Sam Smith on D WADE--the dirtiest player???

[classof70]

"Dwyane Wade showed in Sunday's big Miami win that he's still talented. But he also may be the league's dirtiest player. I wonder sometimes if he needs that anger management more than Ron Artest. I seems more than coincidence now with Wade injuring so many players, and always after he didn't get a call or someone made a play against him. There was Wade last year causing Rajon Rondo's dislocated elbow after a Rondo steal from him. Wade also ran across the floor with a shoulder block into Paul Pierce in that series. There was Wade breaking Kobe's nose in the All-Star game, of all places, after Kobe put a move on him that froze him and left Wade looking bad. There was Wade throwing Richard Hamilton into the stands in Miami after Hamilton had made some driving plays against him. There was Wade's body block from behind against Darren Collison in this series after a steal. Wade seems to have for some reason become something of a menace and a cheap shot player and the NBA needs to begin paying attention to the blind shots before someone really gets hurt."

[MU B2002]

Who is Sam Smith? 

He doesn't even mention that Wade shaves little lines into his hair for each player he intentionally injures.  He just had one for the 2nd half of this season thanks to Kobe's nose.

[JD]

All good points by Sam Smith. 

I agree completely with him, sad that so many have the MU blinders on.

[Blackhat]

Dwyane Wade could bring a cattle prod on the court and I'd still love the man.   Remember him dunking all over UK like it was yesterday. 

Without Wade and Buzz our basketball wouldn't have been near as exciting the past decade.

[Goose]

I'm with you Stone Cold. UK memory gives Dwade a lot of hall passes in my book.

[Canadian Dimes]

F sam smith....no one dirtier than Jordan, pippen and rodman.

How does the saying go if you cant beat them join them? 
or in this case ..."if he doesnt join them then beat him?"

SOur grapes from a loser chicago writer

[bamamarquettefan]

As much as I, and we, love him, for fans of most other teams he is linked to Lebron as the two that broke Cleveland's heart - and stole Cleveland's heart.

My 14 year old daughter ended up in an ambulance for 40 minutes on our way to the Cleveland rounds last year (she ended up fine).  In the ambulance she was asked why she was coming to see Marquette instead of Ohio State and, and then asked for her assurance that she didn't like D-Wade.  In the hospital the doctor asked similar questions, and he asked her if I liked Wade (I was still not in the room) and she said he was a hero of mine, the doctors followed-up with, "How can he like a murderer?" My daughter was shocked, not knowing i had the jersey of a murderer, and asked., "D-Wade killed someone?"  The doctor responded, "We'll, he convinced Lebron to leave the city - same thing."

I tell this little antecdote - which obviously was part of keeping the mood light by medical professionals - just to point out that while yes we have blinders on for Wade, I do think many have blinders on AGAINST Wade and Lebron.  Every accomplishment will be belittled (morning ESPN Monday referred to Lebron-haters as 'ex-boyfriend/girlfriends' who will never accept accomplishments), and faults will be magnafied, and vice versa.  There's just no middle ground on Lebron-Wade, as the two will be tied closely together forever in the public mind.

[Hards Alumni]

All good points by Sam Smith. 

I agree completely with him, sad that so many have the MU blinders on.

Totally no blinders on here.

I'm astonished to think that a guy who is 6'3 (maybe) can be called the dirtiest player in the league with Ron Artest running around.  Not to mention the dozens of others I could name that are FAR worse than Wade.

This hack is just trying to get his name out there, and thanks to people like us he has.

[Blackhat]

As much as I, and we, love him, for fans of most other teams he is linked to Lebron as the two that broke Cleveland's heart - and stole Cleveland's heart.

My 14 year old daughter ended up in an ambulance for 40 minutes on our way to the Cleveland rounds last year (she ended up fine).  In the ambulance she was asked why she was coming to see Marquette instead of Ohio State and, and then asked for her assurance that she didn't like D-Wade.  In the hospital the doctor asked similar questions, and he asked her if I liked Wade (I was still not in the room) and she said he was a hero of mine, the doctors followed-up with, "How can he like a murderer?" My daughter was shocked, not knowing i had the jersey of a murderer, and asked., "D-Wade killed someone?"  The doctor responded, "We'll, he convinced Lebron to leave the city - same thing."

