More Wade love

[Sir Lawrence]

Interesting article from Tony Mejia, who sometimes annoys me, but here makes some pretty valid points about Wade taking ownership as rightful heir to the Michael Jordan legacy.  I've posted a portion of the article. 

The full link can be found at:  http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/10005791



No, he's the best. He just has to step up and take it. That's the challenge. Jordan stepped up and grabbed the world by the throat simply because he could. That's what Wade has to do, not because the league needs him to do so, but because we haven't seen anything like him since the great one stepped aside.

It's why Jordan gets standing ovations wherever he goes. He's an icon. As great as many of these other stars are, the NBA has not had one since. However, after winning an NBA Finals and going out and excelling night in and night out, it has become obvious that Wade is head and shoulders above everyone else.

Wade has noticed the throne. He sees it. The question remains, is he willing to sit down?

"It is (surreal to be so famous) because you have to talk about yourself a lot. I don't like to talk about myself a lot. I would rather you guys do it or others. I try to shy away from it as much as possible," Wade says. "You have got to understand. I am a realist. As many people that love you, just as many hate you. Everybody don't love you. The only thing I can do is continue to be what I am."

What he is is somebody growing into a level of superstardom that captures your imagination. Remember when watching Jordan on Sunday afternoons was a gift? Wade is approaching that level. For those who don't see it, this game is an opportunity to hammer that point in.

You are watching greatness unfold before your eyes. Why shut them?

Considering what has gone down the past few weeks, with Wade taking a shot at Nowitzki and dismissing all the talk of last year's NBA championship being given to Miami by refs, it's clear that Wade is growing up. He's developing an icy edge that you used to see from Jordan. If you disrespected him, there would be hell to pay.

Only 24 years old, Wade already has one ring, and he's developing his aura.

"Mastering the game interests me," said Wade. "I look at a guy like Kobe Bryant and, really, Kobe has mastered the game. He has every move in the book, he knows what spot to get to and when to raise up and when you want to master the game to the point where it's flawless.


"I am not a guy who every day is going to come in and get in guys' faces and yell. I am a leader. I always lead on the court. I am not a mouse. I am not quiet. I do talk. It's times where I feel my voice needs to be heard and times when I feel like my voice doesn't need to be heard because you don't want it to be, 'Man, will he shut up?'

"If you ask anybody in here, I don't walk around talking about our championship. You move on, and you know you got to do the task at hand. I am in the moment. The moment of winning a championship is over, and now we are focused on winning another."

He's growing into a monster. He's becoming the "it" guy. Other All-Stars are dwarfed by him, asked questions about him. That has not happened since Jordan. Understand what you're seeing.

Even better, as peers, the guys he's beating on a regular basis might recognize what they're seeing, but can't say anything about it. Wade is only in his fourth year in the league. How can he be taking it over?

"He's a talented guy and he had a supporting cast that helped him. I think he got the credit he deserved," Dallas' Josh Howard said, still miffed at what happened in June's Finals and not eager to crown anyone anything. "I am not knocking nobody, but you shoot 29 free throws as a person and the other shoots 27 as a team. You can do the math, you know what I am saying? Situations happen, man. He knocked down free throws, he got to the hole. The credit is given.

"He's going to have the ball in his hands. You have got to be ready to compete with him. Always chasing. He is always going to get an opportunity to drive. He has a quick first step. You can't play off of him because he has shown he can knock down that jumper now. He's expanding his game."

Las Vegas, All-Star Game 2007, is about Wade becoming king. It's about everyone acknowledging what they're seeing.

"I am not 6-8. I am not the best shooter in the league. I am not the best jumper. So I have got to have something to help me be up with upper-echelon players," Wade says, introspective about what's transpiring. "I have that doubt that people have always said about me, 'He is not this, he is not that,' and I use that. I go out on the court and play with that.

"That is that Chicago thing, baby. Chicago guys are real tough."

Watching Jordan grow up in your own backyard has something to do with that. Now, asked to emulate him, you can't back down from that obligation.

Based on what we have seen from him in four short seasons, don't expect him to.

The throne is there. Sit down.