My Nov. 28 column from CBS Chicago …
(CBS) Derrick Rose’s knees are about as stable as your turkey’s. Jay Cutler’s lower extremities aren’t a whole lot sturdier. With one combined Big Ten victory, the Illinois and Northwestern football teams have no leg to stand on this weekend. And both the Cubs and the White Sox?
Well, they could use arms.
Along with just about everything else.
Here on Thanksgiving Day, our local sports teams don’t exactly have a great body of work. And, to be honest, it’s difficult to find much to be thankful for. But as I prepare to leave for my honeymoon “Down Under” in Australia on Friday – something for which I’m very thankful – I’m going to give it a shot anyway.
I’m thankful for Derrick Rose
Yes, I’m thankful for D-Rose. While a second major knee injury in as many years is indeed a tragic blow both for the Chicago Bulls and their homegrown superstar, I am thankful that I got the chance to see Rose play in person before his body began to fail him.
Most memorably, I recall seeing Rose when he was a 15-year-old sophomore at Simeon High School competing in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. During that game, Rose was awfully raw (he had eight turnovers), but he also showed just how ridiculously athletic he was.
In fact, his first step off the dribble was the quickest that I’d ever seen in person – at any level. And I’ll never forget the two-handed fast break dunk that he threw down over a helpless defender at full-speed in game. So breathtaking was the athletic feat that the entire crowd inside the Pontiac High gym gasped audibly in unison.
While I’m not holding my breath, I’d be incredibly thankful to see Rose someday return to that same form with the Bulls – and actually stay healthy.
Continue reading at CBSChicago.com …