Did Shaq rub off on Wade?

[HeatSince88]

You do realize that a lot of lineman actually take
ballet right?

Do more linemen lift weights and work on technique to improve in football ... or do ballet? Dancing is something you can do to SUPPLEMENT real football training, not replace it. Huge difference there, sorry if you don't see it.

How about this ... Why don't take a team and train your players in the offseason by doing 3 months of nothing but dance routines a thousand miles from one another.

Meanwhile, I'll train a team that lifts weights together, runs sprints together, studies game film, works on technique, improves explosiveness, builds trust and comraderie with each other, etc.

Who wins?

I fail to see how missing VOLUNTARY workouts to dance on national TV in a free commercial for the league is some sort of horrible affront to the proud tradition of a 1-15 team.

Why don't you ask Parcells and Sparano why they've been snubbing JT at Phins headquarters during his little dance foray?

It's called leadership.

JT is the team's most accomplished player, most tenured Dolphin, and nearly the highest paid. Coming off a 1-15 season and with young players in the fold, this team never needed a leader MORE than it does right now.

But JT has other priorities ... JT himself.

Winning football is about team, not about who might be able to parlay dancing into a Hollywood career for himself. Again, Parcells gets this, even if you don't.

BTW, I'm really glad to see your football coach did you such a favor. How's the million dollar home working out for you? Been to many pro-bowls? When do you go into the HOF, again?

I'm willing to bet ANY AMOUNT that I accommplished much more in football than you. Please tell me how much you can afford to lose, and we'll go from there. This will be fun for me, and embarrassing for you that you even started it.

And the million dollar house is just fine BTW

Boy, that tradition of high school football must really make you qualified to tell a 6 time all-pro and DPOY how to spend his offseason...

Parcells is miffed about JT's lack of football commitment as well. Is Parcells also unqualified to have an opinion Mr. "Bballfreak"?

I mean, I guess we're not allowed to express opinions about anything unless we're as accomplished than the players we're commenting on, so why don't you go ahead and delete your RealGM account?

Then drive on over to Davie and tell Parcells he has no place snubbing JT over his lack of commitment to the Dolphins, since he hasn't played in 6 Pro Bowls like JT has! LOL.

Name your amount.

[dflash3]

LOL I love how this topic went from Wade to dancing and football

[BFRESH44]

88 and Freak are like the biggest e-rivarly ever...

[Flash3]

bbal is a ball room dancer on the weekends/

/inside information

//off topic

[CoolD]

I read a couple comments piling on the guy that started this thread. I don't completely agree with the guy, but their is some things that I do.

Wade did seem to have lost some of his focus to often this last season, in this turnover prone season, it will seem to indicate, Wade had a harder time than usual concentrating on games. When Wade got booed, in L.A, Wade look like the crowd was getting to him. Something I admire of a guy like Kobe, or Ginobili, they seem to even play harder, and seem to relish the antagonism, Wade seem to shrink to being booed, because he always wants to be liked.

Also, Wade constantly talks about not being 100 percent do to injuries, it might be true. But I found that talking about them to the media, is really annoying. My theory, if you are hurt, just sit out, but don't continually rely on an excuse.

It also didn't feel right, him taking a huge chunck of the season(even if was meaningless) so he can go play for team USA. Showing more loyalty to another team.

I also did feel Shaq rub off on the whole Heat organization, sometimes good at the beginning, but at the end, it was the bad. The lack of professionalism was apparent by a lot people in the organization. Not Wade, but others.

[DeJuanderful]

Of course Shaq had an influence. He is a very influential person.

The question probably should be "Was Shaq a bad influence?"

The answer is possibly. Once Shaq rolled in, Wade became more of a party-goer. You'd see his pictures at all sorts of events. Before, he was more of a stay-at-home choir boy character. Yet Shaq brings about a great deal of exposure, and he made sure that Wade received a great deal of exposure. Without Shaq, Wade's career would not be where it is. No doubt. Shaq knows how to market himself. He has marketed his own shoes, movies, and records.

The problem that I noticed, is that some of the players are not the same guys from the pre-Shaq era. Udonis Haslem for example. Watching him play in person, I noticed that he didn't hustle anymore. He wasn't dedicated, and he often looked like he just didn't care. I don't know if Shaq would be the cause of that change, but there was a difference...at least to me.

[BBallFreak]

Do more linemen lift weights and work on technique to improve in football ... or do ballet? Dancing is something you can do to SUPPLEMENT real football training, not replace it. Huge difference there, sorry if you don't see it.

Yes, because Jason Taylor is going to skip his ENTIRE offseason - training camp, mini-camp, and pre-season, all so he can dance.

Do you realize how dumb it sounds to suggest that he's skipping everything, when all he's missing is the VOLUNTARY workouts?

