While listening to Laurence Holmes on 670 The Score last night, he didn't take too kindly to this story. It wasn't because of what Rose said, but whom he said it to. As you may know, Rose has been in Europe recently to work some events for Adidas. Yesterday, he spoke to reporters in Madrid about his readiness for the upcoming season. It doesn't seem so bad, but Holmes wasn't happy about the former MVP attempting to perform damage control in another country instead of here in Chicago, where it's most needed. He further criticized Rose for not sitting down with reporters from local media outlets to answer tough questions and choosing softer ones posed by the Bulls' website instead. Even Kobe Bryant still talks to L.A. reporters before anyone from elsewhere, he said.
Laurence, I understand that a local athlete should ideally put the local media first, but last time I checked, there was no rule saying one absolutely had to. No matter who Rose breaks this news to, it's going to be made public. I'd rather know the face of the franchise is good to play than who he chooses to take questions from. Quite frankly, I wouldn't blame Rose if he was skeptical about answering questions from a local reporter right now. He was the target of much undeserved criticism last year, especially towards the end, for merely leaving open the possibility that he might play. Those same people might forget all of it if he starts tearing it up again, but right now, he's not exactly as loved in Chicago as Jonathan Toews hoisting the Stanley Cup.
All these tough questions would bring right now are more reasons for a certain group of people to get back on their soapboxes and declare Rose a terrible excuse for a man, even suggesting the Bulls trade him merely for the sake of getting him out of town, roots be damned. What you're doing, Holmes, is giving the wrong crowd more reason to continue this unwarranted bounty against someone who couldn't have had a higher approval rating around here before all this happened. I've seen some goofy things in my 17 years as a Bulls fan, but nothing quite like their best player getting reviled when his only mistake was not telling anyone he would miss the entire season. Not talking to Chicago reporters rubs you the wrong way? What are we coming to? I can't wait for the preseason to start so we can see Rose in action and all this nonsense can be put to bed.
Granted, I haven't been around as long as the majority of sports fans out there and maybe I'll learn a few more things when I take Sports Reporting with Melissa Isaacson in DePaul's graduate journalism program this fall, but how could anyone not be taken aback by this? When Rose merely wants to lay low in Chicago until the start of training camp, you're still getting upset by his actions? The city needs to be a little warmer to him and it has to start now. I'm not saying he'll become permanently distrustful to the fan base, but every media tidbit that paints Rose in a negative light is pushing him closer to a pariah status. He's only 24. Why do you insist on putting this much pressure on him over something so silly? He's gonna play. Be happy about that. Holmes, you and everyone else need to take these things in stride more.
Unfortunately such seems to be the nature of sports media sometimes. We as a society seem to like to build people up and then at the first sign of trouble start tearing them down. Of course, as you said this is totally unfair to Derrick. I wish he would have handled everything in the past year or so a little better too, but ultimately I want him back on the court healthy. And, to quote Carlos Boozer, "That's all that matters, yo."
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