Bulls’ Rose Makes a Statement; So Do Warriors

December 7, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Sunday smorgasbord: Derrick Rose made a statement during warmups for Saturday night’s Chicago Bulls-Golden State Warriors game at the United Center by wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt. For those who might have thought that phrase was a commercial endorsement for an asthma relief medication, it is not. It refers to the death of Eric Garner, who died after a policeman choked him in Staten Island, N.Y. The words were ones Garner issued multiple times before he died. Let the outrage begin (if it hasn’t already) by those offended at an athlete actually taking a position on one of the great social issues of the day (an issue that has been there for generations).

Video below of the lovely and talented Oksana Grishina.

* Sadly for those of us who had hoped to hear a statement from Rose after the Bulls’ 112-102 loss, he did not offer one. In fact, he did not talk to the media. Maybe he will be able to provide some insight on Sunday. Or Monday. Or whenever he wants to.

* The “I Can’t Breathe” quote has been a slogan in protests nationwide after a grand jury decided not to indict the police officer involved in Garner’s death. Bulls center Joakim Noah said of Rose: “When you wear a T-shirt with a statement, everybody’s going to know how you feel about it. I respect Derrick 150 percent and I’m riding with him. … It’s really sad what happened. Police brutality is something that … it happens. Not every cop is a bad person. Not every black person is a bad person. You can’t judge people.” Well, of course, people do judge people. But Noah’s point is duly noted.

* Rose is not the first NBA player to take a stand on the Garner case. Cleveland’s LeBron James spoke about it and others Thursday in New York: “Violence is not the answer, and retaliation isn’t the solution. As a society, we just have to do better. I pray for the families of the lost ones.” And anyone who sees that as a controversial stand might want to take a deep breath or two before offering a knee-jerk response. With the emphasis on “jerk.”

* Speaking of responses (knee-jerk and otherwise), it will be interesting to find out whose idea it was for Rose to take a public stand the way he did. For a guy who has been sidelined for much of the season and struggled on the court at times (Saturday being one of them with Rose going 2-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-7 from three-point range, in scoring nine points), he could have kept his sentiments to himself. Or waited to make his feelings known on a non-game day. Maybe Rose is more complicated than some people give him credit; then again, maybe he is more manipulated than some people believe.

* Meanwhile, back on the court, the Warriors won a franchise-record 12th consecutive contest. They are an NBA-best 17-2 under rookie coach Steve Kerr (yes, the same guy who used to play for the Bulls). Kerr always was considered a smart player and a good quote. For those questioning his brainpower, he did choose the Warriors over the New York Knicks. The Knicks could go on a 12-game winning streak, and they’d still be one game under .500. And, yes, you didn’t have to be a basketball savant to believe Golden State was the better job — even if competition in the Western Conference is greater than it is in the Eastern Conference.

* As far as the Warriors making a statement, they did. The statement being they’re awfully good, so good that they can win when guards Stephen Curry (19 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-5 three-point attempts) and Klay Johnson (24 points on 9-of-23 shooting, including 2-pf-8 three-pointers) are having off nights.

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