Wade finds the spotlight shines bright in Miami

Basketball Betting Lines

07/19/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I spent a number of years hosting my own radio show and am lucky enough to do quite a few guest spots around the dial these days, so I realize how easy it can be to say something off the cuff that someone, somewhere is alienated by.

In a society that grows touchier by the day, that kind of thing is just part of the process, and generally I dismiss most of the Sally Sensitives out there as just that.

However, there are a few topics I have been deft enough to avoid at all costs. For instance, I'm proud to say I've never compared the New York Yankees' treatment of Joe Torre to the Nazis like Tim McCarver, and I've yet to break out September 11 in reference to a losing streak.

Dwyane Wade?

Not so much.

When asked Sunday how his new super team in South Beach would react to a losing streak in the upcoming season, Wade handled it like a rookie stepping up to the microphone for the first time.

"You [the reporters assembled] all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again," Wade said before his annual charity basketball game that he co-hosts with former Heat-teammate Alonzo Mourning.

Later in the day AOL, which first reported the quote, sent a different version of it along with an with an editor's note explaining a transcription error was made and the company "deeply regretted the error."

However, in the second corrected version, Wade still made the insensitive reference, albeit with a bit of a qualifier.

"We're going to be wearing a bull's-eye," Wade reportedly said. "But that's what you play for. We enjoy the bull's-eye. Plus, there's going to be times when we lose two, three 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 of basketball games."

Since D-Wade isn't Don Rickles or Lisa Lampanelli working blue at the Comedy Shack, that's still about as tasteless as it gets these days.

It's not that I think Wade had any bad intentions or actually thinks he and LeBron losing three in a row will really compare to 3,000 innocents losing their lives. The All-Star clearly just stepped the wrong way in the politically correct minefield that is America today.

Wade quickly apologized on Monday but made a second mistake in the process, blaming the messenger.

"In an interview yesterday, I attempted to explain how some people may view the Miami Heat losing a few basketball games in a row during the upcoming season," Wade said in a statement. "It appears that my reference to the World Trade Center has been either inaccurately reported or taken completely out of context.

"I was simply trying to say that losing a few basketball games should not be compared to a real catastrophe. While it was certainly not my intention, I sincerely apologize to anyone who found my reference to the World Trade Center to be insensitive or offensive."

It's still July and we are over three months away from basketball games counting again, but it would have been nice to see Wade step up like a leader, accept full responsibility and learn something very valuable from his little faux pas.

The Heat, not the Lakers or Celtics, are now at the center of the basketball universe and everything he, James, Chris Bosh and their teammates do will now be put under a very powerful microscope.

Distractions like this during the season are exactly the types of things that could lead to the losing streaks Wade so inartfully described.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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