Dwyane Wade is Public Enemy No. 1 for a few Canadians at the moment.
The Miami Heat guard chose to continue to warm up during “O Canada” played in Miami prior to Game 3 of the Heat-Raptors series.
To add insult to injury, Wade went off for 38 points although it wasn’t enough to prevent the visitors from winning 95-91.
Wade’s decision is a clear violation NBA H (2) which reads:
“Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.”
The Heat guard’s extra warmup has irked many north of the border.
Toronto Mayor John Tory weighed in with some friendly advice for the Heat superstar.
Social media savvy Toronto city councillor Norm Kelly also tweeted out his displeasure with Wade’s perceived slight.
Ontario legislature member Mike Colle, who represents a Toronto riding, chimed in too, releasing a statement calling on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to “formally seek a public apology” from Wade.
There is no word from the league on whether he will be disciplined although in the past, players have been suspended for this.
Back in 1995-96, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf chose not stand for the national anthem as a political protest.
While he was eventually suspended for one game, this carried on until March before it happened. It would be a surprise if the NBA did much of anything in this case given it is the playoffs and it was a one-time occurence.
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