Misquoted Dwyane Wade Blown Out Of Proportion
Posted by Jerseychaser54 on
July 19, 2010
When I first heard about D-Wade’s WTC comments, I was in disbelief, awe-stricken at yet another public relations snafu on behalf of the Miami 3:16. Wade was quoted as saying if the Heat lost 2-3 games in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade Center coming down again.
Initially I was suspicious of such an insensitive and egotistical statement from Wade, but refused to engage in malicious character assassination, unlike my counterparts on Twitter and Facebook. Several reputable sites ran the misquote, until Fanhouse issued a retraction a few hours later.
His official statement is much tamer and appropriate, albeit a direct shot at the media at-large for their sensationalism. Here is Wade’s actually quote according to the actual interview transciption:
We’re going to be wearing a bullseye. But that’s what you play for, we enjoy the bullseye. Plus, there’s going to be times when we lose 2-3 games in a row, and it seems like the world has crashed down. You all (media) are going to make it seem like the World Trade is coming down again, but it’s not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games.
After re-reading his official quote, I don’t have a problem with him invoking 9/11 to make his point. The media is infatuated with professional basketball, and dozens of columns have been devoted to it. Practically all month the saga of Miami 3:16 has been front-page news, 24 hours a day….
Even Pulitzer prize winning NY Times columnist Maureen O’Dowd chimed in with a blistering piece called “The Miami Basketball Cartel”. Um ok. Isn’t there an oil spill you could be talking about?
I am of the opinion that D-Wade was well within his right to express how he views today’s media at-large. I could sit here and decry Fanhouse and writer Tim Povtak for reckless and irresponsible journalism, but it won’t matter.
Mistakes happen, people are human and hopefully we all can learn a valuable lesson from an otherwise embarrassing episode. Time to step-back and regain our collective perspective.
