The End of an Era may occur with the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. Tell that to TNT, as they passed on broadcasting Dwyane Wade’s final home game nationally.
Although Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel isn’t a crime reporter, he reported something on Thursday that should be a felony. According to Winderman’s twitter account, TNT has reportedly passed on broadcasting Dwyane Wade‘s last home game for the Miami Heat.
The nerve of Turner sports. What makes the situation even worse, he also says that they instead are choosing to go with a game between the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards.
TNT bypasses Dwyane Wade's final home game, instead will air Celtics-Wizards on Tuesday night.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 4, 2019
Although he also provided a semi-decent explanation for why they will choose not to air the last potential home game of at worst the third-greatest shooting guard in NBA history, this choice cannot go unquestioned. Reportedly, again by Winderman, the network had to go against broadcasting the game due to what amounts to a scheduling snafu.
The Miami Heat will apparently honor Dwyane Wade prior to the game, which also according to Winderman, will take place around 7:00 that evening before the game. He mentioned that TNT tried to get the game itself moved up to this time from 7:30 pm so that they could broadcast it.
Have been told by source involved that TNT had attempted to televise Heat-76ers game Tuesday but was unable to get game moved up to 7 p.m. (with Wade ceremony scheduled for then). Irony is earlier start would have gotten Heat to Brooklyn earlier for finale showdown next night.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 4, 2019
This is almost understandable, because they are a major network, however there are a few things in play here. Is this the same TNT network that excels in the spaces of pre-game, half-time, and post-game shows? Is this not also the same TNT that allows the Players Only broadcast every week, although to the chagrin of many.
This is the same TNT that not only provides the three aforementioned arenas of analysis and commentary, but also has an award-winning post game show of their very own branding with Inside the NBA. What these facts all point to is an ability to create content, award-winning content to be absolutely honest, and a inherit ability among that content to fill space.
If they truly wanted to do their due diligences and pay respect to one of the greatest players this league has ever seen, they would take the necessary steps in order to honor him and broadcast his last ever potential regular season home game. Again, shame on TNT.
The Miami Heat will undoubtedly need a win in that game on Tuesday night, as well as every other game that they play from this point. They are locked in a bitter playoff battle for one of the last seeds in the east with the Orlando Magic, the Detroit Pistons, and the Brooklyn Nets who they face to close the season on next Wednesday.
Notice the language used throughout, with hopeful words like “last ever potential” or “end of an era may occur” as the movement to get D-Wade back another year is still in full effect. It doesn’t look all that good at the moment however, and that is even further reasoning for protest. TNT owed it to the fans, the game, and most importantly to the legacy of D-Wade to show this game and they really dropped the ball.
Let’s hope the chips land just right so that D-Wade can have one last potential playoff dance with his Heat before he hangs them up.