Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose Original Workhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Derrick_Rose.jpgKeith Allison from Baltimore, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]“You have to know who you are. This whole time off or even getting injured, it was my way of tapping out. A lot of people don’t get the chance to tap out [and recover], and they get caught up into the propaganda” (Spears). Derrick Rose, an NBA basketball player, was the youngest ever to win an MVP award, winning it at the age of 22. Born on October 4, 1988, Derrick Martell Rose was raised in Englewood, a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Being the youngest of four boys, Derrick was raised under the supervision of his mother, Brenda Rose. Derrick started his basketball career at Simeon Career Academy, fantasizing of making it big in the NBA. He continued his journey to the NBA, taking his talents to the University of Memphis and finally getting drafted #1 in the 2008 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Derrick would start his NBA career as a star waiting to bloom, but he was plagued with injuries that hindered him from reaching his full potential. A hero must possess a tenacious and humble persona. A tenacity that doesn't quit or hinder when adversity hits, but rather fights on and works hard -- humility that places oneself lower than the rest of society even when one is a superstar, and a humility that works to make a change in the community around them. Derrick Rose possesses this exact tenacity and humility, therefore making him a hero. His sacrifice and love for the game helped him overcome obstacles that took him to places people didn't expect. He made a difference in his basketball career, while also loving on the community and society.

Derrick Rose is a hero because of his tenacity. Derrick, who has endured the pain of going through numerous injuries, discusses the challenges and reasons why he still plays basketball. “I am in year 11 now. I tore my ACL in my third year. Most guys would have been retired. Financially, I have saved my money. It’s all about the love. I still feel like I can hoop” (Spears). As seen through this interview, Derrick tore his ACL in the third year of his NBA career. An ACL injury is a major injury that is often difficult to come back from. A lot of people doubted Derrick after the ACL injury, saying that his career was over and he should retire for the good of his health. However, Derrick states that “It’s all about the love.” There is nothing that can take the game of basketball away from Derrick Rose. Even though he dealt with an injury of that severity, he didn't quit, stayed true to himself, and knew who he was as a player and an individual. Through all the impediments that Derrick faced, he continues to play and work, crafting his game to its full potential. During a recent interview, Derrick discusses the opportunities he was given and his actions towards them. “I am going to run with any opportunity ... That is my goal. Get back in, and anything that comes my way I am going to grab it. I have no time to be feeling spiteful. I don't want to say, ‘Look at me’ or ‘Look at what they did.’ I don't have no time for that. What I am doing right now is history in my own world” (Spears). No matter the injuries that plagued Derrick Rose's career, he only focuses on the present. Derrick will “get back” and grab any opportunity that comes his way. The mental and physical strain that Derrick was faced with has impacted him negatively. However, he only moves forward and is persistent in being the best basketball player that he can be. No matter the obstacles that block his path, he has “no time to be feeling spiteful.” Derrick’s tenacity helped him overcome and conquer injuries and adversity, letting him focus on being the best on the court.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Derrick_Rose_in_Japan,_2013.jpgTakahiro Hayashi [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]Derrick Rose is a hero because of the humility he shows towards his community and basketball. After fans from all over the world supported him for the all-star game, Derrick was asked whether this attention fazed him at all. “'I don't sell myself to people,' Rose said, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. 'It’s not me. That’s not my character. I don't have an Instagram. I don't have any of that. It comes from me being in people’s minds for some reason and people really caring'" (Shapiro). Derrick received an immense amount of fan votes for playing in the all-star game. It was his first time even being considered an all-star in a long time. However, this didn't change Derrick’s morals. Instead of bragging and acknowledging his skill as great, Derrick stays humble. He doesn't “sell himself” to others, meaning he doesn't try to gain love from other people by stepping out of his comfort zone. He stays true to himself, working on only the preeminent, instead of being affected by the distractions around him. Ultimately, he doesn't care if he makes it to the all-star game or not. The fame and love don't change Derrick’s humility and confidence in his abilities to play basketball. During an interview, Derrick was asked about his goals off the court and answered by saying, “They were asking me about my goals [off the court]. The goal is to help people, period, but while I was over there, I said out loud, 'I want to become a billionaire.' I wasn't saying it like 'I'm just going to have all the money to hold for myself.' I wanted to be a billionaire so I could take care of everybody. To feel that I could build a legacy” (Polacek). This quote shows Derrick Rose's humility off the court. Derrick donated 400,000 dollars to help low income high school students go to college. He also donated 1 million dollars to Chicago’s After School Matters program, focused on providing activities for inner city students after school. This is the heart and humility that Derrick has for his community. He could have just used the money to buy nice clothes, a nice car, or a nice house, but chose to help those in need. As he said, his goals aren't to become a billionaire and hold all the money for himself, but rather use that money to take care of everybody else. Derrick Rose stays humble both on and off the court.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Derrick_Rose_(37670935991)_(cropped).jpgErik Drost [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]Through tenacity and humility, Derrick inspires many that no obstacle is too hard to conquer. Derrick Martell Rose was plagued by injuries his whole career and received a load of doubt and criticism. Through the conflicts, there was nothing that could stop him from playing the game of basketball. Derrick Rose is an inspiration to me for the accomplishments that he was able to achieve: winning an MVP award at the age of 22, being able to come back and fight through adversity and injuries, and staying humble, always showing love to his community and fans. Through humility and tenacity, Derrick Rose portrays the characteristics of a hero. He was able to weather the storm of his injury-plagued career and flip the switch, working hard on the court, while also caring and loving the community around him.