Tom Crean...
(laughing) “The last time I
had a press conf with him I was crying like a baby[when he announced that he was
turning pro]..this is a thrill for me and Marquette…he energized the community
of Marquette, the Milwaukee community and this state…and he impacts people…he
makes them better…so many gifts that he has…him being here for three yrs helped
us all…mainly me…I learned a lot from him…I will never forget the first day he
came…he continues to impact the NBA…and also the world when you look at the way
he represents diff companies and what he represents….hard to find anything
remotely negative, except for complaints about him getting too many free
throws…I only wish a tough Providence team would be accommodating
tomorrow…
Question: Your first game as a young player…did you ever
dream about being in this position?
Wade: No, I
really did not like BB at first…it was a way to stay with my dad who used to
play in the playgrounds at the parks in Chicago…when I first started playing.. I wasn’t
really good offensively but I had a long reach and was good defensively…and I
was kind of fast as a kid
Question: What was your reaction to being called by MU
about your number being retired?
Wade: It is the
ultimate sign of respect and honor at any level. I felt blessed by this
university and I have waited for this[since the call] and it seems as if it has
taken forever to come. I just want to enjoy the process with my family, friends,
the Marquette
community…my coaches and ex teammates…it will be a great moment….
Question: Did you feel like you earned it, the
honor?
Wade: I can not
say. I do not like talking about myself.
Tom Crean: There
is a plan in place for him to get his degree…when people impact you so much you
want to let them know how much you appreciate them…he will be included with so
many other great players and great citizens
Question: How does this rank with your other
accomplishments?
Wade: It is at
the top of all…the ultimate…a lot of basketball players talk about ..who got
there jersey retired…who did not …it is greatly
respected…
Homer owns Wade in H-O-R-S-E
Question: Do you watch MU on
TV?
Wade: Every time
I see the crawl on the bottom of the TV…everyone in the NBA takes pride in their
universities…I told the guys when I came back in the locker room (current MU team) that you were making me
look good and please continue to make me look good…I am talking a lot of
stuff…they are representing themselves in a tough conference and in the right
way…
Question: How did sitting out impact you
during your first year at MU?
Wade: I can say
it now but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was a shy
person...an uncertain kid…I came in with some raw talent…some basketball
talent...and I really got an opportunity to get to know myself and what I wanted
to do in life…really worked hard on and off the court… in the weight room
a lot…I grew as a person…helped my maturity factor…the hard workouts the coach
put us through…it helped me out tremendously…
Question: How did the many coaches impact
you?
Wade: My first
coach was my dad…you learn something from every one of your coaches...I had a
converse commercial this summer and I talked about how I learned from my first
coach…my father…my HS coach Jack Fitzgerald…Coach Crean and in the NBA…I will
continue to learn from them
Crean: One thing
that has separated Dwyane is his ability to take and accept the truth. We could
see early on that there was talent but there was something so much greater…he
wanted to be as good as he could be…even now, I do not think he is as good as he
can be...a lot of people talk about being good but not many are willing to take
the time …and the truth…to take want is given to you…and use it…you are not
being critical.,. .you are trying to hold them accountable to the greatness they
want...that is what was so much fun coaching him…you could not break him…or give
him too much…he wanted to be great..
Wade: Except for
that one spring when I wanted to leave about 15 times…
Question: What is your relationship with Coach
Crean?
Wade: “My relationship with
him has developed over the yrs…and will continue to develop from a player coach
relationship…many late nights in his office…we both had to be on the same page
for our team to be successful...but I also had a wife and a child in college…and
he was one of the first persons I could turn to…we shed a few tears together
when I told him that my wife was expecting…and the relationship just grew that
way…out of basketball…
He told me that
whether Zaire would sleep or not, I had to
come to practice and bring it every day for our team to be good. I was able to
take the criticism for the most part and benefited from it.
Make sure you visit Dwyane Wade’s Webiste at
www.DwayneWade.com
