Wade referenced the World Trade Center attacks in a recent interview with Fanhouse and the site has corrected its quote to make it…well…less appalling.
Rotoworld has the original, uncorrected quote:
Dwyane Wade said in a recent interview, “If we [the Miami Heat] lose a couple in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade [Center] is coming down again.”
Had that stood, the reaction would be brutal. There is no good context for bringing the WTC disaster up with relation to sports.
However, when looking at the original story at Fanhouse, there is an editor’s note that reads this way:
Editor’s Note: Because of a transcription error, an earlier version of this story contained an incorrect quote from Dwyane Wade. The full and accurate version of the quote is contained in this story. We deeply regret the error.
Here’s how the quote reads now:
“We’re going to be wearing a bullseye. But that’s what you play for,” Wade said. “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.”
Far less offensive? Yes, but still inappropriate. Wade brings up the WTC attacks to put a couple of basketball games in perspective, but there is no reason to bring the event up at all. No good can come from it.
What kind of controversy is this going to generate? I guess we’ll find out Monday morning. (Personally, I’d like to hear the tape.)