Do you know what they're doing at Dolphins camp right now? The veterans are standing around, waiting to work out. They're lifting weights and using the treadmill. He's not missing anything he won't be doing later! All he's doing now is improving his footwork, stamina, and balance.

How about this ... Why don't take a team and train your players in the offseason by doing 3 months of nothing but dance routines a thousand miles from one another.

Meanwhile, I'll train a team that lifts weights together, runs sprints together, studies game film, works on technique, improves explosiveness, builds trust and comraderie with each other, etc.

Who wins?

To suggest that that is all JT will be doing this offseason is about as intelligent as insisting that Bush was right and their really were WMD's. Come on man, you know better.

Why don't you ask Parcells and Sparano why they've been snubbing JT at Phins headquarters during his little dance foray?

It's called leadership.

JT is the team's most accomplished player, most tenured Dolphin, and nearly the highest paid. Coming off a 1-15 season and with young players in the fold, this team never needed a leader MORE than it does right now.

But JT has other priorities ... JT himself.

Winning football is about team, not about who might be able to parlay dancing into a Hollywood career for himself. Again, Parcells gets this, even if you don't.

Of all the dumb, stupid BS! How many games has JT missed throughout his career? Here's a hint, if you were to lose two fingers from your left hand, you'd still be able to count them using only your left hand! Another nice piece of trivia for you - they were all in his rookie year, when he was developing as a player, and he didn't miss them because of injuries.

Now, the guy wants to do something for himself IN THE OFFSEASON and people treat him like he's some uncommitted boob! It's ridiculous! I guarantee you, he's done more to lead this team, sacrificing his body over the course of years. Now, he has to commit his offseason to doing it, too? But it's not enough that he gets in tremendous shape, he has to do it your way?

I call BS.

I'm willing to bet ANY AMOUNT that I accommplished much more in football than you. Please tell me how much you can afford to lose, and we'll go from there. This will be fun for me, and embarrassing for you that you even started it.

Actually, I'm 240 with 9% body fat. I'm comfortable with where I am.

As for my football accomplishments, I never claimed to be a great football player. I just claimed that JT knows more about it than you.

And the million dollar house is just fine BTW

Yeah, you're doing a good job. The lawn has never been so nicely manicured.

Parcells is miffed about JT's lack of football commitment as well. Is Parcells also unqualified to have an opinion Mr. "Bballfreak"?

I mean, I guess we're not allowed to express opinions about anything unless we're as accomplished than the players we're commenting on, so why don't you go ahead and delete your RealGM account?

Then drive on over to Davie and tell Parcells he has no place snubbing JT over his lack of commitment to the Dolphins, since he hasn't played in 6 Pro Bowls like JT has! LOL.

Name your amount.

I find it hilarious that anyone who has watched the Dolphins for as long as you supposedly have can question Jason Taylor's dedication. The man has played injured, and played with his balls to the wall every game since his rookie year. Now, suddenly, he's not a leader? I just don't buy it. It's BS. It's not a logical progression.

[heat4life]

This is better than the playoffs...

[Vertical Limit]

http://www.miamiherald.com/594/story/522537.html

Same article as in Wiretap.

[HeatSince88]

I find it hilarious that anyone who has watched the Dolphins for as long as you supposedly have can question Jason Taylor's dedication. The man has played injured, and played with his balls to the wall every game since his rookie year. Now, suddenly, he's not a leader? I just don't buy it. It's BS. It's not a logical progression.

Who's more dedicated to the Dolphins ...

- The guys who are busting their a**es every day trying to get better at football, lifting, running, learning the new systems, spotting each other on the bench, encouraging each other to work harder, etc? Or

- The guy who is dancing in Hollywood thousands of miles away for 3-4 months trying to start an acting career while quietly demanding a trade OUT of Miami because he has given up on his teammates

It's not even close man. Not even close. I mean .... wow. Talk about BS.

To suggest that that is all JT will be doing this offseason is about as intelligent as insisting that Bush was right and their really were WMD's. Come on man, you know better.

So should our whole team take 4 months off from weights, running, technique, learning? And go DANCE!

Your logic says yes, they'll be the same player regardless of working hard at football or not. In fact, you're saying they will be better at football by practicing DANCE rather than ... well ... football.

Silly silly silly.

Of all the dumb, stupid BS! How many games has JT missed throughout his career? Here's a hint, if you were to lose two fingers from your left hand, you'd still be able to count them using only your left hand! Another nice piece of trivia for you - they were all in his rookie year, when he was developing as a player, and he didn't miss them because of injuries.

What does how many games he's missed in his career have to do with ...

- Leaving his teammates behind for months (until it's *mandatory* to show up) because pursuing an acting career is a higher priority right now

- Demanding a trade OUT of Miami because he has given up on his teammates

Nothing. It tells you all you need to know that Parcells is miffed about it.

I guarantee you, he's done more to lead this team, sacrificing his body over the course of years.

