A Father First

July 30, 2012
In 2011, Wade, a basketball superstar with the Miami Heat, won full custody of his two young sons in a much publicized battle with his high school sweetheart and ex-wife, Siohvaughn. Using the happy resolution as his starting point, Wade recalls his own life, returning to the courtroom ugliness and peppering the story with his observations on fatherhood. Forget about Wade’s soft-focus parenting advice or the endless drama surrounding his deteriorating marriage and custody woes. Wade’s frank examination of his childhood, most of which was spent in a Chicago neighborhood ruled by gangs and drugs, focuses the narrative. His mom, Jolinda, kept finding a new bottom due to almost insurmountable drug addiction. Wade’s older sister, Tragil, swooped him out of the chaos, taking the eight-year-old to live with their disciplinarian, basketball-loving father. Recalling his younger days, Wade is honest and clear-eyed, whether it’s describing his mother’s destructive behavior, outlining his misguided reasons for starting a relationship with Siohvaughn, or describing the peace of backyard basketball. All things considered, Wade’s narrative is inspirational, and his enthusiasm for life and parenthood is apparent. 16-page color insert.