I don't typically watch the program formerly known as Chicago Tribune Live (now SportsTalk Live), but I made an exception yesterday so I can see my buddy Nick Shepkowski of 670 The Score make his contributions to the program. Inevitably, they started discussing Derrick Rose and the Bulls' struggles during February, which now has a record of 4-8. Comcast SportsNet posed a question on their website and Facebook page asking if the recent Rose buzz is distracting the team. I thought it was a ridiculous notion, but the results at the end of the program showed most viewers voted yes. From this, I can draw one of two conclusions: either the show's regular viewers are idiots or the media is creating yet another Rose non-story that gets people all riled up to the point where they form an opinion such as the one that was voted on yesterday.
As Rose gets closer to his return, the media circus surrounding him and his relationship with the team is starting to border on ridiculous. Just because there have been struggles since the USA Today interview doesn't mean it's having a detrimental effect on the club. Same with Reggie Rose's recent comments. Too often these days, the press loves to take a team story and correlate it to game performance. Why would it start popping up now? The Lakers have been a mess all year and the fact that they've never really been a united unit is perfect reason for others to question them. The Bulls have not been going at each other's throats and are supremely supportive of their superstar. Know this: Derrick Rose is not hurting the Chicago Bulls. How he conducts himself to the media is no one's business unless he makes some serious off-the-wall comments and he is not the type to do such.
The Bulls are having trouble right now because of injuries and defensive lapses. If it's not one issue, it's another. They struggle with Kirk Hinrich out of the lineup. He returns for a game, sits more, comes back again, but without Taj Gibson, whose sprained MCL will keep him out two weeks. They don't play well at home against bad teams, which has shown itself all season. Last night's loss to Cleveland was just the latest example. Those able to play have enough issues to worry about what Rose is doing off the court. Dropping to the sixth seed in the East should be the front story right now, but because people love to treat superstars as a team's lifeline, Rose has grabbed the headlines again through little fault of his own. It's a basketball team. Focus on basketball business.
Just be grateful we won't be seeing Rose on TNT when the Bulls play the 76ers tomorrow. A return in the same place against the same team when his injury happened would have just made more media noise. Ever hear of curbing your need for sensationalistic stories? Do it. We're better off when it happens.
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