Right. And now he's quitting on us.

He wants OUT OF MIAMI, he's working harder to become an actor than to be a better football player, and the team's "leader" is nowhere to be found to actually lead.

JT as great for us from 1996-2007 or whatever, the period you continually reference. But we're talking about what's happening NOW, aren't we?

I have a problem with him NOW that he's demanded a trade out of Miami and decided an acting career is more important than leading his teammates and trying to get better.

As for my football accomplishments, I never claimed to be a great football player. I just claimed that JT knows more about it than you.

Using that logic, don't I know more than you then?

Your logic is that the more someone has accomplished in football, the more "right" their opinion is. Right?

So bow down. Step aside. I played college ball for two years before shredding my knee and transferring back home. As I have accomplished more than you in football, you may NOT have an opinion that contradicts mine. Goodbye!

Yeah, you're doing a good job. The lawn has never been so nicely manicured.

Ha, if only you knew, you'd feel like an idiot

[Lane1974]

^^ I love the new avy

I don't begrudge JT at all for doing what he thinks he wants, but I do think he has no right to any indignation or holier than thou attitude

[360]

Wade used to be hard working, aggressive, cared more about the game than anything, he was an underdog, scrappy, didn't talk much and let his game speak for him.

Now i'm a wade fan but after the Shaq era wade became kind of Shaq like. He started talking more, he gained weight, he shoots a lot more commercials now, self promotes more, he doesn't play as hard on defense, and has more of a prima donna superstar attitude today than the ultimate underdog from the hood doing whatever it takes to win gig like before.

Can Shaq's damage be undone?

Yes, I noticed his change in attitude a long time ago but didn't really link it to Shaq until he left his wife within days after Shaq did the same. That's just too coincidental to me. It's probably a combination of Shaq and the money. I don't know what it will take to humble him but I have definitely noticed a change.

[BBallFreak]

First of all, he has NOT demanded a trade.

Second of all, if it's not mandatory, I don't see why anyone has the right to get all pissy about it.

[BFO]

9%, impressive for a stay-at-home retired mod.

[jaypo]

Don't you guys remember Pat telling everyone how good of shape Shaq was in while a member of the Heat? He worked harder here than he had in a while. The problem is that the team had a lot of injuries and lost key players. It's hard to stay competitive and motivated when your 2 stars are hurt, your best bench player (and defensive player) goes out with a knee injury, and your depth is almost non existent. The team was fine until this year. This year, Wade played hurt all year, Williams was a shell of his former self, Shaq had 2 leg injuries that he played through, Zo went out, and our season was placed firmly on the shoulders of Ricky Davis. That's a lot of adversity to deal with. Ever heard of quicksand? You get stuck in it, and no matter how hard you fight, you get deeper and deeper into it. Pretty soon, it's useless to fight. I don't think anyone quit on the team. I just think that when they realized that the team wouldn't be going anywhere, they probably didn't compete as hard as they did when they were in the championship hunt. That starts at the top- Micky Arison, to Pat Riley, and down to Earl Barron! I don't think Arison put enough effort into trying to afford better players. Pat didn't put enough into his GM and coaching duties (he said it himself), all the way down to the players. But to say it was just Shaq's attitude rubbing off is just not true. If you say that, then why hasn't anyone said that it was Shaq rubbing off when Wade dominated the finals on the way to the Chip? Or why doesn't anyone credit Shaq for his hustle diving into the scorer's table for a loose ball and injuring himself this year when the team was already in the crapper?

[heat4life]

Everytime I read the title of this thread, I get a *chuckle*

[The Diesel]

Udonis Haslem is THE LAST person who would ever quit on the team.

Wasn't he also playing hurt this year?

I don't think he quit or wasn't trying hard in all the games.

This season was just a disaster, but I wouldn't be surprised if this team turns it around really quickly.

Still has Wade, Marion, Haslem, Cook, and perhaps either Beasley/Rose

What's the consensus on Ricky Davis? Do people want him back?

With Dorrell and Marion, they don't need him.

If this team gets Beasley or Rose, Miami is going to be very good.

Wade, Beasley/Rose, Cook, Dorrell, Marion, Haslem, Quinn, and (maybe) Alonzo would be a really good team.

[Chessboxer]

I don't think Shaq rubbed off on Wade, but I do think he rubbed off on the team as a whole, especially his last two years here. During the championship season it happened but its forgotten because the Heat won the title.

However I specifically remember Riley not being happy with the effort, but let it go saying that he knew the team would step up when it needed to. Then the following season, when everything fell apart. Riley put his foot down and became furious with the teams' lack of effort and focus. For example, the Posey and Walker suspensions for not being in shape. The defense effort and overall intensity.

I don't think it rubbed off on Wade though. Don't you remember Wade criticizing Shaq about his effort at the beginning of the year?