Dwyane Wade 'World Trade' Center Comments Draw Attention

Dwyane Wade is caught up in a 9/11 controversy after a transcription error suggested that the Miami Heat star compared losing several games to the World Trade Center "coming down." While Wade did indeed mention the collapse of the World Trade Center in a Sunday interview, his actual remarks are far tamer than what was originally circulated.

In an interview with NBA FanHouse, Wade said that the Heat will be a major target during the next NBA season:

"We enjoy the bullseye. Plus, there's going to be times when we lose 2-3 games in a row, and it seems like the world has crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade is coming down again, but it's not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games."

According to a post at the Sporting Blog, Wade's comments were initially published differently. "If we lose a couple in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade (Center) is coming down again," Wade was originally reported to have said.

Click here to see Wade's full interview.

UPDATE: Dwyane Wade released the following statement:

"In an interview yesterday, I attempted to explain how some people may view the Miami Heat losing a few basketball games in a row during the upcoming season. It appears that my reference to the World Trade Center has been either inaccurately reported or taken completely out of context. I was simply trying to say that losing a few basketball games should not be compared to a real catastrophe. While it was certainly not my intention, I sincerely apologize to anyone who found my reference to the World Trade Center to be insensitive or offensive."

Comments

[bones1388]

11:12 AM on 07/22/2010

What ever happen to first amendment rights? Who cares if someone is offended? No matter what you say you'll always offend someone. I wouldn't apologize for anything that I say.

[Iehi Aour]

04:52 PM on 07/22/2010

If you depend upon the paying public for your bread, then you are a public figure and it is best that you are on guard so that you don't say stupid things.

[Blackorpheus]

01:37 AM on 07/22/2010

Insensitive choice of words, arguably. So? D-Wade didn't do anything to credit all the criticism.

[Minnehaha]

08:28 PM on 07/21/2010

Just look at this picture of Wade, He looks like a leader. Psych.

[collegeAvenue]

04:50 AM on 07/22/2010

why?

[djnc]

09:03 AM on 07/21/2010

This is just retarded...everyone knows what he meant

[Whoozthaboss]

03:51 PM on 07/20/2010

They should fire that "journalist" or make him issue an apology. Can a knee grow get a break for once?

[Henny Bogan]

06:23 PM on 07/20/2010

I totally agree. There are so many hot button words and phrases that are used to create controversy, especially when an African American says one. But anyone with a brain knows what he means. Plus, he's right too!

[citizen1787]

08:58 AM on 07/21/2010

He is a celeb, he said something insensitive and stupid. He now claims he was mis-quoted. He wasn't, he compared the media furor over the Heat to the worst terrorist attack on American soil.

[citizen1787]

10:09 PM on 07/21/2010

and do tell me what this means: "Why don't you just come out and say what it is you're trying to say? Stop hiding behind sports stories."

What are attributing to me? ad hominem?

[mesaboy]

12:34 PM on 07/20/2010

Just another guy in professional sports making big money. Nobody will notice what he says in another 5 years because someone else will be taking his spot on the team. Making bigger money. Who cares?

[Iehi Aour]

11:25 AM on 07/20/2010

Wade apologized. Somebody with sense got to him.

[mp60mp32]

11:23 AM on 07/20/2010

I would like to see the journalist make a retraction and include an apology to Wade. There is no journalistic integrity in misquoting someone in order sell a story.

[citizen1787]

08:59 AM on 07/21/2010

how was he mis-quoted? Have you heard the audio?

[mp60mp32]

10:46 AM on 07/21/2010

No, but obviously someone has:

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/18/heat-supporting-cast-has-become-better-than-expected/?ncid=edlinkusspor00000004

It's the entire interview.

[mesaboy]

09:17 AM on 07/20/2010

Why would anyone consider what this guy has to say as being important? He's just another jock getting paid a big salary for playing a boys game. He's a personality that will fade as his skills on the court fade........then he's going to be forgotten like most other sports personalities. WHAT HE SAYS IS NOT IMPORTANT!!!!!!

[CubfanBudman]

04:38 AM on 07/20/2010

Had he been born 20 years earlier, he'd have said "you'd all make it seem like the moon landing".

9/11 is the biggest media event in the lives of millions of young Americans.

He was saying if they lost 2 in a row, the media would turn it into the biggest media event in history, or in other words, overreact.

I don't think ill of him for these comments. He should have come home and played for the Bulls, but I understand him staying in his new home.

[mp60mp32]

10:47 AM on 07/21/2010

Thoughtfully stated.

[citizen1787]

10:02 PM on 07/21/2010

it was a stupid and insensitive thing to say.

also, his statement is laughable because he and James sought to create this level of hype and expectation for the Heat when they decided to join up in Miami. The man has been around the media before, he isn't inexperienced.

[mp60mp32]

09:40 AM on 07/22/2010

Have you read the article? The properly quoted article?

Experience or not, many comparisons have been made about tragedies/disasters. People continue to say things about JFK's assassination, the A-bomb in Japan, and whatever else their life experience has brought them. It is what it is. 9/11 was horrible, no question. But to vilify the man for an implication that he made is unnecessary in the midst of the fact that the author of the article twisted his words. That person should be considered the villain.

[Arrowhead2k8]

03:11 AM on 07/20/2010

Still too soon?

[parlimentMike]

02:23 AM on 07/20/2010

Why bother correcting a reasonable statement, because unreasonable people take offense?

Coddling the unreasonable folks, who are just looking for problems, gives them power.

There was nothing to apologize for here.

[O K Ali]

02:15 AM on 07/20/2010

I totally understood what he was getting at. Some people try to live and die through the win/loss records of their teams and it's overblown. He wasn't trying to insult anyone, just making a comparison to people overreacting to a simple game.

[InfosolutionWiz]

01:50 AM on 07/20/2010

LIES always travel at lightning speed, while the truth travels at snail pace. Its just the reality of the world we live today!

With all the hype of Lebron James’ ESPN Super Special Free Agency Announcement Extravaganza on ESPN, most have been quick to put the blame on James’ himself for starting all this hype. Dan Gilbert call him narcissistic etc. Well, sorry to tell ALL you LeBron bashers you’re wrong…. just listen to Jim Gray tell you who is behind it and why it got so out of hand!

AUDIO Link…… LOOK directly below the LaBron picture you will see the RED audio play button.

http://1067thefandc.cbslocal.com/2010/07/08/jim-gray-tells-all/

[drjohnsmith57]

12:54 AM on 07/20/2010

Are not the South Parks rules you cannot make a joke about something for 18 years after the fact....the way some people treat the towers is weird .I live in New York the outrage should be when the hell are they gonna start building but no ......it's about mosque's , and you got that big mouth Palin who doesn't live here putting her two cents in and needs to shut up.My spouse and I lost Friends that day ..........but for all the fuss and muster BUILD SOMETHING (oh i forget republicans run this town they already let the terrorist win)

[CubfanBudman]

04:40 AM on 07/20/2010

Build something? Good Luck with the party of No.