Muller: Trade Hoopla Makes Me Appreciate Derrick Rose More Than Ever
By Shawn Muller-
(CBS) Derrick Rose is the consummate professional.
He doesn't whine or complain when things don't seem to be going his way on the floor.
He doesn't starve for the limelight.
He doesn't care if he is the highest paid player in the league, or if he has the biggest endorsement deals.
The man is a true throwback, the anti-diva in a diva-dominated league. And although he may not have the most outgoing of personalities, he is a refreshing change of pace.
With all the hoopla surrounding Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, and where each player may or may not end up playing in the future, I realized just how blessed the Chicago Bulls are to have a guy like Derrick Rose leading the franchise back to prominence. He has the trust of his teammates, his fans, and his front office, which is refreshing to say the least, especially in this era of professional sports.
People in Chicago don't have to worry about Mr. Rose. He is a Chicago Bull through and through, and that feels pretty good to say.
As soon as the "Three Am (egos)" joined forces in Miami, I knew the games of professional basketball had changed for good, and the era of so-called "super teams" is the hot new trend around the league.
While Chicago was rumored as a possible destination for Dwight Howard, the more I thought about it, the more I was/am glad that it probably will remain just that: A rumor. A guy like Dwight Howard is the type of player that can kill a franchise. My opinion of him has nothing to do with his skills on the basketball court. In that regard, Howard is an absolute freak. There is no denying that.
What I am talking about are "Superman's" actions behind-the-scenes.
Howard is the type of guy that wants to have way too much influence with the front office of the team he is playing for. He wants to call the shots when it comes to player personnel, and that is not someone I want playing in the United Center. Did Michael Jordan have a lot of influence with Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf? He absolutely did. Does Kobe Bryant have influence with Dr. Jerry Buss? You bet.
But what separates Michael and Kobe from a player like Dwight Howard is all that bright and shiny jewelry engulfing their fingers.
To put it bluntly: Those guys earned that status with the front office.
What has Dwight Howard done to "earn" that status with the Orlando front office? It sure isn't winning championships. The guy may be a monster on the court, but unless he actually would have won something in Orlando, he should just keep quiet and leave the basketball-related decisions to the suits.
That's why you have to love a guy like Derrick Rose leading the team.
He just plays basketball.
The reigning MVP knows that his job is to win games. He is not recruiting other players to come play with him in the United Center. He is not trying to win the approval of his superstar colleagues. The Bulls are his team. And the rest of the NBA superstars know this. Chicago sells itself. Derrick Rose sells himself. If players aren't willing to come to Chicago and take a back seat to Derrick, then they shouldn't come to the Windy City because they will only cause problems for a team that is focused on winning title No. 7. You don't want to buy in to the "team" concept that head Coach Tom Thibodeau has instilled in his players, by all means, stay away.
I don't want to see the Bulls become another Miami Heat. I don't want to see Chicago turn into the three-ring circus known as the New York Knicks.
I just want to see them win with a group of guys that believe in each other. You want to be a diva, don't bother coming.
The Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose don't need you.
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. Read more of his blogs here.
