Wade makes gigantic splash in just two years
MIAMI – Just two years ago, Dwyane Wade was borrowing money for his son’s diapers.
Owning a waterside home was beyond the realm of fantasy for someone who didn’t always have birthday and Christmas presents as a kid. Forget gifts – there were times as a youngster when his family went without food.
Everything’s so different now for the Miami Heat guard.
His 3,190-square-foot, six-bedroom house, bought in October 2003, already seems too small. Wade wants to upgrade because he, only half kiddingly, says it cannot hold all his shoes. The Chrysler he drove was replaced by a customized Range Rover after Wade signed with a South Florida dealership. His nickname, Flash, is on the sneakers Converse pays him $400,000 annually to wear.
Like his on-court numbers, his off-court stock is rising – as is his asking price. Wade’s endorsement deals already reach into the millions, and some believe he’s just getting started as a businessman.
“When I sit down and think that all this has come in two years, it’s amazing,” Wade says. “It’s crazy.”
After just two NBA seasons, Wade is one of basketball’s hottest commodities, with his list of off-the-court deals growing all the time. This week, he flew to New York for one of the lucrative side jobs enhancing his $2.85 million Heat salary: a photo shoot for Sean John, the popular clothing line founded by hip-hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Billboards and magazine ads with Wade wearing the fall-winter collection will be released nationwide shortly.
Soon, he’ll be off to Vancouver to work on EA Sports’ “NBA Live 06” video game; Wade was chosen as the player to grace the cover. From there, he’ll hit Chicago for a major signing event with Hollywood Collectibles, another of his side employers – a rapidly growing group, even though Wade turns down many offers.
He’s recently been on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” David Letterman’s people have called. People magazine listed him as one of its “50 most beautiful people.” His jersey ranks among the NBA’s top sellers. A movie producer sent a script along, wondering if Wade’s ready to start acting. There’s talk of him starting a music production company. If time allows, Wade will attend a Paris fashion show – as a model, not a guest.
Oh, and he’ll spend plenty of hours this summer working on his game, too.
“I could say it’s a dream come true, but I kind of feel sometimes like I have to pinch myself,” Wade said. “Every day, I’m happy. There’s no reason for me to be mad about anything. Every day, I’m happy because I get an opportunity to do everything I always wanted to do – and more.”
Wade is not letting newfound fame and fortune affect his makeup. Some teammates prefer fine dining; Wade remains partial to burgers and fries.
He hasn’t forgotten the truly hard times. His status has changed, but his down-to-earth ways have not.
“That has been the most impressive thing about him,” says his Chicago-based agent, Henry Thomas. “He has handled his rapid rise to stardom with tremendous class. He has remained humble, respectful and appreciative of the success he has been blessed with.”
Wade won’t discuss specifics of his financial deal with Sean John, other than to say he could have made much more money from another clothing line but turned down that offer because he felt it wasn’t consistent with the clean-cut professional image he”d prefer to portray.
Knicks sign Pac-10 pair
The New York Knicks signed Channing Frye and Nate Robinson, two of their three first-round picks. Terms were not disclosed.
Frye, a center from Arizona, was the eighth overall pick in Tuesday’s draft. He averaged 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in four seasons with the Wildcats of the Pacific-10 Conference.
Robinson, a 5-foot-9 guard from Washington, was taken 21st overall by Phoenix and acquired by New York in a trade that sent Quentin Richardson to the Knicks and forward Kurt Thomas to Phoenix. Robinson left the Huskies after his junior season. He averaged 14.4 points in his Pac-10 career.
Seattle Prep star signs with Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers first-round draft pick Martell Webster has signed a multiyear contract, the team announced. Details were not disclosed.
Webster, the sixth overall selection in the NBA draft, averaged 27.7 points and 10 rebounds for Seattle Prep last year. Webster, 6-7, had signed a letter of intent with Washington before he decided to make himself eligible for the draft.
Dumars sets meeting with Brown’s agent
Larry Brown’s agent and Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars plan to speak Tuesday about the coach’s future with the team, a source within the league told The Associated Press.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Dumars and Joe Glass would talk in the hopes of moving toward a resolution.
Brown declined to comment on his status when reached Friday night at his vacation home in New York, after leaving the Mayo Clinic.
The Hall of Fame coach checked into the hospital Wednesday morning to address a medical problem that developed from complications following hip surgery in November and didn’t go away after a second procedure in March.