Muller: Chicagoans Should Be Proud Of Rose
By Shawn Muller-
CHICAGO (WSCR) "Why can't I be the MVP?" is what Derrick Rose said to a reporter in training camp back in September.
Well, Mr. Rose.
You can be the MVP.
You ARE the MVP.
When the Chicago Bulls drafted Derrick Rose with the number one overall pick three years ago, I think those of us in Chicago knew that the Bulls were getting a good one.
But, a most valuable player in the NBA at the ripe old age of 22 type of player?
No way.
Or so I thought, anyway.
If you look closely at the type of regular season Derrick Rose had in the 2010-2011 campaign, his winning the MVP award should not have been much of a surprise at all.
You see, this kid has always been a leader and a winner. In high school, Rose led the Simeon Wolverines to back-to-back Illinois state championships. In college, he led the Memphis Tigers to the championship game of the NCAA tournament in his one year at the university. And now, in the professional ranks, he has taken the Chicago Bulls from the depths of obscurity to the best record in the league and contention for an NBA championship in just his third season with the franchise.
Wherever Derrick Rose plays….his teams just win.
At 22 years old, he exudes the confidence of a wily veteran.
He always remains calm on the floor, ever believing that his team has a chance to win no matter what the deficit. Derrick instills a confidence in his teammates that you just don't find in a lot of the superstar players of today. His teammates know that no matter what happens, and no matter how bleak a situation may seem (especially with the Boozer and Noah injuries this season), the TEAM is going to be just fine…as long as they stick together.
And that, my friends, is what an MVP does.
There is no "me-first" or "prima-donna" type of attitude with the young Derrick Rose.
In fact, he is quite the opposite.
He is as quiet as a Buddhist monk on and off the court, proving that it is not always the player with the loudest mouth or the flashiest personality that helps his team win basketball games…it is the player that knows his teammates trust his decision-making…even if that player is as quiet as a church mouse.
It is refreshing to see someone, who has seen his stardom take a meteoric rise like Derrick Roses' has, almost want to shy away from all of the attention. He may not be the most interesting interview to listen to in the world, but that is not his job. He could care less if there were 2 cameras and microphones in his face or 2000.
All Derrick Rose wants to do is win basketball games. And win basketball games he has done.
The city of Chicago should feel very proud today.
Not only of Derrick Rose for winning the MVP award, but for the person he's been off the court. The native son of our great city has represented Chicago with the utmost dignity, class, and humility.
So congratulations on winning the MVP award this season Mr. Rose.
You definitely deserved it.
Do you agree with Shawn? Post your comments below.
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24.
