Da Windy City
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: Stadium debuts ‘Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story’

By Justin Dukes

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls walks to the bench during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls walks to the bench during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago’s racial divide

This mismanagement of Rose’s return from injury received a great deal of sharp scrutiny, while there were also a large number of individuals who defended Rose in spite of what was being reported.  These contrasting stances would expose a divide in the city, driven by race in the words of some of the cast.

“You almost felt like the segregation of Chicago … met at Derrick Rose because so many people in Chicago, so many black people in Chicago felt like Derrick Rose was being unfairly mistreated by a largely white media and fans — the season ticket holders in Chicago clearly are a different demographic,” said Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill.

“The majority of the phone calls (I got) were good riddance,” said 670 The Score‘s Laurence Holmes during the film about Rose’s eventual trade to the New York Knicks.

What eventually lead to this concatenation of criticism was the Bulls’ statement during the period of Rose’s rehabilitation stating he had been cleared to play which Bulls President of Basketball Operations Paxson seemed to place the blame on the fans for misinterpreting the vague statement as opposed to the organization for not being more clear on the issue. From his vantage point, the statement meant that Rose should return when ready, but unfortunately “Red Nation” didn’t see it the same way.

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