Back in the spring, during the start Chicago Bulls 2012-2013 playoff season, many had already questioned Derrick Roses commitment to the team by not coming back as soon as team doctors cleared him to play, but now no Rose in the playoff? D. Rose was fresh off of recovering from ACL surgery after tearing it the playoff season prior. He had been cleared for a couple months by playoff time and many accused him of quitting on his team. That sounds like an argument, IF you are viewing the situation from solely a selfish fan's perspective.... let me explain. Derrick Rose grew up seeing the likes of Penny Hardaway & Grant Hill, two mega stars who were set to be first ballad hall of famers and potentially in the convo for top 5 all-time. Penny, a 6-8 PG that could shoot the long bomb, super athletic finisher at the rim, defensively above average, pass the ball like a young Magic and control the pace of team play with perfection. Having the biggest Nike marketing campaign since Jordan, Penny and Lil Penny were lighting up footlocker and commercials, including other huge endorsement deals, like the NYC skyline. Nagging injuries, that he always attempted to come back too soon for his own liking from, wore him into the ground and faded a future legend's career. Almost the identical story with Grant Hill, having continued to play during a Detroit playoff series on a jacked up ankle which lead to him never being the same explosive talent again on top of nearly costing him his life. Not only does this affect the "superstar" athletes potential as a player in the future but their fortune, on and off the court. A lot of the critics may not be a kid from the South side of Chicago raised in a single parent home, that saw their mother work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to make ends meet or raised in a place where in the best player in your schools history, in your perspective sport, was shot dead right outside of the school over nothing. They may not be from the new murder capital of the world where it's a blessing just to see 21 yrs of age, no event to mention making it to college and being an NBA lottery pick, rookie of the year, an All-Star, MVP, a grateful son who made it and a loving father....oh yeah and ADIDAS leading poster boy! ......so it was more riding on Derrick Rose making sure that he was more than %100 ready to go before he came out and put it all on the line than what it may seemed to be on the surface. As fans it's easy to look at the surface. For what it's worth, Derrick Rose actually made the best decision for his team in waiting to make sure he was completely ready to go this season. What if he had risked it and came back too soon, never reaching 100% on his rating chart and lost some of his step and explosiveness, which would have resulted in a loss of confidence. Why risk his financial future, endorsements, on court ability, player stock??? For what? To play in the playoffs and get bounced in the second round by a loaded Miami squad? To please some fans that won't be able to negotiate him a new shoe deal with Adidas if they were to drop him due to lack of superior performance nor be able to convince the Bulls to give him a franchise player's contract after showing that he can't produce on the same level anymore? Come on people!!! No one connected to Rose, up to and including former and current teammates and coaches have ever questioned his heart. He opened up the 2013-2014 preseason the other night with a very fast and explosive 13pts, almost looking like he never left, attacking with that D. Rose fury. In summary it wasn't a lack of heart issue, it's more about him using his head!
D. Rose....Heart of the City!
http://youtu.be/JmFO_4IefEs
2013-2014 Debut!!
http://youtu.be/ICqT24UwVfU
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