D Wade thinks they need to get paid for Olympics

 Paid for the olympic?!? The motherfucking 1% strikes again.

d wade shut the fuck up

He must think Calipari is coaching the team.

Yeah, that’s comnpletely and utterly embarrassing.  While most countries around the world find it an honor to play for their country and to play for a medal, Dwayne dickhead Wade feels like players should get paid.  No wonder other countries hate us!

Yeah, that’s comnpletely and utterly embarrassing.  While most countries around the world find it an honor to play for their country and to play for a medal, Dwayne dickhead Wade feels like players should get paid.  No wonder other countries hate us!

 another reason y i cant stand dwade

This is rediculous these guys already making a huge amount of money and now they want more?  If i was a NBA superstar i would jump on the chance to represent my country, not look for money.

Unbelievable…The international exposure alone, and winning the Gold medal in the Olympics boost all of the players personal brand. Maybe Wade just doesnt know how to cash in on the winning the Gold in China.

Team USA doesnt need Wade anyways. Westbrook, is hungry and looking for a spot on the Olympic roster.

In fact, after winning it all in China, being on Team USA Olympic roster will help the player earn more money and can only help the players personal brand.

Dear Olympic committee,

I play better without Dwyane Wade.

Sincerely

LeBron James

why I hate the Miami Heat.

I just lost respect for Wade.  What an ignorant, selfish thing to say.

 Is it really an honor for USA to whoop on other countries? just sayin. It’s like a been there done that type of thing for them now, sure for other countries to have the chance to play against the best players in the world is certainly an honor and we’ll get the most out of them but what do we (usa player) get? The only thing the players get is a comparison to the Dream Team, and the oldheads say that no team will ever measure up so…

Dwade is injury prone because he competes so hard, and he’s getting up there in age so for older stars like KB24 and them it is almost a chore having to put more miles on their bodies. Then it sucks for them because they are just expected to just do it and if they back out they look like the bad guy. Realistically we can send a group thats never been over there before and chances are we’d still win. So if they don’t feel like playing, fine, a bunch of these 1st timers would relish the opportunity.

• Bynum/Jefferson
• Aldridge/Anderson
• JJ/J.Smith *something tells me JJ has already been
• Harden/Ellis
• Rondo/Irving/Lowry

 LOCKOUT !!!

"we want money to tell people how we are proud to represent our country…."

Hypocrite, stupid, greeeeeeeeeeed. 

 The NBA uses the olympics to expand the game as an extention of the NBA, reaching out to those who otherwise don’t get to witness NBA players. If they get paid for NBA Cares and Read2Achieve (which they do) which is used for similar reasons goodwill and positive PR, then it is reasonable to ask for compensation for this.

I mean if you do well, or if you’re the best at your job does you boss volunteer you for overtime? No. When your company has shows, showcases, or regional meetings offsite you are compensated by the company to go and you can determine whether you want to forfeit the experience, as it is a luxury.

Read the article and see what D. Wade is saying. He made some valid points

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/7801502/nba-olympians-compensated

 just with the exposure all over the world, the players get the financial return….

how they can be so greed and disconnect from reality !!! I’m astonished how those players don’t have any values, principles…. DIRTY SPOILED CHILDREN

coach K should banished ray allen and d.wade and every player who goes on this way.

Did Lebron actually say something right?

"I love representing my country, man," James said. "I’ve done it since 2004 and I’m looking forward to doing it in London. As far as (pay), I don’t know, man. It doesn’t matter. I’m happy to be a part of the team, to be selected again."

 he is lazy and selfish Heat need to deactivate him so they can have a chance

If he wants to rest and not play the extra games he can just say no. There are 100’s of players waiting to be asked to be a part of this team, the coaches won’t beg Wade to come play for them. This is an honor, not a pickup game or charity event.

first ray allen and now Dwade…i think thats just stupid to say that they should get paid…really dissapointed to hear something like that from a player like him..its a honor to play for your country in the olympics how can you say something like that…but there are many great players that would take Dwades spot on the team…

 Notice Ray and Dwade are both older stars who have had injuries. It’s really not about the $ and if you or anyone really feels that they are hurting for cash, no. It’s about whats most important to THEM in THEIR careers, which is their health so they can win what they want more than anything else, The Larry O’Brian trophy. Ray Ray and Wade can give two $hits about making more money or another world championship. The money is just rationale for the physical abuse and wear that they’ll put on their bodies. 

