72 reasons to be excited about the Atlanta Hawks: #47 Rooting against Dwyane Wade

by hawksdawgs on Sep 14, 2009 2:53 PM EDT Comment 13 comments

After only one playoff game against Miami, I raised the question of whether any fan could admire/remain civil/not strongly dislike a superstar on another team during the playoffs. I have failed twice in the last two years. Part of me feels like a bad fan of the game of basketball. Part of me revels in it.

Despite the incredible show he can put on, I have grown to enjoy rooting against Dwyane Wade. I am excited to yell and brood in my seat when Miami comes to town. When "us vs. them" arises naturally in sports, why not embrace it?

Which of course is why I love the twitter jockeying that went on today over this quote from Mo Evans.

I lifted a lot of weights to build up my endurance so I can be a lot more physical when I’m guarding guys like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant. Those guys don’t like to be touched. They’ll see the difference and notice it when we’re out there on the floor and they can’t get their way physically.

Well, normally, quotes from the 8th man in September to the local paper are not going to cause much ruckus. But normally was pre-twitter, and someone let Wade know about this insult via the network which led to these two tweets from Wade:

Had to laugh at what I jus read via tweet. At the gym about to get it in. Some people don't kno when to keep there mouth closed lol

This is comical RT @jordub @dwadeofficial Mo Evans is bulkin up for u "...guarding guys like Dwyane Wade"

It is certainly funny. I agree. Mo Evans should probably be more worried about staying in front of Wade than man handling him with new found strength as Wade blows by him. Plus, Dwyane actually looks for contact on almost every play. He loves it....unless of course he does not get a foul call. Then, well then, he hates it and fakes injuries.

These comments from Wade are fine and normal, but they are going to be ridiculed by Hawks fans. He is not going to try harder than he did in the playoffs unless of course he tries when he used to complain but that is unlikely to happen.

Wade is now a target for us. And we are Hawks fans. We only have like three of them. We want to dislike him, root against him. However dumb an over exuberant celebration by Mario West is or unnecessary an off-handed comment by Mo Evans happens to be, we enjoy them. Because for some reason, they get under the skin of Dwyane Wade. And we get excited to irritate.

Like a middle schooler trying to hang out with the cool kids, Deron Williams weighed in too:

@dwadeofficial if u ask me I think Mo Evans just commited suicide! I will be watching Hawks vs Heat that's 4 long games for him!

Ahhh Deron, we will be watching too, and we're excited.

(HT to JazzHop for the heads up on the twitter anger.)

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Oh boy!

I don’t think Mo meant any disrespect by his comments, but this just goes to show you how if an average player is not bowing down to the perceived “superstar” player, it’s a form a disrepect. Furthermore, I relish the opportunity to boo and hiss at the enemy. Just because a player is “great” doesn’t mean I have to support him when he walks into Philips Arena. I recall watching the Playoffs when Dwayne Wade hit his head on the floor after crashing with Josh. The commentators, Mike Fratello and somebody else, couldn’t figure out why we were booing D-Wade. Could it be because he cried like a little girl throughout the playoffs?? As if we have to root for him because the media and fans alike have placed him on a pedestal. What’s that all about?? They even made the comment, “I guess they booed Michael Jordan too.” Where in the rule books does it say we have to be cordial to the league stars. In fact, I would suggest that the league stars get too much shine in Philips Arena. Philips should be hostile territory. Remember when Mike Bibby called out the Boston Celtic fans? They made sure he knew their disdain for him every time he touched the ball.

by dstdeelite on Sep 14, 2009 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

re: Rooting against Dwyane Wade

Now, anyone who knows me knows I pretty much only root for underdogs. And the Heat, at least at the beginning of this series, were definitely not the favorites. But they are the type of team I don’t like: That is a team with superstars. Since the fall of the Laker Dynasty, the NBA has gotten a lot better. The team game has started to return and the champions have been teams like Detroit, whose first title team lacked an All-Star, and San Antonio, a team without a marketable superstar (Tim Duncan is about as dynamic as a paperclip). While commentators constant adoration of Duncan got a little old, it was nice to see teams winning championships that were not media darlings. But now come the Heat, a group led by the biggest of all big-market forces in Shaq and the NBA’s new poster boy, Dwyane Wade. Both guys are likable, both guys are talented, and both will reap millions if the Heat win it all. The problem is, should the Heat win, the NBA model will once again change to a “let’s find a star and win with him” game rather than a “let’s find a bunch of guys who play their roles well and win” game. Michael Jordan had the same effect and almost completely ruined the game. Had it not been for the Pistons and Spurs, the NBA would still be unwatchable. To read more: http://personalmoneystore.com/Cash-Advance/

by TatumB on Sep 15, 2009 1:16 AM EDT reply actions

When Dwayne Wade banged his head

The first thought is “oh wow, is he okay?” Followed, 3 minutes later, by “Okay, are you going to get up?”

I’m sure it hurt like hell, Dwayne, but you’re obviously not concussed since you’re completely awake and alert…get up, get some ice on it, and then get back in the game. Rolling around for 5 minutes is just completely overdone.

by Bronn on Sep 15, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

i was at that game

and without the benefit of replay no one knew he hit his head. you really could not tell. we probably should not have booed but that was built up, righteous anger. we had a right to be mad. people don’t like floppers and guys who act more hurt than they are. still, a head injury is not something to take lightly just because of a grudge. fans, me included booed and it was uncalled for and only redeemed by the fact that the we were right. he was milking it.

by hawksdawgs on Sep 15, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Who looks for the call more?

Josh or Wade? GO!

"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick

by Jesse28 on Sep 15, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a good questions!

There is definitely a difference in how they go about it. Josh has the spoiled brat syndrome and Wade has the “Do you know who I am?” syndrome.

by dstdeelite on Sep 15, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

totally agree with the two differences.

and josh probably looks for calls more because he doesn’t get as many. my strong annoyance with Josh’s complaining is one of the few things that allows me to think i am not just a poor sport with Wade. just play the game. leave it to me to whine at the refs.

by hawksdawgs on Sep 15, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, same here

I’m not sure who looks for it more, but if I had to venture a guess I would go with Wade because I think he looks for it on every touch just because he acts like he is entitled to a call on each touch.

As for who is more irritating about it though, I say Wade no doubt. At least Josh shows some conviction about it, whereas Wade just flops about like a fish outta water.

Next up, who’s the bigger flop, Wade or Pierce? GO!

by Jesse28 on Sep 15, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll trump both of them

and go with Anderson “Sideshow Bob” Varejao. I’ll even venture out further and say Leon Powe. Today I was watching the Hawks v Celtics 1st match up of the the 2008 season and it was unbelievable how good he was at selling those phantom fouls. All that being said….I’d have to vote for PP on this one.

by dstdeelite on Sep 15, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions