Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is
(almost) at the top of his game. But no matter how far he
goes, he always comes home to Chicago. Just don't ask him
where to get a slice of pizza.
It would have been natural, or at least understandable, for Dwyane
Wade to outgrow his hometown. He's from Chicago, an impressive city
to be sure, but these days Wade seems just as big as the urban
sprawl he hails from. As a member of the Miami Heat, the diminutive
guard (well, he's generously listed at six feet four, but that's
still more or less tiny by NBA standards) is considered to be one
of the best young basketball players in the world. Actually, he's
deemed one of the best players, period - regardless of age.
In Wade's first season, after slashing this way and that and
showing up more than a few of the older guards he matched up
against, he was a unanimous first-team All-Rookie selection. He
parlayed that success into a spot on the 2004 United States Olympic
team, making the trip to Athens to represent his country (though
coach Larry Brown buried him on the bench). Last season, when
everyone was buzzing about his ability, when everyone was talking
about his being the league's next big thing, he was selected to
appear in his first NBA All-Star game. (Wade was named to his
second All-Star game in February.)
But last year had its disappointments for Wade too. He and the Heat
were just one game removed from playing in the 2005 NBA Finals, one
game away from Wade realizing a dream, from playing on his sport's
biggest stage. But, try as he did, fate intervened in the form of
the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons, and Wade and his boys
were sent home. No championship. No parade. No nothing.
The Heat didn't win, but, in a way, Wade did. Those who didn't know
about Wade finally figured out what everyone else already knew: The
man has some serious skills. If it was possible for Wade to get any
bigger, for his peers to think any more of him, or for the media to
demand any more of his time, it happened after the NBA Finals. Wade
was made - if he hadn't been already.
Wade is famous enough now that, just like big-body, big-personality
teammate Shaquille O'Neal, he is deemed worthy of a one-word
moniker. And his is unquestionably cooler than Shaq's. Wade goes by
Flash, same as the comic-book character, the one too fast to see,
too agile to stop. You can't fake the funk and still have people
name you after a superhero, dig?
So it wouldn't have been surprising if Wade, who spends much of the
year in Miami, had let all his money and notoriety go to his head.
It wouldn't have been surprising if he had jetted off to Europe in
the off-season instead of kicking it with his childhood friends
in the same setting where he grew up - in Robbins, a suburb just
south of Chicago. It wouldn't have been surprising if he actually
bought into the whole Flash thing, started believing he was a real
superman, and forgot about Chicago altogether. Yeah, he could have
fallen for the typical trappings of fame - $500 bottles of liquor,
fancy-schmancy L.A. parties, chauffeurs, and caviar dreams,
perhaps.
But that's not him. That's not D-Wade. (That's his other nickname.
The man has two. Hard to pull off.) He was, and still is, proud of
being homegrown, proud of being identified as a product of Chicago,
just like another buddy who also comes from the Windy City:
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
"Oh yeah, we always have Chicago love for each other," Wade says
from - where else? - Chicago. It's just before the 2005-2006
season. He's spending time with his family and friends, just as he
does every year when the hectic pace of the NBA season gives way to
the more tranquil summer months. He likes to play in the NBA, he
says. Loves it. And how could he not? But getting some free time at
home, in this city, his city, well, it's just hard to beat that, he
says.
"Every time you see someone from home, it's always the same thing -
we just have love for each other," Wade continues. "We have the
city in common. There's something about the city that, no matter
where you are or where you move to, you always say you're from
Chicago. That never goes away. You see someone from home, and it's
like 'Hey, Chi-town.' That's how we greet people -
'Chi-town.' "
This, then, is D-Wade's favorite city. His city. His Chi-town.
I've never met anyone from Chicago who doesn't pick sides.
So when you're home, do you head to Wrigley Field or Comiskey Park,
now known by its less-historical name, U.S. Cellular
Field? You know, I kind of go back and forth. When Sammy
[Sosa] was here, I really liked the Cubs. The new park [U.S.
