Dwyane Wade apologizes for “World Trade” reference in comments to reporters

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Miami guard Dwyane Wade has had plenty to say during the past couple of weeks.

For the most part, he seems to be saying the right things, sticking up for new teammate LeBron James and saying that the Lakers are still the team to beat in the NBA even with the Heat’s high-profile acquisitions.

But Wade is now apologizing for his choice of words during comments he made to the press Sunday before the annual charity basketball game he co-hosts with Alonzo Mourning.

Wade made a reference to the 9/11 tragedy in describing how the press might react to a Heat losing streak this season.

‘There’s going to be times when we might lose one, two games in a row, maybe two games, three games in a row, you never know,’ Wade said to a group of reporters in front of his locker Sunday. ‘It’s going to seem like the world is crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again. But it’s not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games lost and we’ll have to get back on track.’

Wade issued a statement Monday apologizing to those who may have been offended by his use of the phrase ‘World Trade’:

‘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. 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.’

AOL Fanhouse initially reported Wade saying: ‘If we lose a couple in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade (Center) is coming down again.’ Hours later, the site published a different version of the quote, citing a transcription error and an editor’s note saying, ‘we deeply regret the error.’

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.