I tell this little antecdote - which obviously was part of keeping the mood light by medical professionals - just to point out that while yes we have blinders on for Wade, I do think many have blinders on AGAINST Wade and Lebron.  Every accomplishment will be belittled (morning ESPN Monday referred to Lebron-haters as 'ex-boyfriend/girlfriends' who will never accept accomplishments), and faults will be magnafied, and vice versa.  There's just no middle ground on Lebron-Wade, as the two will be tied closely together forever in the public mind.

agree with this.   they basically need to win.    Don't like the influence Lebron has had on Wade and he should nut up a little more.  But at the end of the day I'll always support him.

[LAZER]

I'm a pretty big Sam Smith fan and think he's a pretty damn good basketball writer and was disappointed when he left the Tribune.  Saying Wade's the dirtiest player in the NBA is way over the line, but he does piece together some pretty interesting incidents.

[Pakuni]

This hack is just trying to get his name out there, and thanks to people like us he has.

Regardless of your view of his opinion, Sam Smith hardly is a hack trying to get his name out there. The dude's covered the NBA for about three decades, wrote the definitive book on Michael Jordan and has been honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame for his work.

[Dawson Rental]

Regardless of your view of his opinion, Sam Smith hardly is a hack trying to get his name out there. The dude's covered the NBA for about three decades, wrote the definitive book on Michael Jordan and has been honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame for his work.

You beat me to it which is good because you said better than I would have.  +1

[AlumKCof93]

I love Wade and all that he has done for MU.  But, he has gone from the superstar that seemed grounded to the guy who the media now refer to as the whiny guy who complains about every call and has articles like the one Sam Smith wrote about him.  While some of the criticism he receives may be the result of his being with LeBron, the truth is that Wade does act entitled by complaining to the refs seemingly all the time -even when the ball is in play - and is guilty on a lot of the anecdotes Sam Smith is referring to.  I love Wade, but a little humble pie would do him a world of good.

[dwaderoy2004]

I like Wade less and less every year, and this article just highlights some of the reasons why.

[NickelDimer]

Dwyane Wade could bring a cattle prod on the court and I'd still love the man.   Remember him dunking all over UK like it was yesterday. 

Without Wade and Buzz our basketball wouldn't have been near as exciting the past decade.

Thank you.  End of subject as far as I'm concerned.  The piling on of Wade this year because of his "South Beach", Lebron affiliation is totally out of hand.  Typical media fabrication that's exploding.

Some of the world's best athletes ever competed this same way.  Tell Sam Smith to go re-watch some Larry Legend film.

[frozena pizza]

I doubt he is the league's dirtiest player, but it's not out of the question that he would be in the conversation.  Smith cites a number of examples. 

Of course, how often are great players accused of being dirty?  In varying degrees, I would include Charles Barkley, Isaiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Larry Bird, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love.

[MerrittsMustache]

Thank you.  End of subject as far as I'm concerned.  The piling on of Wade this year because of his "South Beach", Lebron affiliation is totally out of hand.  Typical media fabrication that's exploding.

Some of the world's best athletes ever competed this same way.  Tell Sam Smith to go re-watch some Larry Legend film.

While I do feel that most of the grief given to Wade is a product of the team he plays for, I really do get the impression that these last couple of seasons have been very frustrating for him. Remember, the Heat were going to roll through last season, rack up 70+ wins and start winning championships 1-7. That obviously didn't work out and this season (before an ACL tear) they weren't even the best team in the conference...and they knew it.

I remember watching Travis Diener get incredibly frustrated playing with Scott Merritt. I always thought that it drove TD crazy that a long, lean 6'10" athlete could never quite get it all together on the basketball court because Diener would have given ANYTHING to have Merritt's size and athleticism. I can't help but think that Wade is going through something similar.

