Dade County is Wade County.
Well… “Welcome to Wade County”… is the exact phrase emblazoned in quite dramatic fashion atop a green billboard hovering high above the I-95 Expressway headed south to downtown Miami.
Not since Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner’s above-the-rim theatrics has the Magic City’s hoop dreams been so tightly laced to a Heat player’s high-tops as they are to Dwyane Wade’s. If Kobe shines on Sunset, Wade lights up Biscayne.
So it’s not surprising that Miami A-listers packed the ultra-exclusive W Hotel on South Beach late Sunday evening to celebrate the NBA’s reigning scoring champion’s 28th birthday.
“Of course it feels great to have lived another year and have the privilege to celebrate it with friends and family,” Wade said.
Among those friends were Miami Dolphins’ wide receivers Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess as well as Heat teammates Quentin Richardson and Dorell Wright. Hip Hop super producers Lil Jon and Cool N Dre were also lounging, flanked by a flock of ever-present models.
Now, as Wade’s County reels from the images emanating from Haiti -- most of which has hit too close to home -- the NBA superstar hoped the celebration would also raise awareness.
“Haiti is like our next door neighbor and myself and Alonzo feel like we’re indebted to do things so we’re trying to get together all the athletes to do what we can to make sure we help them out,” Wade said. “We know that they need food, water and clothing, so we’re trying to put funds together to do our part to help that great country out.”
