As a well-known figure in Florida, Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade is accustomed to being poked, prodded and otherwise examined in media accounts taking a look at various aspects of his personal life.
Most recently, such stories have centrally focused on his health as an athlete and whether he could sufficiently contribute to the team’s quest for a championship ring.
He could and did, with the Heat winning the NBA title recently.
Along with that recent attention came, simultaneously, a dual scrutiny, one that is being revisited following events of the past couple years. Namely, that is the contentious history between Wade and his former wife, Siovaughn Funches-Wade, focused on a child custody battle following their divorce over their two young sons.
Wade prevailed in that dispute, with a Chicago court ruling in 2010 that awarding Dwyane Wade full custody of the couple’s children was in their best interests.
A blip occurred on the radar screen during the recent NBA Finals series, when Wade’s ex-wife failed to have the two boys ready in Chicago at an arranged pick-up time following their visitation schedule with her. Reportedly, Wade’s sister tried to find the children for several hours, with Siovaughn Funches-Wade attempting to leave her home without them.
Cook County police arrested Wade’s ex-wife and charged her with multiple counts of attempted child abduction and unlawful visitation interference. They also charged her with resisting arrest. Another woman who had physical control over the children at the time of the arrest was also charged with resisting arrest.
The children were returned to Dwyane Wade, who has stated in the past that he wants them to have ongoing contact with their mother. Funches-Wade has an August court date concerning the charges against her.
Source: Miami Herald, “Dwyane Wade in middle of custody drama during NBA finals,” June 19, 2012