallas, and champagne has covered Wade and the rest of the Heat including one real big guy named Shaq, whom Riley thought would make Wade really able to showcase his skills.

Forget the on-court success of Wade, how about the value of the front of his jersey saying Miami when it came to endorsements with Gatorade, T-Mobile, Converse, and Lincoln to name a few.  Something tells me he wouldn't be quite as popular with a jersey that might say Toronto, or Golden State. 

So, why is he holding up on signing the contract? Do you really need more popularity Mr. Wade, or do you just not feel like rewarding the company that gave you your start?  Oh, they must be offering too little on a contract right? No?? What? They are willing to pay you more than anyone else can throughout the league?  Wow, now i'm really confused. So they must be moving the team to Seattle or Oklahoma? No, you mean you can sign the most valuable contract possible to stay in Miami, Florida and play basketball for the next several years and be guaranteed money even if you pop your arm out of your socket again? 

Remember when that happened, and the Heat won 15 games the whole season but still paid you every last cent?  How about some loyalty.  Riley is asking you to commit NOW so we can turn this ship around a year before the rest of the league.  Don't you get it? You say you want to win more championships, well this is the way to do it.

Stop waiting, do it now, get the edge and solidify your legacy in the South Florida community for the rest of your career.  There is potential to be bigger than Dan Marino.  He did alot of the same things for the South Florida community, only he never won.

Dwyane, if you are listening, sign the contract, please?