Everyone deserves a mulligan so consider Monday's gut-wrenching loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers as Dwyane Wade's shank-a-potomus.
MV3 manned up Wednesday and apologized to his teammates for missing two free throws in the closing seconds and then throwing the game away to his good buddy LeBron James.
"I pride myself in certain moments of games," Wade said. ". . . That turnover was very costly I gave up. Yeah, I took it hard because I'm a competitor. I'm going to continue to take it hard."
Wade has pulled the Heat's butt out of the fire on so many occasions he deserves a military medal of Honor. But Monday's loss had a hint of Brett Favre to it that leaves a pretty nasty taste in any fan's mouth.
We're not sure if Wade is a Vikings fan, but he probably saw Favre do the one thing his team couldn't afford with less than a minute to go with a chance to come to Miami for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Turn the ball over.
Similarly, up a point with less than 20 seconds left, Wade tried a lazy behind the back pass to Udonis Haslem when all he had to do was hold on to the ball and get fouled. James tipped the ball and raced to the other end of the court and got fouled. He sank to free throws.
Heat lose 92-91. Not the best time for Wade to channel a 40-year-old football gunslinger.
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The Heat plays Toronto tonight and if Wade drops 50 on the raptors, no one will remember his choke artistry against the King. Then again, he was on his way to 50 when he disappeared in the second half against the Cavs.
Oh well. At least it wasn't for a berth in the Super Bowl.