Derrick Rose and Adidas are publishing a six-part video series on YouTube called #thereturn. In essence, it’s the story of Rose’s rehab…his mental and physical battle to return from the ACL tear that ended his season and the Bulls’ hopes of contending for a title. And not simply to return. To return better and stronger than ever.
Episode 1 — titled “Belief” — has been released:
What makes this video fascinating is the narration by Rose.
As anybody who follows D-Rose already knows, the kid is humble to a fault and tends to shy away from the public eye. He doesn’t talk trash, rarely says boo to official, and refuses to dance at the All-Star Game. Zach Christman of NBC Chicago once described Rose as “boring as hell” and said “listening to the man talk is like taking Ambien.”
Now he’s talking. Oh boy is he talking.
Rose recently revealed that finding out about his torn ACL was “the closest thing to death” he’s ever experienced. In “Belief,” he describes his post-injury angst thusly: “think of your most downest day and times it by 100…that ain’t enough to describe how I felt at that time.”
I have to admit that statement made me fidget a little. The world can be a pretty dark place. Every day, someone finds out they have terminal cancer or loses a loved one. Both of those situations could be considered 100 times worse than a torn ACL, not vice versa.
But Rose’s somewhat skewed perspective aside, what’s telling here is that Rose was obviously moved by this injury in a way that nothing else has ever moved him. For perhaps the first time ever, he had to face down his own mortality. That’s never an easy thing to do. It makes me wonder how the injury will affect his outlook going forward. Will Rose now hear that ticking clock in the back of his brain? Every professional athlete is on borrowed time. It’s a painful lesson that Rose has learned younger than most.
The big upside of this video is it reinforces what Rose said in an earlier interview, that he is working on core strength and flexibility in ways that he never did before, and Dr. Brian Cole states that his belief is that Rose can not only regain his athleticism but potentially get to “125%” of where he was.
Can you imagine?
Get Well D Rose. Don’t rush back you’ll be running the league (as you once were) in due time. No need to rush back.
Get Well D Rose. Don’t rush back you’ll be running the league (as you once were) in due time. No need to rush back.
That comment about getting irked by D-Rose saying “think of your most downest day…” irks me because he is speaking to his average fan whom most likely does not have terminal cancer you jackass. If someone with cancer ever complains to me I’m going to say “shutup you big baby, at least you have lived a little. There are starving babies in africa and mass murder going on all over the world. At least you weren’t raped by 5 NBA players. Get raped by Shaq then come talk to me. lil b**ch.” In this day and age everything is reletive and he is trying to relate to an average fan. Basketball is D-Roses life; his way of living. What if there was a complication with the tear or the surgury and he could never play again. That pretty much would be a death sentance for rose
If Rose comes back better than before in the coming seasons, all the Bulls will need is a partner in crime for Rose to make a serious run at a title. These next few years should be interesting
Hey JPM, get fucked, ok? D-Rose, regardless of his knee, will live the rest of his life as a handsome millionaire who will never want for anything ever again. An ACL tear does not equate in any way shape or form to someone getting cancer or losing a loved one. Frankly, I think D-Rose needs to get a little perspective. I love the guy but get real. You got injured playing a game you’re paid millions of dollars to play. You can afford the best treatment and rehab that is available in the world. You’ll be back playing your game and making your millions real soon.
You are “GREAT” Derrick, and you will be even “GREATER”…..DO YO THANG MAN, get better.
Much Love
Charles Milan…Chicago
When I watched D-Rose go down in the playoffs, it brought back memories of another Superstar who’s flame went out due to an injury in his youth. That Superstar went on to accept his injury and worked his ass off to get better and came back better than ever and left a legacy that probably will never be challenged. His name was Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Sounds similar? Well, D-Rose, you are now that new and improved Superstar, who’s flame was put out due to an injury too; guess what? You’ll return and you too will soon become Chicago’s one and only! You also will win multiple Championships and live happily ever after! Funny how history repeats itself…