 I liked it better when the US olympics team consisted of college players.

db24kb24

if their carreer/nba season is more important they can decline…. nobody will cry for them and young motivated players will come. You can ask not to come without asking for being paid, I don’t see the point ? Moreover ray allen is not on the radar of team usa….

I don’t think it’s about injuries, I think it’s really about money. They are greed….they disappoint me more and more aftet that f*cking lockout.

 He doesn’t need to play in the Olympics if he is unwilling to play basketball for free and represent his country.  He is lucky he is even allowed to compete, as the Olympics were traditionally for amateur athletes.  I think that the Olympics progress has been great, but if Dwayne Wade doesn’t give a sh*t about money or Olympic medals, than he shouldn’t try out for the U.S. Olympic team.

@db24kb24: How is the money rationale for physical abuse?  Nobody is forcing Dwayne Wade to represent his country in the Olympics.  The Olympics have nothing to do with the NBA and the U.S. olympic team shouldn’t be designed to be some financial gig for professional athletes.  It is an international exhibition of amateur athletics.

If I had gotten a free pass in life, free college education, made more money in a year then anyone on this forum does in their life time, got to travel all over the world, date models and actresses, and play the game I love every day I would want compensation too…/sarcasm

These guys forget what it’s like to live a real life, when you have to worry about making money instead of how much more you can make. The most dissapointing part of sports for me 

 I’m french and I am not a blind fan of tony parker…. even far from that.

But there is one thing I truly respect : PARKER has always come to play for the french national team (for more than 12 years). He has always come and risked injuries, contract extension issues, fight with pop or underperformance (and medio pressure) for a shaky team (sometimes bad organization, some undermotivated teamates…) because :   IT MEANS SOMETHING TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY.

Has you ever heard NOWITSKI asking money to play the Olympics ?…. that’s really a shame.

"nobody will cry for them" – JYD

Millions of NBA/Basketball fans around the world want to see the best players. This is why the Lakers, Heat, Boston, Chi, OKC, and NY are always on national television. If your Sunday showcase on ABC/ESPN included Toronto vs Clevland, Phx vs Det, Min vs Sac tv ratings would be lower than Carlos Mencia…

I agree that you can get "young motivated players" but who wants to see that? I don’t. I want to see the biggest NBA stars and NBA/Global Icons we can get, not second rate players. If they have to get paid then so be it, after all they’ve earned it, they are the best. 

And IMO they should be greedy to compensate for the lockout. If rich unathletic men stop you from making a living/doing what you love then you’d want some get back as well.

You’re taking his statement way out of context buddy. What he is saying is there is a lot of money made with the selling of expensive tickets, jerseys etc. And why isnt some of that money going to stars/athletes. This isnt a weekend competition either this is a summer of which they put their bodies on the line everyday.

Your making it seem as if he is saying “people must pay to see us!” No, people are already paying and the profits are just being distrubuted wrongly.

@db24kb24

I’d rather watch a motivated eric gordon (for example) than a d.wade begging for more money or sulking cause he feals bad to represent his country without being paid.

everything is not linked to money exclusively,

"to compensate for the lockout" : Come on man you’re talking about players making more than 10M a year only in nba contracts. Do you really think they NEED to compensate the lockout ? This is BS, if they are dumb enough to break up they are repsonsible for…. they are adult.