Cellular Field] is really nice. It's got everything you'd want a
new stadium to have. But with Wrigley, that's history. That's what
everyone talks about - everyone talks about the history. When
you're at Wrigley, you feel like you're sitting in history. It's a
unique place.
Okay, so what do you think about the United Center, the
relatively new home of the Chicago Bulls? Were you ever in the old
arena? Because I hear the old arena had a lot of history
too. Oh yeah, it did. I only went to one game in the old
arena, back when I was a kid. I think I was in the fifth grade. We
actually got to go down and play on the Bulls' floor - I think they
were away or something. I don't remember. But that was great. The
old one had that feel, yeah - and that's where the Bulls first got
it going [during the Michael Jordan era, which produced six
championships]. But I probably like the new one better. As a
player, you like the new ones better just because they have all the
stuff you're looking for. It just has a more modern feel and all
the little things players like.
When you were growing up, where did you play? What is the
best place in the city to test your game? For me, my
favorite place - I mean, everyone used to go there - was the
Lakefront. It's right down on the water in the city, and there were
always really good games going. When I was a shorty, I would go
down there, and I remember, once, that [former Chicago Bull and
Michael Jordan running mate] Scottie [Pippen] was down there
playing. There was some talent down there. A lot of it. Sometimes
it was hard to get a game. I would just sit and wait to get in a
game with some of the older guys. But sometimes my dad would take
me down there and say we had next. He'd bring his own five - me and
my dad and a few of my friends or some people he knew. Playing with
my dad when I was a kid, that was just a really good time. I took a
beating back then, but we got some wins too.
You're an NBA baller now. My idea of NBA stardom is staying
in plush hotels and having people wait on me. Is there a place
where you always stay when you go home because it treats you
especially well? We just bought a place, but before that,
we used to stay at the Doral on Michigan Avenue (now the Millennium
Park Plaza). It's like a hotel with corporate condos and stuff like
that. They have spas and suites and a health club and all that.
It's a nice area - you know, Michigan Avenue is a big shopping
strip in Chicago. They have all kinds of department stores and
things like that down there. I like being downtown in the city.
It's a great experience being down there because you have a view of
the city and all the buildings, and there's a view of the water
too. It just feels like home.
What about hot spots? I imagine there are a lot of bars and
clubs in Miami, but is there any element of Chicago that can
compare to the South Beach scene? Not really. I mean,
they're two different places. They're two different cultures. Miami
is great in its own way. Chicago is great too. It's just different.
I just love downtown. It's beautiful. I love to walk around down
there.
You walk around down there? What about when it's cold?
Because I don't think people who haven't been to Chicago have a
real appreciation for how cold it gets there. Yeah, you
know what? That doesn't matter. I don't care how long you live
here, you just don't get used to it. In the winter, it's cold as
can be in Chicago. You can't imagine. But I don't really have to
deal with the winter up here because I'm in Miami. On Christmas
Day, it's usually, like, 85 degrees down there. It's the best of
both worlds for me.
All right. When you're home, then, what do you do to pass
the time? I don't go anywhere popular or anything like
that. Nothing trendy. You know where we go? I go to the same place
I used to go with my friends when we were kids - we still go there.
Me and my boys go to this place called Hollywood Park. It's in
Crestwood. They have all kinds of stuff. It's got video games and
miniature golf, and you can shoot baskets there. They have laser
tag too.
Laser tag? You still play laser tag? Really? Oh
yeah. I'm trying to get good at it. I'm very competitive. We have a
softball game every year, you know? We put that together, and I
want to win that. But I want to win at laser tag too. We play it
every summer when I'm home. It's for bragging rights between me and
my boys. Definite bragging rights. I lost last year, and they've
been getting on me since then. I can't wait to play this year; I
really want to win. I hate losing.
Chicago, obviously, is known for its deep-dish pizza. Is
there one pizza joint you prefer over the others? Growing
up, I liked to go to Home Run Inn.
What's that? It's like Pizza Hut.
It's a chain? Yeah. They have them all over the
place.
