Derrick Rose: A Chicago Legend Who Defied the Odds and the Hate
Rise to Fame
Between Rose’s debut as a freshman at Simeon, the standardized testing controversy, being the NBA’s youngest MVP award-winner, his injury at the end of a playoff game the Bulls had in hand, his trade to the Knicks, the civil lawsuit where he was found not liable for rape, trespassing and other charges, the resurrection of his career, and his retirement announcement made late last month in the Chicago Tribune, Rose’s career represented what could’ve been.
Overlooked and Misunderstood
The critiques that probably sting the most had nothing to do with basketball. The critiques of Rose, in my opinion, come from three places: race, culture, and generational. Some fans, who had been following Rose since before the start of his Simeon days, during which he walked in the footsteps of Wolverine legends Ben Wilson, Nick Anderson, and Deon Thomas, were willing to cut him some slack, considering the aforementioned injuries.
Derrick Rose when he played at Simeon (Photo Credit: Facebook).
Meanwhile, certain members of the local press corps and sports fans who believed that the Bulls were getting too much media coverage amid the Blackhawks’ successful Stanley Cup championship runs often used Rose as a shield for something much more sinister. They wouldn’t dare to use outward racial slurs. Instead, they went after Rose in ways they never went after then-Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane amid his legal issues including punching a cab driver and two credible rape allegations.
They see someone they know and wish him well. He’s a Chicago guy.
Conclusion
Despite the setbacks and what could’ve been, considering the totality of the circumstances Rose grew up in, I consider his NBA career a success. Not many people make it out of our city’s most marginalized communities because so much is stacked up against them. Simply put, Rose made it out. To many, that’s considered a success story.
FAQs
Q: Why did critics question Derrick Rose’s career?
A: Critics questioned Rose’s career due to his multiple injuries, trade to the Knicks, and civil lawsuit.
Q: Why did some critics call Rose a “Thug”?
A: Some critics called Rose a “Thug” due to misinformation and misconceptions about the NBA star.
Q: Does Evan Moore consider Derrick Rose’s NBA career a success?
A: Yes, Evan Moore considers Rose’s NBA career a success despite the challenges he faced growing up on the South Side of Chicago and his injuries.