"they’ve earned it" : they earn to be paid for the nba season… and they are. They don’t earn nothing to be part of the olympics. They should just be happy and GRATEFUL to be part of. This is already a reward. 

Pay them?!? No we are not paying them.

Wait D Wade said that? Well he is a pretty sharp kid. Maybe we should pay them

*See if anyone recognizes the Family Guy reference.

 I could see paying them if the only made $100,000 to 1 or 2 million a year, but 10 to 20 million plus another 5-20 million in endorsements. They pay the U.S. soccer players like 3 grand a game, but that is becuase they dont make very much, and the world cup countries care a lot more about. The Olympics basketball is really only big here. In Spain soccer/football is 10 times bigger than basketball. So when not many other countries care about it and you make 10 to 20 million a year you dont need to get paid.

 A lot of you are taking into account the fact that they make more than you, and that you shouldn’t feel sorry because of it. If you call them greedy as many of you have, you should be careful of envy…

And to call eric gordon as your example or anyone else for that matter more motivated than Wade is funny. Motivated to do what, serve their country? haha. If someone is that more motivated to serve why not enlist voluntarily. Wade is god-gifted but I can guarantee he works harder than most at his craft which is why he is among the best. So if we’re saying motivation to play hoop, no. Wade also isn’t dumb. He could play everyday at the YMCA, log more games there than the NBA but he has business savvy to compliment his skills. 

And like Sup said, the money is being wrongly distributed. If so then why stay silent? He certainly doesn’t need the olympics for fame/cash or whatever so why be extorted? 

And ask Antoine Walker or Scottie Pippen if you think they really NEED to be compensated. They are used to extravagent lifestyles, so for them maybe. And them being adults had nothing to do w/ the lockout, so why bring that up?

The reason why i’ve said they’ve earned it is because they are the best, and thats what the world wants to see. If they’ve been summoned by the Olympic team then they have earned it, if not then they should get the second rate players. And happy and grateful? maybe ametuers, but the best players in the world happy and grateful LMAO. No. While it is an honor to compete for your country the best players deserve to play, period. If they cause problems within the team than fine, cut em, but to simply ask for $, thats not wrong in my book after all the money they will generate. 

 The Olympics aren’t supposed to be a profit-making venture.  Only 8% of the International Olympic Committees funds are kept for organizational or administrative expenses (i.e., executive salaries).  Granted, that is a lot of money still, but the players aren’t entitled to the money.  The Olympics are extremely costly and so are the Olympic programs of many countries.  

Also, if you pay the basketball players, you will probably have to pay more to the athletes who play more watched Olympic sports as well.  The Olympics aren’t perfect, but money doesn’t taint the product on the court or field yet. Basketball is not exactly a top-tier Olympic sport, at least not in the U.S, so other athletes would likely get paid more if the Olympics were just run for profit.  I don’t feel bad for the players because they don’t get paid for their representation of the U.S.

Wade is my favorite player but he is out of his mind.

First of all, you get the chance to play for your country.

Second of all, a couple of Olympics ago, professionals weren’t even able to play in the Olympics, now he wants to get paid?  Is he serious?

Third of all, the money they’re going to get off of sponsers after (if) they win the gold medal is more than enough as a paycheck.

Let’s not just throw Dwyane Wade into the pit.  

Ray Allen stated they should be paid for the Olympics as well.

Then I’d rather have Adam Morrison and Kwame Brown then either of em.  This is a priviledge and it’s not like those guys are struggling for cash. 

Wait, so our comon people work their a$$ off each and every day, some struggle to put food on the table, or make other payments, others don’t have enough to do much more than that, if someone gets a good education and works for some IT technology company in Silicon Valley they get 200,000, and some in our society even volunteer on Christmas or Thanksgiving for THEIR COMMUNITY, and here a guy that earns 16 MILION a year, plus endorsements, and the 10+ million he’s been making the past 5 years, his rookie contract, and endorsements, with Converse, and whatever else he’s with? A lot of people don’t earn the money he made his first year in a lifetime, and here he’s complaining about getting not getting any money for playing 25 minutes in about 10-15 games? I’m not even to the part about representing his country, he has no reason to complain. It blows my mind how selfish and greedy these guys are. Some of you may not agree with me, but if they weren’t forced to do Community Service, a lot of these guys wouldn’t. Just my 2 cents.