You're from Chicago and you picked a chain? You better be
careful - they could revoke your Chi-town membership card for
that. Hey, you know, pizza is pizza. I like pizza, but, to
me, it's always good. For me, it was more about the experience,
because, when I was a kid, my dad would take me there and it was
just fun. Going out with my dad for pizza - that was all I cared
about. It didn't matter where he took me. Just as long as he took
me.
Okay, fair enough. What about restaurants? Is there a
particular place where you like to eat when you're back in Chicago?
Maybe something people don't know about? You know, my
favorite spot is probably McDonald's or IHOP or something like
that. I'm simple. I don't do too much. I don't do anything too
extravagant. I like to keep it simple.
You know you're killing me here. People are on an airplane
right now reading about how Dwyane Wade likes McDonald's. There's
no food that really means Chicago - something that you have to have
when you're home? Oh yeah, I've got to have Harold's
Chicken. They're all over the city. They're these little chicken
shacks, kind of. Really good chicken. When I'm in town with my
teammates, we always get Harold's Chicken. I was telling them about
it for so long. So when we come up here, we have to get it. All the
guys get it.
So what do you order? Well, it's just mainly fried
chicken. And fries. The chicken and fries are all smothered in this
special barbecue sauce. Well, it's not really barbecue sauce; it's
more like a mild sauce. But they pour it all over the chicken and
the fries. Mmmmm. That stuff is so good. That's Chicago.
He Said...
Dwyane Wade is bullish on these Chicago spots.
LODGING
Millennium Park Plaza (formerly the Doral), very
expensive, (312) 616-6000, www.millenniumparkplaza.com
DINING
Harold's Chicken Shack, inexpensive, various locations
Home Run Inn, pizza, inexpensive, (773) 247-9696,
www.homeruninn.com
ATTRACTIONS
Hollywood Park, (708) 389-7275, www.hollywoodfunpark.com
Lakefront, (312) 742-7529, www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
Michigan Avenue, (312) 642-3570, www.themagnificentmile.com
United Center, (312) 455-4500, www.unitedcenter.com
U.S. Cellular Field, (312) 674-1000,
chicago.whitesox.mlb.com
Wrigley Field, (773) 404-2827, www.cubs.com
We Said...
We're bullish on these
Chicago spots.
LODGING
Heart O' Chicago Motel, inexpensive, (773) 271-9181,
www.heartochicago.com.
In Chi-town, it's difficult to find a hotel for under $100 a night.
It's even harder to find one you'd actually want to stay in.
Thankfully, there's this cozy, well-managed little place a hop,
skip, and a jump from downtown. We're but one of its many
budget-conscious fans.
Hotel Indigo Chicago Gold Coast, expensive, (312)
787-4980, www.goldcoastchicagohotel.com.
One of the pickiest people we know recently recommended the Indigo.
And from its cozy locale on a tree-lined street to its
now-that's-what-we-call-service staff, it won't disappoint.
DINING
Bleeding Heart Bakery, inexpensive, (773) 278-3638,
www.bleedingheartbakery.com.
If man could live by pastry alone, we'd make this sweet new spot
our permanent home. Owner Michelle Garcia uses only organic
ingredients for her treasure trove of treats, be they gingerroot
brownies, rosewater madeleines, or Gruyère tarts. Avoiding sugar?
Don't worry. Michelle's husband, Vinny, whips up salads,
sandwiches, and other more substantial selections.
Haro, moderate, (773) 847-2400. Spanish tapas in
Little Italy? Believe it. Better yet, Haro's has pintxos,
tapas-like bites served sandwich-style and filled with your pick of
sardines, ham, lamb, shrimp, and more. If you really want to get
your Spain on, coordinate your visit with one of the restaurant's
many Spanish music, dance, film, or art events.
ATTRACTIONS
Museum of Holography, (312) 226-1007, www.holographiccenter.com.
Call us cheesy, call us nerds, but we think holograms are a
fascinating art form, and this little-known institution, which
boasts the largest and most comprehensive collection in the
country, is the perfect place to ogle maidens that morph into
monsters, jitterbuggers that practically dance off the page, and
the like.
FRIDAY