Olympic games in Athens - continued

"It's still a dream to me." Wade said as Team USA prepared to open Olympic play tonight against Puerto Rico. "We got one of the biggest trades in the history of the NBA. It's a great thought to know that I'm going to play with Shaquille O'Neal."

It wasn't long after the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Lakers was made that Wade's phone rang. "This is the Diesel," said the voice at the other end, "and I'm coming down to cross you over on the first day of training camp."

Wade got a good laugh out of that one. "He's mad," Wade said. "I'm glad about that. Nobody wants to feel an angry Shaq. I'm glad I'm on his team. If he knows the way I play, he'll know I'll get him the ball."

Just as he did in Orlando with Penny Hardaway and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles (before eventually turning on both), Shaq immediately deferred to Miami's resident star by calling the Heat "Dwyane's team." Wade laughed about that as well.

"Shaq's been my marketing guy," Dwyane Wade said, "putting my name out there. I'm just a part of the Heat team. The focus should be getting the ball to Shaq. He's our main focus. He'll know we're looking for the big man."

Could life be any better right now for Wade? If not for Olympic teammates LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, he would have been the league's rookie of the year last season.

He torched New Orleans in the playoffs. Then Shaq, and now the Olympics. What next? "Maybe consideration for all-star and championships," he said. "That would be great, but right now I can't ask for anything more. I'm blessed."

But how can a guy who has spent most of his life in Chicago and Milwaukee possibly adjust to Miami? "Easy," Wade smiled. "I can wear shorts any time I want. Even though I'm from the Midwest, I'm not a cold-weather guy. I love being in Florida. I have no problem with that."

His wife and son will soon joined him in Greece, a sign that Wade feels completely safe at the Olympics. If he wants to go to McDonald's, two armed guards tag along. "I feel special," he said, "like the president with all the security."

While much has been made of the league's major stars who opted out of the Olympics, Wade never wavered in the call to represent his country. "This is a different kind of special, more important than the NBA," he said. "We represent the red, white and blue. In the NBA, you represent the team and yourself.

"This is nothing I've dreamed of....... more - Dwyane Wade at the Olympic games in Athens