Dwayne Wade: Don't Call It a Comeback

A standard ticket for the Miami Heat's home opener vs. the Sacramento Kings costs $80.  Please, residents of Miami, treat yourselves after a hard day’s work to an evening of fun, excitement, and basketball.  Now why would anybody rush to see last year’s worst team with a pathetic record of 15-67?

Because Dwayne Wade is back, making his return from season ending shoulder surgery, and he is one of the absolute treats in all of sports to watch play.  Wade is one of a handful of athletes that is worth the price of admission himself.

His smooth, lightning quick, high flying moves seem effortless while he splits the double team, and glides to the hoop for an up-and-under lay-up. Or he draws the double team, pivots, and throws a no look to a teammate wide open in the corner for three. These are only a few examples of what you'll get when you watch Wade play.

After jumping on the bandwagon in 2006, many fans were quick to forget how great, and how important Dwayne Wade is after a slow start in ‘07. After being swept out of the playoffs by the Bulls the following year, many were completely off that bandwagon.

"Wade is nothing without Shaq."

"Wade can't carry a team himself like Lebron and Kobe."

"Dwayne Wade can't come up in the clutch."

This is the nonsense being said heading into the 2007-08 season. Wade was unable to overcome this criticism due to being plagued by injury all season. He eventually had to call it quits so he could compete in China and for Miami next season. But his taking the rest of the year off for surgery and recovery only led to more criticism.

Dwayne Wade has never been one to let criticism keep him down.  Just watch his new Converse commercial in which it displays Wade going through several acts of his day while being subjected to different criticisms of his game. One of which stuck out to me particularly is when a Miami sports radio host ripped Wade by calling him, "a monumental waste of a draft pick."  

Let’s go back to Wade’s college days—before he was drafted. At Marquette, Wade led the team with a career average of 20 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 4 apg. Wade not only produced numbers but was a unanimous first team All-American, led Marquette to a conference USA championship, and Final Four berth.

Not to mention Wade posted the third ever triple-double in Tournament history against heavily favored Kentucky in the Elite Eight.

Wade Went on to be selected fifth overall by the Miami Heat. Still under the radar, Wade was a unanimous All-Rookie selection and hit a game-winning shot in his first ever playoff game that season.

So much for not being clutch...

Wade's stock skyrocketed from that point on and he was named 2006 sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated and NBA Finals MVP leading his team back from 0-2.

My question is this: Why does Dwayne Wade still have to prove something to us? For crying out loud he's averaged over 24 ppg, 4 rpg, and 6 apg as a professional—"throw him a fricken bone."

Converse has launched a campaign ad for Wade's new shoe concentrating on the criticism that Wade has endured over his career.

Wade commented, "No matter how many times I proved myself in college and the NBA, I've felt like every day is the same because no matter how far I go, the criticism and doubt is still there."

Dwayne Wade will be named comeback player of the year by default. It would be like giving the MVP to Larry Hughes over Lebron James if he is not.  But Wade probably doesn't care about adding this award to his trophy case. He is extra motivated to make it back to the playoffs and prove the critics wrong.

"I've always felt that my ability is way stronger than anything people can say about me. After winning gold in Beijing, I'm excited to take the court again this season and continue to prove the doubters wrong." Wade stated earlier this month.

Well doubters, all I have left to say is that, "Wade's belief is stronger than your doubt."