Who dose this guy think he is? Im telling you Dwayne Wade is really starting to get on my nerves all year no i hear this bull it just makes me sick. Dwayne Wade too me is a selfish guy that just wants more money and thinking of how proud you should be to represent you counry in the Olympics.He has been injured all year and has had a so/so year.the  heat are much better with out him and he isnt even the best player on his team anymore and it fustrates him regardless of how good of friends he is with Lebron. He has a;ready stated this is his last Plympics and seems like hes only doing it becouse of "Peer Pressure" if i was coach K and the president of the USA Basketball team i would fly to Miami and have a sit down with Wade and ask him straight up if he really wants to be on the team and put 100% effort for his country if he even sounds a little non shalant about it i would really consider giving it to a hungrier player that would truly want to be there.Dwayne Wade will probley not even start on the USA team this year.Who knows with all the injuries he is having this year and the Heat go far in the playoffs he might be too banged up to participate. I would really consider giving it to a player like Russell Westbrook or James Harden both capible of playing Wades role on the Olympic team.

2012 USA Mens Basketball Projected starting line up

Point Guard: Chris Paul/Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant/Small Forward:/Kevin Durant/Power Forward:/LeBron James/Center: Dwight Howard

 It’s cool for the TV companies, sponsors, apparell companies, and others to benefit from the millions of dollars that come out of the olympic games.  When it comes to the actual athletes, who make the event what it is, getting that money all of a sudden it’s a problem.  Ignore that you’re getting exploited and just be proud to be involved in the exploitation. 

lmao. Now I want to be an olympian!

 I just really want to know why everyone here is cool with EVERYONE else benefiting financially from this except the athletes.  Instead of just giving me a thumbs down I’d really like to hear a logical viewpoint on this.

Exploited…LMMFAO!!!

1. These players are making millions as is.
2. The medals are worthy plenty and are valued even greater by their prestige.
3. Plenty of companies donate their proceeds they make from the olympics.
4. These guys get to play basketball in front of the world for their country.  Many olympians train their whole lives for these events and don’t see a dollar.  Do they care?  Maybe.  But they don’t mention it and would kill for the opportunity to represent their nation and themselves at the events.
5. As if the players don’t make money off the publicity and endorsements that they gain through the olympics.
6. If you are gonna b*tch n moan about not having enough dough to pimp out your bentley (which I am sure is already pimped out) then don’t play.  It is a priviledge.  If your time is better spent elsewhere, go do that. 
7. Free traveling to beautiful and prestigious places.  Basically an inclusive vacation. 
8. Opportunity to market yourself internationally.
9. Childhood dream to play pro basketball.  Now when you have accomplished that you apparently forget how fortunate you are. 
10. Get to hangout and bond with fellow NBA greats.

"I just really want to know why everyone here is cool with EVERYONE else benefiting financially from this except the athletes"

It’s the same reasons why college athletes don’t get paid. The athletes for their contributions get free education, or in this case, get to honor their country in the most prestigious way. Sorry, no one should ever feel bad for someone who gets to represent their country. Also it’s disheartening knowing that these guys don’t give a **** about the country that has made them who they are. 

 Sooo…just because athletes are making millions they don’t deserve to be compensated when they’ve helped earn money for the country and the olympic staff? I didn’t realize it was cool to be exploited as long as you’re making enough money to get by.  Guess the middle class should stop complaining about the majority of wealth in this country going to the already wealthy.  I mean it’s not like they’re starving right?  It’s not like playing in the NBA is a full time job and the olympics doesn’t take away any of their time to truly relax.  I also forgot the injury risk doesn’t mean anything as well their NBA team will probably even give them a RAISE for representing their country.

