In what now is considered an annual story, Chicago Bulls’s point guard Derrick Rose has another serious injury. According to the team’s press release, Rose suffered a left orbital fracture after he “was struck in the face with an elbow” at practice Tuesday. Rose will undergo surgery Wednesday and the timetable for his return will be determined after the procedure.
Chicago Bulls Emperor Derrick Rose’s New Clothes and Unfortunately His New Injury
It is not clear yet exactly how the 27 year-old Rose was injured. Bulls forward Taj Gibson noted that Rose was injured in practice on “one of those plays where everybody’s going so hard, and its real physical out there.”
Worse though, was that on media day the day before, Rose had already pontificated in a way that only Rose could do that he was more focused on his individual future salary concerns rather than team success. After yesterday, even the most fervent Rose fan had to wonder if Rose was really focused on the team.
Fourth Serious Injury in 4 Years
Rose has had four major injuries in the past four seasons. First, Rose tore the ACL in his left knee in the first game of the 2011-2012 season playoffs. Rose missed the entire 2012-2013 season. Rose returned for ten games in the 2013-2014 season when he tore his medial meniscus in his right knee. In February 2015, Rose tore his right knee meniscus again. Now, after one practice at the beginning of the 2015-2016 season, Rose has his current orbital injury.
After Selfish Media Day Comments, Rose Injury May Be The Least of His Problems
Rose spent the day before at Media Day alienating what fans he had left. After spending so much of his current $94 million contract that runs though 2017 injured and not playing anywhere near his anticipated potential, Rose took the opportunity to opine unsolicited on his upcoming free agency in two years.
Initially addressing his civil lawsuit where Rose was accused of gang raping a woman, Rose veered voluntarily into the contract talk. Rose, who also earned a reported $185 million with Adidas, spoke about making enough for his two-year-old son’s future in his next contract. Rose’s claim of poverty with at least $279 million already earned between the Bulls and Adidas, not counting numerous other sponsors, rubbed nearly everyone the wrong way.
Rose is the Fabled Emperor with New Clothes
Rose seems to live in a bubble surrounded by sycophantic yes-men who say what the emperor wishes to hear. Rose has seemed tone-deaf to the average fan and person for years. During the first knee injury, when most fans were heart-broken for him, Rose disappointed fans and teammates by not returning when doctors cleared him to play. Rose opined last year that he was more concerned about his knees after basketball than playing up to expectations under his current contract.
Rose has repeatedly made comments that indicate that Rose is far more interested in himself than the team that has paid him based upon a MVP season. To unsolicitedly reference his next contract in the next two years, Rose has demonstrated that he is the emperor who wore no clothes. Too much in the bubble to hear the truth, Rose has been told his new outfit is invisible.
Rose’s injuries have been tragic. Rose’s insulated vanity and selfish focus has been most disappointing. The Chicago Bulls will be glad to rid themselves of this vain and hollow emperor.
