Wade's Pregame Routine During Canadian Anthem Sparks Outrage
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Dwyane Wade's pregame shootaround routine has set off a bit of an international incident.
The Miami star has been the subject of some outrage after video showed him taking a few extra warm-up shots as the Canadian national anthem was being performed before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto on Saturday.
Wade tends to not line up for the pregame anthem ceremony without making his last shot, usually a bank shot from the left wing — even when only "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played.
I can't imagine Wade is THAT tone deaf. Is he an idiot? If a Canadian did that here to US anthem we'd be freaking INVADED!
— Andrew Walker (@FAN590Walker) May 8, 2016
Not a fan of anthems before games but will say if a Canadian did what Wade did yesterday for the other anthem, there'd be huge outrage.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 8, 2016
"I'm not a disrespectful person," Wade said Sunday. "So if anybody thinks I'm being disrespectful to a country, then they don't know who Dwyane Wade is."
Wade said he'd adjust his pregame ritual for Game 4 of the series Monday night.
The anthem before Miami home games is usually played at the end of the warmup period. When the Raptors — Canada's only NBA team — come to Miami, the anthems are played about 12 minutes earlier.
"If people aren't here, they see video footage of what they want to see," Wade said.
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