Back in Chicago, Dwyane Wade hits stage in Lollapalooza surprise

Three weeks after agreeing to terms on one of the more stunning deals of the summer, the Chicago Bulls will introduce Dwyane Wade at a Friday afternoon press conference. The All-Star shooting guard got to town a bit early, though — early enough to check out a crosstown interleague baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, and to make a special appearance at the opening of Lollapalooza, the massive music festival held each summer in Chicago’s Grant Park.

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The 34-year-old Chicago native took the stage during a set by hometown DJ duo Flosstradamus, walking out to the familiar strains of “Sirius” by the Alan Parsons Project, the song that became synonymous with the Bulls’ entrance to the court during the Michael Jordan era:

Wade introduced Rockford, Ill., native, former Destiny’s Child member and solo artist Michelle Williams, and stayed on stage for an appearance by Chicago-born hip-hop star and noted dance enthusiast Chance the Rapper:

Wade chose to come home to Chicago earlier this month after spending the first 13 years of his professional career starring for the Miami Heat. After multiple negotiations in which Wade took less than his market value in order to help Pat Riley construct championship-contending rosters, the relationship between the Heat’s signature star and its team president eventually deteriorated to the point that — whether as a stunning shock or the result of a careful design — Wade agreed to a two-year, $47.5 million deal to come back to Illinois and suit up for the team he grew up watching.

“I’m excited to go back to the place that I’ve always envisioned playing basketball,” he said during an appearance on ABC’s “LIVE with Kelly” the morning after agreeing to his new deal. “You know, being a kid, growing up, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were the team for us. And I’ve always, like, envisioned myself being in the backyard, always had a Bulls jersey on, always envisioned Dwyane Wade’s name being called in the United Center. And I get an opportunity to live that dream now.”

Wade’s departure from Miami, where he developed from a brash rookie into the most decorated player in Heat franchise history, took many by surprise, including his fellow superstar players and close friends. One of those pals, New York Knicks forward and Team USA elder statesman Carmelo Anthony, said it became easier for him to wrap his mind around the idea of Wade leaving South Beach after a long recent chat.

“I got a chance to really dig deep with him about his feelings and what happened,” Anthony said at Team USA’s Thursday practice, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “He’s at peace now.”

And, from the looks of things, enjoying the opportunity to reintroduce himself by cutting loose on his home turf.

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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