Every rose has its thorn: The Derrick Rose injury story

Derrick Rose favouring his knee

Chicago Bulls' point guard, Derrick Rose, has once again suffered a knee injury. The former first overall pick and NBA MVP has had his fair share of bad luck lately. Revered as one of the league's best (if not the best) point guards in his prime, Rose has experienced three serious injuries in three years. 

The man could fake out any opponent with his smooth crossovers, sink three-point shots with ease and even drive to the net and put the ball home with a slam dunk. Regardless of what team you cheer for, if Derrick Rose was playing you were hoping for a highlight reel play. As a fan of all sports, I live for moments like those. I want to see the best athletes in the world do the thing they love the most.

Derrick Rose preparing for a shot

With that being said, I am quite upset to receive the news of his injury. Even as someone who supports the Raptors (a conference rival), I hate to see talented athletes go through this type of situation. It leaves all of us fans to wonder, "What if...?", and that is something I cannot get over. For all we know, Derrick Rose could have had numerous MVP caliber seasons during his injuries. He could have even helped his team win a championship or two. 

At the age of 26, there is still much potential for him to flourish in this league for a long time. Given the fact that his season is in jeopardy, I can only expect that he takes his time during his recovery. All I can say is that I hope this is the last of the injury problems for Derrick Rose. 

No trade needed for Raptors

Terrence Ross, Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan

Yet another NBA trade deadline has come and gone and Canada's only team did not make a single move. Many teams look at this day as a way to beef up their roster with more talent and make a strong push for the playoffs. Adding that one key player could be all it takes to take your team to the next level. However, given how well the Toronto Raptors have played this year there was no need for them to make a trade. 

Toronto Raptors logo

The team currently sits at second place in the Eastern Conference and is well on its way to making the playoffs for a second straight season. With the likes of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan leading a team that has a solid roster, no one should be surprised by the lack of a trade. The team is doing fine the way they are now. Just as the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

The Raptors have made it to the playoffs six times in the history of their franchise. Only once has the team made it past the first round. Based on how they have performed this year I have great confidence that they will have no problems making it deep in the playoffs. With that being said, I will do everything in my ability to make it down to Jurassic Park and cheer on Canada's team. 

Ray Rice: Breaking the Silence

Janay Palmer and Ray Rice discussing assault case

Many months after an incident that lead to a PR disaster for the NFL, Ray Rice has finally spoken out. For those who are unaware, Rice was caught on tape physically assaulting his wife in a hotel elevator. This lead his team, the Baltimore Ravens, to release him and he was eventually suspended indefinitely by the NFL. He went on to miss the entire 2014 season, even after he had been reinstated into the league in November. In Rice's statement he thanked the city of Baltimore for supporting him and apologized to the fans for his actions. He finally went on to say he hopes everyone can find a way to forgive him as he continues to move on and make an attempt to comeback to the NFL.

Tiger Woods and Michael Vick

If you look in the past there have been many athletes whose reputations have been questioned based on poor decisions. Look no further than Tiger Woods and Michael Vick. Woods was once the golden boy of golf until he was caught having numerous affairs. This lead to an indefinite leave from the game. Since his return, he still receives a large following on the course. Now Vick on the other hand is a different story. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL but was found guilty of organizing a dog fighting ring and did time in prison. However, upon his release he would eventually be signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and all seemed to be forgotten. 

Ray Rice's future in the NFL is something that will be in question until next season. Not only does he make poor choices off the field, but his performance on the field has diminished as well. Many people want him gone for good, but based on the past it should come as no surprise to see him play next year. Regardless of the outcome, I have lost a lot of respect for him.

Oh how the mighty have fallen

Ever since I can remember I have been a proud supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the early years things were great and the team excelled. However, as the saying goes, "Things change". It has not been the best of times for the franchise as it has only seen the playoffs once since the 2003-04 season. Even that lone playoff birth ended in heartbreak. 

Jump ahead to this year. The team had its typical start as one of the best teams in the league only to lose their composure mid-season. Now the Leafs are on the verge of setting a team record. If they lose tonight, they will have gone 11 games without a win. The current record is held by the 1967 team that lost 10 straight. Ironically, that was the last time the team won the Stanley Cup.  

Many fans have become upset and jumped to another team. As bad as it has been, I will remain loyal. I anxiously await the results of tonight's game and can only hope that the team gets that win they so desperately need. Given the team's current position in the standings a lot of fans want them to lose and try to get a good draft pick for next year. Draft picks are good and all, but losing isn't much fun.

Based on how the team has performed, reaching the playoffs seems impossible. Here you can see a little sample of how important the Maple Leafs being in the playoffs is to fans. I can only wish to experience moments like this in the near future.





(My apologies for the unsteady camerawork. I was a little excited)