I don’t envy Derrick Rose for having to stare down the barrels of microphones every day.
It’s a safe guess that a high percentage of the 22-year-olds in the world who didn’t win the NBA’s MVP award don’t present themselves with much polish either.
But ready or not, Rose is the front man for a high-profile team in a major market.
He’s not good at it.
Maybe Rose will become more engaging, or at least audible, when he gets more comfortable in his own skin. He’s got a lot of growing to do as a man, a lot of life experiences in front of him. With that comes perspective and confidence.
I’m going to trust the Bulls will encourage continued media training for Rose. They can’t be happy that their first superstar since what’s-his-name is as interesting off the court as listening to paint dry.
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I’ll bet those spreadsheet guys at ABC are hoping they have the Miami Heat to sell when the ball goes in the air for the Finals.
Miami representing the East couldn’t set up more perfectly for mega ratings. In LeBron James, they have the nation’s newest sports anti-hero.
In the ratings game, it’s about more than basketball. Bigger-than-life personalities attract casual fans more than a seemingly grounded hometown kid and the sweet touch of his arching runner and tireless work ethic.
James is one of those personalities. It’s his league now.
That’s a bitter pill to swallow for Bulls fans. They hear “LeBron,” and they flash to how jilted they felt last summer when “The Decision” wasn’t to take his talents to Oak Street Beach.
I understand the disappointment, but the deep-seated James/Miami bashing is misguided. It makes us look so small-town.
Among James’ “transgressions” was his treatment of the deprived sports fandom in Cleveland. Wow.
His collaboration with buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh also contributed to the groundswell of disdain.
I say “Cheers, LeBron.” Who among us, given the chance to collaborate professionally with people we trust, wouldn’t leap at it?
James is such a draw. He’s the best player in the league. He’s magnetic off the floor, so much that NBC tabbed him to host “Saturday Night Live” for the show’s season opener in 2007. He was 23. He nailed it.
And now he’s the villain, the poster child for all that’s wrong with sports. James even got slapped around by his critics Wednesday night for his zealous celebrating after the Heat put Boston down.
I don’t get it, but it’s entertaining to me.
A lot more than listening to Rose.
Dan McNeil hosts “The Danny Mac Show” weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.