Wade is playing along side quite possibly the most physically-gifted basketball player ever and yet LeBron can't quite seem to get it all together, especially when his team needs him most. LBJ can put his team on his shoulders and put up an unreal stat line of 40-18-9, but he can also disappear for stretches in a blowout loss, settle for outside shots too often, gag at the FT line in crunch time and figuratively shrug his shoulders and say, "Oh well. We'll get 'em next game." That's got to wear on a competitor like Wade because you know he's thinking about all the damage he'd do if he were blessed with LBJ's size and athleticism. LeBron is satisfied with being the best basketball player on the planet and he really hopes that his team wins a championship some day. He just doesn't seem to have that extra level of competitiveness.

[Aughnanure]

I love Wade and all that he has done for MU.  But, he has gone from the superstar that seemed grounded to the guy who the media now refer to as the whiny guy who complains about every call and has articles like the one Sam Smith wrote about him.  While some of the criticism he receives may be the result of his being with LeBron, the truth is that Wade does act entitled by complaining to the refs seemingly all the time -even when the ball is in play - and is guilty on a lot of the anecdotes Sam Smith is referring to.  I love Wade, but a little humble pie would do him a world of good.

So you're annoyed with him because other people are annoyed at him? Think for yourself much?

[Aughnanure]

I doubt he is the league's dirtiest player, but it's not out of the question that he would be in the conversation.  Smith cites a number of examples.  

Of course, how often are great players accused of being dirty?  In varying degrees, I would include Charles Barkley, Isaiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Larry Bird, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love.

^This. I love how we all fawn over Maurice Lucas and him being known as "The Enforcer" and what not... but b/c Wade gives some hard fouls in some BIG FREAKING GAMES, he's dirty and "entitled"  or other BS.

This level of competitiveness, where players really do care that much about winning, is exactly what those of you who hate the NBA (or former fans) have been asking for for years!

[brewcity77]

This topic is going to go in one inevitable direction on this board. Those that love Wade will back him to the death, he could go on a shooting rampage and still be forgiven. Those that criticize Wade will be castigated by his supporters and will be seen automatically as Wade, and by association, Marquette haters.

My main issue is that it seems like Wade and LeBron are upset that this isn't easy. After their ridiculous celebration in Miami when James signed, the "once we get on the court, it's gonna be easy" and the "not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven" quotes came across like guys that thought the league would fall down at their feet and hand them the NBA title. Since it didn't happen, since the league and fanbases turned on them, they've come across as spoiled children. I definitely don't think playing with James has been good for Wade. James and Wade grew up watching the Michael Jordan that brought out fans in droves, that had fans in every city. They expected the same, but didn't get it, and their attitudes certainly haven't been the same since they donned the black hats, and Wade's repeated ugly fouls definitely aren't winning him more fans. I blame the NBA as much as anything for soft punishment on guys like Wade and World Peace, if Strickland plays again this postseason it will be a travesty...this is just one more reason I'd rather watch the college game.

I like success for the Marquette guys at the next level, but frankly, rarely have much interest in watching it, even when they are playing.

[4everwarriors]

And to think we owe it all to Crean who taught Wade all he knows or ever will know.

[MU82]

Lots of people are bringing up Rodman, etc. Smith didn't call Wade the dirtiest player ever. He said he's the dirtiest right now.

I happen to disagree, because Artest World Something Or Other is still in the league; so I believe Sam is guilty of hyperbole here. But Wade has not had the kind of run befitting a player of his talent and standing. His latest cheap shot should have drawn a multi-game suspension.

I appreciate Wade for what he did for MU and still like to follow him. That doesn't mean he's beyond criticism. He's too good to have these lapses of class and judgment.

Sam Smith also isn't above criticism, but he has been one of the best in his business for a long, long time. Everybody should be as good at his or her job as Smith has been at his.

[LastWarrior]

Who is Sam Smith? 

A Hall of Fame basketball writer

[The Lens]

Bill Simmons called him the same...and meant it as compliment.

[Hoopaloop]

And to think we owe it all to Crean who taught Wade all he knows or ever will know.

Wade had God given talent but Crean helped him reach his potential as have other coaches.  Steve Novak's shot was taught to him by his father, yet Novak swears by Crean as a coach who helped him reach his potential.  Diener, same.

This angers some people here.