The distraction of retiring Rose’s jersey

Retiring Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey is a disgrace and obviously a ploy to distract from another year of ineptitude.

Let’s take a look at Rose’s basketball career. An amazing high school career where he was one of the best high school players in the country. Then the trouble began. Had another student take his college entrance exam to get into the University of Memphis. A fine school, but not a threat to the Ivy League in terms of academics.

In his one year at Memphis, he had an outstanding season, but choked on a free throw in the final seconds of the NCAA final, allowing the University of Kansas to win the 2008 championship in overtime, an overtime where Derrick Rose disappeared.

In his at-times-brilliant career with the Bulls, he took them absolutely nowhere, never even reaching the NBA finals and famously underperforming in the conference finals.

A serious injury sidetracked his career, an injury that by all appearances, he was ready to come back from months before he actually did. When he did return, he has been a journeyman ever since. If winning one game in the conference finals is the standard to get your jersey retired, Jerry Sloan is rolling over in his grave.

Bruce Parker

Arlington Heights