Yesterday, we brought you the story of Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 Parkland shooting victims who was buried in a Dwayne Wade jersey.
Once hearing Oliver’s story, Wade tweeted that stories like this are exactly why athletes should not “shut up and dribble”, and that he would be dedicating the rest of his Miami Heat season to the late Joaquin.
This is Joaquin Oliver. He was one of the 17 young lives that were lost tragically at Douglas HighSchool in Parkland. Joaquin was one of many that i heard was excited about my return to Miami and yesterday was buried in my jersey. This is why we will not just SHUT up and dribble! pic.twitter.com/X0tfTTao33
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 26, 2018
It’s way BIGGER than basketball. We are the voices for the people that don’t get to be heard. Joaquin Oliver may you Rest In Peace and i dedicate my return and the rest of this Miami Heat season to you. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 26, 2018
And as Dwayne Wade has done for his entire career, he backed up his talk on the court, not only having a great game (27 points, 15 in the fourth quarter alone) but DRILLING the game-winning shot over likely rookie of the year Ben Simmons. All with Joaquin Oliver’s name written on his shoes.
Dwyane Wade has been making big shots in Miami for a LONG time… 👌 pic.twitter.com/50juITFiOu
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 28, 2018
According to The Assosciated Press, Wade is trying to meet the family, hoping to “thank them, comfort them, listen to them, help them, hug them, and almost certainly cry with them.”
“That they thought of me in that process, as something that he would have wanted, is mindboggling,” Wade said.
The morning after his game-winning shot, Wayne posted to Twitter about a candlelight vigil being held for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting tonight at 7 p.m. EST. There is no word on whether Wade will be there, but if we know Dwayne Wade, we have a feeling he will be. Guy is just a great dude, through and through.
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 28, 2018
Hopefully, hopefully, this tragedy is finally the one that brings the winds of change.
