NBA star Dwyane Wade says Friday night's game between his Miami Heat and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden should be postponed in light of Hurricane Sandy and that he'll donate his paycheck for the night — which comes to a whopping $210,000, pre-tax — to charity.
"I don't think we should be playing tonight," Wade told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Friday. "There are bigger things, things of more importance, in this city right now. Obviously, sports are something that takes people's minds away from things but I think there are bigger things that need to be done here in the city."
But a Thursday night tweet by Wade — which was either asinine, insensitive or poorly worded, depending on your perspective — has some brushing his comments and donation aside as simple PR maneuvering. The message in question read: "3 hour traffic just to get into the NY city…#C'monMan…"
The post quickly drew criticism from fans online. Wade soon deleted it and later tweeted a clarification, saying, "2 be clear "Traffic tweet was meant 2 say"…We shouldn't B hre 2 play a basketball game when theirs so many families obviously still R affected by #Sandy"
While Friday's Heat-Knicks game will go on as planned, the NBA did cancel the Brooklyn Nets' home opener scheduled for Thursday night because of Hurricane Sandy. The storm hit New York City with extreme force on Monday, and has so far been blamed for 38 deaths in the city and up to $6 billion in overall economic damage.
Do you think Wade's donation and criticism of Friday's game are genuine or a slick PR move — or does his motivation even matter? Give us your take in the comments.
Thumbnail image courtesy Flickr, Keith Allison
More Coverage of Hurricane Sandy
"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."
"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."
Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins
"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."
"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."
Via Nick Sherman
"Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012."
Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released
via Meghan Pipe
Via lafontainenissan
Via miss_pagano
"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"
Via Dell
"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "
Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs
"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens." Via Official New York City Fire Department
"Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens."
"Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall."
Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins
"No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It's amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city."
A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA
People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh
"Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps."
Via Nick Sherman
Via jesseandgreg
A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning
"Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012." Via Talk Radio News Service
"Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012."
Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released
Via Andrew Cuomo
Via thejkinz
A street underwater. Via thejkinz
A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye
via Meghan Pipe
Via lafontainenissan
Via miss_pagano
"Main St. After Hurricane Sandy" Via DumboNYC
"Jane's carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses." Via andjelicaaa
Via toastmatic
Via katemcdermott7
"John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy." Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Via juspostbellum
Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3
"President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy"
Via Dell
"Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. "
Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs
"Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012."Via U.S. Army
Via John deGuzman
"Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30." Via The National Gaurd
A car that has been smashed by a tree in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Via CSondi
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