D-whistle is not a nice guy

[KungPoweChicken]

I remember a long time ago on this blog there was a thread about which NBA you would want to be. I replied, I would want to be Wade because he gets all the ladies. Then there was a little backlash of posts that followed exclaiming that Wade was a class act. That's some class act he is. For this celticsblog oversight I would like two formal apologies and seven Tommy Points. Thank you.

[BrickJames]

I remember a long time ago on this blog there was a thread about which NBA you would want to be. I replied, I would want to be Wade because he gets all the ladies. Then there was a little backlash of posts that followed exclaiming that Wade was a class act. That's some class act he is. For this celticsblog oversight I would like two formal apologies and seven Tommy Points. Thank you.

Here's one.

[Roy Hobbs]

Again, guys:  avoiding making the debate personal.  That means don't attack / demean others.

[Champzilla]

It seems like this forum topic was started in response to the Kobe one.

[Steve Weinman]

It seems like this forum topic was started in response to the Kobe one.

Indeed.  Again, I think the point Brick is making is to highlight the difference in the notions folks hold of the two people and to call into question whether that difference is fair.

I'm not registering an opinion, just trying to clarify what I thought I understood from reading Brick's earlier post here:

This thread is highlighting the vast discrepancy between how people perceive Kobe vs Wade.

Hope that helps.

-sw

[Champzilla]

But the acts are totally different SW.  Are you comparing a rape charge to smoking a joint and taking steriods ?

[Champzilla]

What Kobe was accussed of is much much worse.

[Steve Weinman]

But the acts are totally different SW.  Are you comparing a rape charge to smoking a joint and taking steriods ?

I am comparing absolutely nothing - as I tried to make clear by saying that my previous post was not to register an opinion.

All I'm doing is suggesting that this was the impetus for Brick's thread.  That there are going to be differing opinions on the matter (as the two of you evidence) is simply part of the discussion.

-sw

[Roy Hobbs]

I'll add that regardless of Brick's motivations, this is a legit topic to discuss, although it trends more towards gossip.  That being said, there's an interesting discussion in there somewhere about a player's public persona and who that player really is.

[Champzilla]

I agree RH, but Kobe's event was much more public because of the seriousness involved, which had caused him to have a negative image.  Dwade's is not that publicly known, because it is not that serious, which is how he still maintains a strong image.

[KungPoweChicken]

I'll add that regardless of Brick's motivations, this is a legit topic to discuss, although it trends more towards gossip.  That being said, there's an interesting discussion in there somewhere about a player's public persona and who that player really is.

Agreed, all because Wade doesn't have any tattoos and stays well groomed doesn't mean he should qualify for father of the year.

[Scalablob990]

You constantly defended kobe, but you quickly bought into the DWade stuff, I think you are involving personal feelings for these players into your comments.

Honestly, you didn't read my posts in the Kobe thread clearly, as evidenced by 100% of your responses.

My posts in the Kobe thread were reactionary to people calling Kobe a "rapist" when the overall context of that thread, at that time, was not relevant.

This thread is highlighting the vast discrepancy between how people perceive Kobe vs Wade. 

Get it now?  Clever stuff, I know.

Come on Brick, "rapist" is such a bad name that makes Kobe look bad. "Therapist" sounds so much mroe professional!

[BrickJames]

I'll add that regardless of Brick's motivations, this is a legit topic to discuss, although it trends more towards gossip.  That being said, there's an interesting discussion in there somewhere about a player's public persona and who that player really is.

Thanks for the reinforcement.  It really is quite interesting the celebrity vs the human aspect of any player, and Wade is no exception.

You've made your stance clear, Roy, that you'll defer any judgment until the facts are discussed a little more in the open (by a more credible outlet, perhaps?), but I'm curious as to why there Wade isn't as vilified as Kobe...

Yes, the rape accusation of Kobe is one thing, but Kobe had his share of detractors prior to that whole episode.

Wade, too, had his run-in with Shaq.  Shaq has basically dissed Wade since leaving MIA (albeit, less blatantly).

I tend to think that the Dutch guy in the Wade article (sorry, too lazy to click thru to the name) has a good deal of truth in it.  I acknowledge that he has his own agenda in releasing this news (who doesn't?) but it seems entirely believable, at least to me.


Boy, I can't wait for the LeBrick/Oden/Howard/Shaq juice scandal  

[KungPoweChicken]

Wade isn't widely vilified because his actions don't deviate from the norm of a professional athlete. If all NBA players were thrown under the bus for smoking pot and having sex parties who would they get for the NBA cares commercials? Michael Ray Richardson and Wilt Chamberlain come to mind as strong examples of the life professional athletes live. However, most athletes land in the middle and aren't extreme cases. It is essentially the nature of the business to do a little drugs and host sex parties. 

[Champzilla]

I still can't believe people are comparing smoking pot to rape, "why isn't dwade villified like Kobe?" I'm really suprised and disgusted that people are downplaying what kobe was accussed of, like its no big deal.