He's Employed But I'm Not

Seriously, how does this schmuck have a job for a medium-sized paper like the Providence Journal and I can't find a damn thing. After reading this pile of garbage, I'm thinking a few concussions may do the trick.

It takes a lot to make a jaded, old sports writer who thinks he’s just about seen it all do a double-take when he suddenly sees something in the paper that makes him say: “Say what?”

Normally, the buffet line in the media room running out of food causes that reaction. Also, said reaction can be caused by viewing the bar tab at the end of the night.

But that’s what happened earlier this week when I read in Kevin McNamara’s notebook from the PC-Marquette game in Milwaukee that the Golden Eagles (more on that bogus nickname in a moment) had retired the number of Dwyane Wade, who played just two seasons for the erstwhile Warriors.

There is a certain irony that a school so concerned about political correctness as to change its nickname can’t wait to retire the number of a so-called student-athlete who’s now earning millions, even though he never earned a diploma.

A few facts on the matter. The current regime did not change the nickname. In fact, in his heart of hearts, I'm guessing current Marquette president Fr. Robert Wild would still prefer be the Warriors. However, the intense potential backlash from a big local financial partner and the NCAA curtailed the movement to return to Warriors. Of course, I'm guessing our friend did not have a clue about any of this. Also, the issue of retiring a player's jersey and debating the nickname have absolutely no connection.

On the student-athlete thought, Wade carried a 3.0 GPA during his studies at Marquette despite the time constraints being a scholarship athlete and a new father. I'm guessing that 3.0 GPA was well north of Mr. Donald's. On the worth of a diploma, I'm living proof that it's very irrelevant in the scheme of things. How one represents oneself in the community and makes use of their talents far outweighs the importance of completing the number of classes that an arbitraty body sets. Considering that Wade donates 10% of his salary to his church, always gives Marquette favorable press, and returns to Milwaukee whenever he's asked, I'm thinking he's earned whatever honor Marquette feels like bestowing on him. If the degree means that much, he's earned an honorary one as much as anyone who the University has previously presented one to.

There’s no question that he’s one of the all-time greats at a school that has had a great many outstanding players who have built a proud basketball tradition.But you have to question why the school was so eager to retire his his jersey No. 3.

Was it for recruiting purposes? Is Marquette hoping Wade will donate a larger portion of his NBA millions to the basketball program? What was the rush?

Why should Marquette wait to give Wade something he has already earned. He has promised to return to earn his degree. Given the time commitments he will have in the next decade, it's not feasible that this will happen anytime soon. As mentioned above, he has done more for Marquette than 99.9 % of people who have earned degrees. While it may be a grim and unpleasant thought, what if something horrible and tragic were to happen to Wade. There would have been a huge feeling of regret and emptiness if he would not be there to see his number rightfully raised along with the other Marquette legends.

As far as the recruitng aspect and overall success of the program, Providence should be taking hints from Marquette, not suggesting them.

But the powers-that-be at Marquette, who couldn’t wait to dump the nickname “Warriors,” apparently couldn’t wait to retire Wade’s jersey, either.

Both actions were precipitate.

If Marquette wanted to drop its Indian mascot, that would have been understandable, although Chief Osceola is alive and well at Florida State. But a kid dressed up as an Indian, or friar, or bulldog, or ram, or leprechaun, or, in the case of Stanford, a dancing tree, doesn’t add much to the enjoyment of a game, in my opinion.

But there’s no reason Marquette couldn’t continue to call its teams the Warriors, which, according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, are “men engaged or experienced in warfare.”

“Warriors” is a generic term, applicable to all races and nationalities, and certainly is not derogatory to any of them.

How many times have you heard a college coach describe one of his student-athletes as “a warrior?” Should that bring the political correctness police down on the coach’s head?

Marquette bent over backwards to do the politically correct thing when it came to its nickname, but now has decided to bend its standards by retiring the number of an athlete who played only two seasons and didn’t graduate.

Once again, you have proven to know nothing about either issue you opine about. Research would be your friend. I highly suggest you do some before making sweeping generalizations and sound like the the crusty, old idiot you clearly have identified yourself to be.

Marquette should have waited to retire Wade’s jersey. He has a lot of years left in pro ball, a lot of offseasons to return to school — as he insists he will do — and complete his degree requirements.

That would have been the time to retire Wade’s number — when they could hand him his diploma as they were raising his jersey to the rafters.

To do it before he graduated is more inappropriate, by far, than having a nickname of Warriors.

To sum up this moron's points:

1. Assuming things will happen in life, especially in today's age, is a grave and horrible mistake.

2. A nickname issue and a player's worthiness of having his jersey retired have absolutely no relationship with one another. Well, other than letting your bitterness about one issue cloud your judgment about the other.

3. Apparently, honoring your program's all-time best player who represents his alma mater in the best way humanly possible is much more offensive then potentially crippling other sports programs by defying logic and changing previous mistakes. While the name should not have been changed in the past, the ramifications of reversing the decision far outweigh the positives a return to the Warriors name would have.

Once again, the sports writing field always meets my low expectations for them.