This great country where minorities continue to be discriminated against since this country’s founding.  Where blacks in particular are continually stigmatized, demonized, forgotten and the country does all this and turns around and says you guys need to pick yourselves up.

College athletes where no matter how much money you make for the school you don’t get a single penny.  The institution where a "student athlete" can have a 4.0gpa and be cut from the team for underperforming and having their scholarship taken away from them.  So much for that "free" education that was likely paid for by the athletes before them who also didn’t get an ounce of compensation for their work.
 

mgreener – " It’s the same reasons why college athletes don’t get paid. The athletes for their contributions get free education, or in this case, get to honor their country in the most prestigious way. Sorry, no one should ever feel bad for someone who gets to represent their country. Also it’s disheartening knowing that these guys don’t give a **** about the country that has made them who they are."

College athletic payment is a completely different subject that has absolutely nothing to do w/ this.

 And since when was sports the most presitigous way to represent your country? You don’t support the troops? smh…and don’t act like the game of basketball speaks for a players love for his country, give me a break. I’d bet each and everyone of those guys cherishes the freedoms they have, so don’t act like they don’t because they choose not to participate in a basketball tournament. 

 Well said….

" Guess the middle class should stop complaining about the majority of wealth in this country going to the already wealthy."

Dwayne Wade is farrrrrrr from a middle class citizen.  And as I stated these guys do make money off the olympics.  Endorsements, expanding their brand internationally, medals, get plenty of free stuff (including travel fare and housing), VIP treatment…etc.  

And I approve of many of the notions the occupy movement makes so if you replace middle class with upper class in that sentence…yes I agree.

"College athletes where no matter how much money you make for the school you don’t get a single penny. The institution where a "student athlete" can have a 4.0gpa and be cut from the team for underperforming and having their scholarship taken away from them. So much for that "free" education that was likely paid for by the athletes before them who also didn’t get an ounce of compensation for their work."

If that is the case, and he has a 4.0, that kid is probably going to be recieving an academic scholarship regardless so don’t make that case.  An athletic scholarship should be based on your athletic performance, that is why it is an athletic scholarship.  Academic scholarship can be had to and are provided on the basis of your academic standing.  2 separate entities. 

 The player’s don’t need to try out for the Olympics.  They are not getting "exploited."  It is a privilege, not a right, to represent the U.S.  They aren’t going to shut down the TV rights to the games, or kick out sponsors, or anything like that, to make it fair.  Just because the Olympics help TV stations make money and sponsors can get back their investment in the games doesn’t mean that the athletes are entitled to the money.  

The IOC doesn’t pay the TV station, the TV station, the TV stations pay for the rights to the games.  The IOC doesn’t pay sponsors, the sponsors pay the IOC.  Athletes earn money off the games just like the sponsors do.  The sponsors get to advertise their product, and so do the athletes, so to speak.  

Wait people are really defending this dumb idea oof players needing to be paid for the Olympics??  Plain greed.

andxxx

The Olympics is an event for amateur athletes.  All the athletes, black, white, asian, hispanic are all not on the pro circut except for the basketball team.  Every other Olympian except for the basketball team would be disqualified for being paid by a professional circut.  They can only get compensation through endorsments and sponsors who pay for their living expenses while they train. White Michael Phelps’ only income is through endorsements and not a professional swimming league because he would be disqualified if he were a part of an NBA equivalent of competitive swimming.

This isn’t a race thing, it’s about the Olympics in general.  That is why NBA players weren’t allowed to play until 1992.  Because the Olympics is an even for the amateur athletes and the basketball team is allowed to play as an exception makes this so absurd.  The Olympic basketball team is allowed to make millions in a professional league while all the other sports are not is what makes this outrageous.  He already is an exception to the rule and now he wants to be paid by the United States to compete for his country.

