Now that we have all trickled back to Madison for the start of second semester, we are able to reflect on a break that provided us with some time away from the rigors of school. However, a select few on this campus decided to take that break during the first semester, rather than waiting for the holiday break.
We all know who these people are. Your roommate who begins each day at twenty after four in the afternoon, the kids that live on campus but go to Madison Area Technical College and various others.
But one person we can all collectively identify with is our former Badger hoops star, Boo Wade. It has become more apparent, as more of his story unravels each day, that the former Milwaukee Vincent standout who led his high school to back-to-back state championships was not recruited for his competitiveness in the classroom.
What started as a brief leave of absence from the team for \personal reasons"" stemming from the death of his grandparents has now turned into a removal from both the basketball team and the school completely.
It wasn't difficult to see the real problem at hand, as speculation about Wade's academic status entered the equation. It has since been rumored that his grade-point average was the primary cause in his departure, and he soon lost his eligibility for any games during the first semester.
Further proof of this story was in his long return that coincided almost perfectly with the conclusion of exams Dec. 23. Wade only played in one game this year, against Western Carolina Dec. 27.
A few weeks later, Wade quit the team and school for good, and a G.P.A. in the ballpark of 0.7 was said to be all the Art History major could pull off during the first semester. The number 0.7 is about as impressive as his shooting form on the court, as his jump shot looked more like an uncomfortable heave from his chest than a fundamental approach.
Boo could not have picked a more ideal time to slip up. With the departure of Devin Harris, he was the heir apparent to replace him at the point guard position, and was the only Badger point guard on last year's roster with significant playing time. Had Wade been able to play the point this year, it would have allowed Shariff Chambliss to slide back to his natural position of shooting guard, where he would be able to create more off the dribble. In addition, it would also move Clayton Hanson back to his natural position, the bench, where he could stay fresh for the next meeting with Michigan State.
However, the loss of Wade is most apparent on the defensive end, as he locked down the opposing teams' best offensive threat. Evidence of this was shown earlier this year when Indiana's Bracey Wright torched the Badgers, more specifically Clayton Hanson, for 30 points in a Badger loss on the road. A glance back to last year reveals Wade held Wright to 15 points... in two games, while forcing him to go 0-10 from 3-point range.
Wade's athleticism at the guard position is far superior to that of either Hanson or Chambliss who struggle on the defensive end, especially with guards who can penetrate against them. In losses to Pepperdine and Marquette, they faced athletic guards who could both penetrate and shoot. The result was two early losses for the Badgers, with Pepperdine's Alex Acker scoring 17 and Marquette's Travis Diener dropping 29.
Nevertheless, Wade's most serious problem right now is not where his basketball career will take him next, but whether jail time is in his near future. After failing to meet the requirements of a deferred prosecution program, he will be sentenced March 8 on misdemeanor disorderly conduct and bail-jumping charges-this after he was thrown out of the Dane County District Attorney's First Offenders Program for failing to show up for required appointments. Wade could face up to a year in jail on the two charges.
Wade was originally charged with felony battery in connection with a fight he had with an ex-girlfriend in February, and he pleaded no contest in April. However, since he ignored the stipulations of his plea bargain, he will now face a more severe charge.
Wade chose to disregard both the courts and this university. Aside from blowing off a full scholarship for himself, he also tarnished this school's reputation in general. As a high profile representative of this campus, the least you can do is be able to maintain the bare minimum to stay in school.
Instead of following in the footsteps of Devin Harris, Wade chose to follow a different path, that of an Ernest Mason-type athlete who left the program after multiple off-the-field incidents. So I bid good luck to all your future endeavors, Boo, and I hope there is another Art History program waiting for you in the future.
jrmcnamra@wisc.edu.
