Really nice article in SI on Wade and tomorrow

[Sir Lawrence]

Marquette will retire Wade's jersey

MIAMI (AP) -- It's a big weekend for Dwyane Wade.

His beloved Chicago Bears are in the Super Bowl at Miami on Sunday, facing the Indianapolis Colts. Wade's son Zaire turns 5 that same day, and the doting father -- who says he's already turned the child into a big Bears fan -- will surprise his boy by taking him to football's championship game.

And before all that, Wade will receive a big honor: His Marquette jersey is being retired.

A ceremony is set for Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee, where Wade's No. 3 will be hoisted at halftime of the Golden Eagles' game with Providence. The Heat will play in Milwaukee against the Bucks on Saturday night.

"I'm excited, because this is something that doesn't happen to a lot of players, especially a player like me who didn't finish," said Wade, who left Marquette after his junior year. "This is an honor for me, to be one of the nine guys to get his jersey retired. I'm just very honored. I feel blessed."

Wade didn't play as a freshman because of academic issues; he was a partial qualifier coming out of high school. But in his two on-court seasons at Marquette, the Golden Eagles were 53-13 and reached the 2003 Final Four -- their first trip to the national semifinals since 1977.

In his final year at Marquette, Wade -- the MVP of last year's NBA finals, where he led the Heat to their first championship by beating the Dallas Mavericks in six games -- set a school record, scoring 710 points.

"In a short period of time, Dwyane Wade has made an impact across the world with his ability as a basketball player, but more importantly as a human being," Marquette head coach Tom Crean said. "We had an opportunity at Marquette to see that first hand and are better because of him."

Other Marquette players to have their jerseys retired are Dean Meminger, Butch Lee, Maurice Lucas, George Thompson, Bo Ellis, Doc Rivers, Earl Tatum and Don Kojis. Marquette has also retired three other numbers: 11, for the Apollo 11 crew; 38, for the years Robert Weingart served as athletic director; and 77 for coach Al McGuire, who led the school to the 1977 national championship.

"I can't wait to share the moment with my coach and the whole community of Milwaukee, that was so great to me in my three years there," Wade said.

Wade entered Friday ranked fifth this season in scoring, averaging 28.7 points for the Heat. He scored 41 points Thursday night, leading Miami to a comeback 92-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"My whole life is happening quickly," Wade said. "It seemed like it took 21 long years at first, and the last four have been zooming by."

Link:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/02/02/wade.marquette.ap/index.html?eref=si_ncaab

[Avenue Commons]

Someone want to fill me in as to why we retired number 11 for the Apollo 11? Thanks.

[Sir Lawrence]

Regarding Apollo 11:  I think it has to do with Apollo 11 being the first mission to land people on the moon, spirit of discovery, like Pere Marquette, etc. 

[spiral97]

Wade's son Zaire turns 5 that same day, and the doting father -- who says he's already turned the child into a big Bears fan -- will surprise his boy by taking him to football's championship game.

Not if Zaire is a fellow MUScooper...   

could you imagine that.. at the game.. DWade turns to his boy and says "wasn't this a great surprise" and then Zaire puts his shades on, looks at his dad and says "I love it, but it's not a surprise.. I read about it on MUScoop.com"   8)

[rocky_warrior]

Not if Zaire is a fellow MUScooper...   

While I'd be flattered by that...
1) I'd be surprised if his reading skills are that high (I think most 5 year olds I know are just starting to read...)
2) Ignoring #1, I think he'd be more likely to read it in SI than on this board 

[spiral97]

Not if Zaire is a fellow MUScooper...   

While I'd be flattered by that...
1) I'd be surprised if his reading skills are that high (I think most 5 year olds I know are just starting to read...)
2) Ignoring #1, I think he'd be more likely to read it in SI than on this board 

come on.. this is WADE'S kid we're talking about.. super-everything!!!    And only the BEST sources   Anyhow.. obviously you had missed the humor of my post.. *sigh*

[Avenue Commons]

Regarding Apollo 11:  I think it has to do with Apollo 11 being the first mission to land people on the moon, spirit of discovery, like Pere Marquette, etc. 

That's a nice sentiment, but overall that's pretty lame. Put a statue on campus, but what does that have to do with the bball program? Pretty strange actually. Must have been a publicity stunt.

[rocky_warrior]

obviously you had missed the humor of my post.. *sigh*

No fear...I was humored by it...

[spiral97]

whew, thought i had lost my touch! 

[sailwi]

Apollo 11 at the time was a huge deal, hard to convey the pride the country felt at the time.  Although it does seem lame 30 years later at teh time it was probabaly appropriate and their was some supposed tie in to Fr. Marquette and discovery.

[IAmMarquette]

I thought I had heard once that there was a larger connection between MU and Apollo 11. I know that's pretty vague, and I really have no idea what the connection might be (if there is one). Can anyone prove me right/wrong? Thanks.

Here's what I found on MU's website...

Apollo 11 Astronauts - November 8, 1969
Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins
"In perpetuating the memory of Father Marquette as one of history's greatest explorers and discoverers," President John P. Raynor, S.J., said, "it is most fitting that the first Père Marquette Discovery Medals be presented to the heroic crew of Apollo 11. Like Father Marquette, the Apollo 11 astronauts share in full measure the qualities which distinguish all great explorers — a questing spirit, uniqueness in deed, and a consuming dedication to the betterment of civilization."

http://www.marquette.edu/about/honors/pmda.shtml

[77ncaachamps]

If Fr. Raynor said that, then it's all good. 

[State]

Here's a real stretch....

James Lovell (Milwaukee Native...actually born in Ohio I believe but lived in Milwaukee for awhile) was the back up commander to Armstrong of Apollo 11...he could had been the 1st to walk on the moon!!


Now that is a stretch!!

[MixItUp]

All three of the Apollo 11 astronauts came to an event at Marquette honoring them. I believe it was in 1970, within a year after landing on the moon.

[4everwarriors]

present for the event at Brooks Memorial Union.