All races of people throughout the world are not allowed to be paid by a professional leagues and are not paid by their country to compete except for basketball and now Dwayne Wade, a member of the most privelaged group of Olympic athetes, thinks his country should pay him?  Just don’t play, if its’ that much of an chore just rest and let the guys who want to play, play.

 andxxx and db24kb24 : I have a question for you to understand your point of view

do you guys think the only reward or motor you have in life is MONEY ?…. do you think money is the only "value" to take into account and whatever you do in life you have to link it to money and put a price on it ?

I wonder if Wade & Ray Ray are aware it costs over £9 billion to fund this Olympics

Just a FYI Wade has changed his mind on this issue

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7805591/miami-heat-dwyane-wade-backs-compensation-olympics

MIAMI — Heat guard Dwyane Wade says money is not his motivation for the London Games this summer.

In a statement Thursday, Wade said, "I do not want to be paid to go to the Olympics."

Wade was quoted Wednesday saying he thinks "guys should be compensated" for playing over the summer and noted the schedule demands of being an Olympian.

DWade is a joke.

If i had the choice of playing for Team USA once or having a 13 year career in the NBA, I’d choose Team USA. In my opinion the Olympics is a much larger stage than the NBA, to play there and represent USA is as high as it gets.

They should completely refuse to let him play for the team after this statement.

LOL. More like "oops I just lost half my fanbase, don’t worry guys I’ll take what I said back".

 this is even worse : the man don’t assume his opinion…

 to answer your question as easily as possible, no. 

I don’t see what your motive is to ask this question was. The fact of the matter is Dwade obviously isn’t thrilled about putting more miles on his body, spending a summer training and playing in the Olympics which is somewhat important to him, but not nearly on the same level as being healthy to pursue a great legacy in the NBA, enjoying time with family, and living life outside of basketball. If you are going to take this personal time away from the players that would otherwise indulge in other dealings of their choosing, then they should be compensated at some level. Wade has a kid, Ray has a kid and wife. The time spent away from their families can’t be given back. They already spend the NBA season away now your taking the summer?

You must take into account that unlike amateurs, these professional adults may have greater responsiblities, aspirations and duties to fulfill that aren’t prevalent with younger amateur athletes. So you must treat them differently/accordingly. So to ask your question about money and it’s meaning and value has little to do with financial gain, or a motive to play. Rather it’s just and decent considering what they are giving up. 

In my opinion this is a question of motivation and reason why you do things you decide to do :

if you love your sport and your country and everything the olympics stand for in your mind (and history of the sport in general)…. so go to the olympics enjoy playing your sport, travelling, being famous worldwide (…), winning money (through endorsments, ad’, sponsoring, future nba contract renegociation), winning a medal, being part of history of your sport and your country….

why do you want more (and especially salary or compensation) ? why do you want more than every else olympics athletes get ? what do you achieve that makes you think you deserve to be paid whereas NO olympics athlete is ? Can’t you do JUST ONE THING for other reasons than money first ?

If wade fears injuries, wants to rest, spend time with his family, build a new legacy…. (I don’t criticize that) STAY HOME and shut up (same thing for ray allen).

Olympics : 1 time every 4 year during 1 month… I don’t think it’s impossible to think players can sacrifice that kind of time. SACRIFICE ??? we’re talking about a reward. Being part of olympics is not a chore….

 Not gonna lie, I like Wade as much as the next guy, but seriously this is pretty selfish. You are a $100+ million guy, why not just represent the country and not worry about money? I dont agree with Wade.

Out of all the times Wade has fallen down and gotten a bail out call, out of all the times hes gotten stuffed and cried to the official about the call for the next 7 possessions, I think this is the most he’s ever angered me. Are you effing kidding me? Would D Rose or Kevin Durant ever make this sort of comment? Pure stupidity on his part. It’s like 8 games to represent your country. If you can’t do that, someone else who actually respects the honor will take your spot and do just as well as you would.