Derrick Rose Is One of Us

Breaks silence with a thank you and then works his tail off in practice

By MAGGIE HENDRICKS

Updated 8:54 AM CST, Thu, Jun 25, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

NBAE/Getty Images

Chicago Bulls Rookie-of-the-Year Derrick Rose has been silent since allegations came out about his admission to the University of Memphis, and a picture surfaced of Rose throwing a gang sign. He broke that silence today, talking for about ten seconds at the beginning of a video he posted on his Facebook page.

"I want to thank you for your support. I appreciate it. Keep on looking at my page, because I really do look at it, and appreciate it."

It wasn't much, but it was more authentic than what he "said" in a statement that the Bulls released after the gang pictures hit the internet. He followed up the short blurb with video of him working out with at a gymnasium in California, and though the magic of editing may be at work, Rose appears to be hustling quite hard at the practice.

Because truly, that's what this video is about. More than appreciation Rose needs to show Chicagoans that he is working hard, because that's what we want out of our players. Dennis Rodman was a crazy person who spent his days dressing as a bride and his nights partying at Crobar, but as long as he sacrificed his body for rebounds and loose balls, we loved him. Sammy Sosa lost his popularity with Cub fans when he wouldn't put in the extra work to rehab from injury. Grinder ball was made popular by the White Sox because it is the epitome of hardworking baseball.

Chicagoans are hardworking people, and we don't want thanks or adulation. We want our athletes to put in as much effort as we do, and we want them to be honest with us. Rose, a native Chicagoan, understands that, and with this video is showing Chicagoans that he is one of us.

Maggie Hendricks is a lifelong Chicagoan who has fond memories of attending Bulls' championship rallies and taking Michael Jordan for granted. She also writes for Cagewriter, Yahoo! Sports' MMA blog, and Fourth-Place Medal, Yahoo! Sports' Olympic blog.