Thursday, June 22, 2006

Hard WORK!


WOW! There have been so many websites and blogs congratulating the Miami Heat that its overwhelming. I can only imagine what it feels like for the players.

As I sat on my living room floor and screamed at the television on Tuesday night, something came over me and all of a sudden with 4:35 left on the clock, a calm set in. It was a calm reminiscent to watching the Bulls of the '90s. The game started to slow down and it truly began to move in slow motion. I could see the play that the Mavericks were going to run and I could visualize Dwyane Wade collapsing on Jason Terry forcing him to take an off-balanced floater. Maybe the MATRIX does exist?

I told cats when watching Wade lead Marquette to beat top-ranked Kansas to reach the Final Four. But lets take it back to the beginning.

Prior to their tournament run, Marquette had to play the College of the Holy Cross. Wade played 32 minutes, shot a horrible 4 for 11 from the field and committed 5 of the 9 Marquette turnovers. Wade struggled from the field but was a perfect 7 for 7 from the cherry stripe. He had worked hard to perfect his free throws and it paid off. Marquette beat Holy Cross 72 to 68.

Next up, Missouri who ranked at #6 was a team on a mission with a nose for the tournament. Again, Wade shot an abismal 9 for 23 from the field, but again was 6 for 6 from the free throw line. He was a monster on the boards with 8 rebounds and 1 offensive rebound. Though he ended the game with 24 points, he distributed the ball and led the team with 7 dimes. Marquette beat Missouri 101 to 92.

In the Sweet-16, Marquette, ranked #3, took on Pittsburgh, who ranked at #2, was heavily favored and had a stellar team. Pittsburgh was supposed to end the Golden Eagles' run, their longest since their '77 title.

Since Pittsburgh couldn't stop Marquette, the University of Kentucky Wildcats were supposed to crush the neophyte Golden Eagles and send them back to Milwaukee to lick their wounds. No such thing happened with Number 3 running the point.

Marquette's tear ended in New Orleans, but the world saw Wade, a low-key hard working cat from Chicago, play on the some of the biggest stages and do so like a seasoned veteran. Marquette lost to Kansas 61 to 94.


So, you see, Wade put in the Hard Work in Illinois and in Wisconsin so that when it mattered the most, Game 3 in Miami, Wade would not quit and said to himself and teammates, "We ain't going out like this. We worked too hard to quit now." A champion never quits, 'nuff said.

Congratulations to the Miami Heat and to the NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade!




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