On a night which appeared to be just one with no Bulls game, it was reported Rose had an MRI earlier today, which revealed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. That's the same one he tore in November of last season. He will undergo surgery with no timetable set for his return.
This can only be described as cruel, shocking and a tearjerker. Yet another knee injury to the Bulls' franchise player has possibly brought another season to a halt, taking the championship aspirations with it. It's such a numb feeling after going through this twice already and now, having it happen again. We're only left to wonder "what if?"
Even if Rose's meniscus is removed and not repaired, which could result in a return for the playoffs, it's hard to imagine any championship realities playing out now. In a league where talent reigns supreme and health is crucial, this is a death sentence. There are teams ahead of the Bulls in both areas right now, and they just tumbled further down the ladder. So don't be saving any seats in Grant Park and if you already have, pack up and leave.
This was supposed to be the Bulls' best chance at a title, but now, several questions have been raised as to where both the team and Rose go from here. Talks of rebuilding around the likes of Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic have not been unheard of in the immediate aftermath of this news. And forget about Rose returning to his MVP form. Is he ever going to be an average player if and when he comes back?
We may never see another story in Chicago sports as tragic as Rose's. Gale Sayers is certainly up there, but he still became an NFL legend in his shortened career. Rose doesn't even have that luxury because his body betrayed him before he could cement that legacy. This shouldn't happen so often to a player of his caliber, but the script written for him was apparently rejected by someone upstairs.
This is not the time for finger-pointing, but rather, a time for wondering why this had to happen again. It's difficult to comprehend anything right now because this just came completely out of nowhere and we don't know what's going to happen. All of that will be answered as we learn more and this story continues to develop. Right now, our brains are trying to wrap around this sudden shift in the season.
Nobody should wish what Rose has gone through these last three years on anybody, even their own worst enemy. It's a punch in the gut to everybody close to him and those who have followed his career. That's why we really can't find the proper words to analyze this. We're too angry, upset and speechless for that at the moment.
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