When you sit under the stars at night, do you cast a wish on one that blazes across the sky? Or do you marvel at its fleeting moment?
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With Derrick Rose leaving the Cavaliers and reportedly mulling retirement, it seemed a good time to revisit this sadly prescient column that originally ran on February 25, 2015 by our own Wai Sallas. After moving on from Chicago to New York and now Cleveland, Rose never did recapture his athleticism and dynamism. Now his star appears to be setting:
Chicago Bulls Point Guard Derrick Rose’s future with Chicago is again in question, and the city of Chicago is reeling. The Bulls announced today Rose has a meniscus tear in his right knee and will require surgery. It’s the same knee that forced Rose to miss the 2013-14 season. This is Rose’s third major knee injury in the last 4 years.
Will Rose ever be the same?
There have been few who have been able to harness the physical, mental and intangible attributes to become unstoppable forces in the NBA. From the moment Rose stepped onto the court in 2008, the only doubt about his game was how high was his ceiling.
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What happens when Father Time isn’t ready to battle? What happens when something much more sinister intercepts your destiny?
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He attacked the rim with an unabashed violence, with no regard for his safety or those around him. The 6’3” guard could shoot through the flooded chaos of a crowded paint and rise above the fray with such ease.
The University of Memphis product could step back and drain the perimeter shot when needed. He could drive and kick with accuracy and efficiency. And when he turned on that button, he could take over a game by unleashing his unequaled talents.
It all came together just two short years after he entered the league. Rose would take home the Most Valuable Player award and lead the Bulls to the best record in basketball. The youngest MVP in the NBA’s history.
But then, just like that, the star began to flicker.
Charles Barkley is famous for saying father time is undefeated.
But what happens when Father Time isn’t ready to battle? What happens when something much more sinister intercepts your destiny? What happens when on a simple play, everything you thought was right there, begins to disappear.
Bo Jackson knows.
Mark Fidrych knows.
The stardust that trails those rockets in the night no longer fall upon us.
Obviously this isn’t a life threatening injury, but it is most likely career threatening. Like Jackson and Fidrych before him, their moment shining brighter than the rest was short-lived.
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A lot has happened since Rose tore his left knee ACL back in 2012. He is now a father and realizes there’s more to life than basketball.
“I’m a dad, it just changed my outlook on life, period,” Rose said earlier this year.
When Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee in 2013 he said, “I can’t lose faith, my story isn’t done.”
Unfortunately for us who observe from a distance, we know those moments with a shooting star are passing. Shooting stars are not endurance athletes. They come and go, leaving us with feelings of awe and wonderment.
Years of star gazing have also taught us that if we continue to watch, another one will appear under the moonlit sky, maybe this time we’ll make a wish and it may burn a bit longer than the last.
Man feel bad for D.Rose! Keep your head up homie and stay strong G!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 25, 2015
Prayers up for the homie Drose…Wish u a speedy recover — John Wall (@JohnWall) February 25, 2015
Feel so bad for Drose. One of the most genuine superstars out there, even better person… — Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) February 25, 2015
My heart goes out to D.Rose. He’s such a transcendent talent, I hate to see him struggle with these continuous injuries.
— Greg Jennings (@GregJennings) February 25, 2015
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Photo Credit: Flickr/guamie23
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The post On Derrick Rose: Stars Don’t Shine Forever appeared first on The Good Men Project.