Ode
to Dwayne Wade
Thank
you, Dwayne. You made us forget about the billions of
dollars that are given to those 15 minutes per game youngsters,
drafts that pick untested high schoolers over "ACC
Players of the Year" like Josh Howard, and the ridiculous
labor negotiations that insist on a lockout. You made
us ignore the boring Spurs who took it to the exciting
Steve Nash driven Suns, and forced us to feast our eyes
on your heroics and aerial acrobatics.
Thank
you for giving us a playoff performance we haven't seen
since Mike last laced em up for the Chicago Bulls. Thank
you for pulling up your pants and lacing up your shoes
to play a game seven we won't soon forget. You were
the MVP of the playoffs as far as I was concerned. If
I wasn't sure about that before this series started,
I'm as sure as sun is going to rise tomorrow, am now.
Your
absence from game 6, the way your team (yes your team)
fell apart and lost by nearly 30 points, scoring an
all time playoff low in points and never really getting
close the entire night, well that showed me something.
Then you one up yourself. You come back for a game 7
that made me realize how bad you were really hurt. As
if that wasn't enough to gain you some respect you then
come out in the second half to play balls to the wall
and take the lead.
Sure,
your body may have failed you in the 4th, but that's
not what I'll remember. I'll remember the first and
second round sweeps when your big man was either half
healthy or out. I'll remember the way you were too good
for any defender in every game. It will be hard to forget
the way you came out in game one nervous, and came back
with a vengeance in game two. Your performance in Detroit
in game 3 was every bit as good as I've seen. Thank
you for knowing what you do best and doing it. Yes,
that's something too many youngsters ignore. Your knowledge
of self is as great as I've seen in a long time. Thank
you for letting me watch the true passing of the torch.
Years
from now I'll be able to say "I saw the man who
brought basketball back. I saw the young kid from Marquette
carry his team on his back to a game 7 against the Detroit
Pistons. I watched him dominate against the best competition
in the land. I saw his neon flash and his scoop 'oops
to Shaq. I saw him play in pain. I watched as he finally
gave me someone to compare to Michael." And I'll
say those things with the confidence I say them with
now. Thank you for making the NBA fun to watch again
Dwayne. I won't soon forget about you.
Sincerely,
Lucky Lester
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