that's is one level headed brother there.... can't hate on him"
The last time Derrick Rose delivered a public speech with his family looking on, he stopped the NBA world with his heartfelt tribute to his mother, Brenda, after becoming the youngest most valuable player in NBA history last spring.
On Wednesday at the Berto Center, with his family and friends looking on, Rose addressed the five-year, $94.8 million maximum extension that his stellar play earned from the Bulls -- and a wrinkle in the new collective bargaining agreement.
"I never would have thought in a million years I'd sign a contract like this," Rose said at the news conference. "No one from Englewood's ever been in my position, so sometimes I think, why me?
"I'll be able to afford what I want. But not too many things excite me except winning and being around my family."
Rose will be 29 when the deal expires, and said Wednesday that he wants to spend his entire career with the Bulls "unless they trade me."
"That ain't happening," Bulls general manager Gar Forman immediately interjected.
Rose had said late Tuesday night that money won't change him or create pressure. He just wants to win titles. That's the way his mother and three older brothers raised him.
"I would like to thank my teammates and coaches for pushing me," Rose said Wednesday. "I'd like to thank the city of Chicago for sticking behind me.
"I think I can finally say this now: Mom, we finally made it."
Forman and coach Tom Thibodeau addressed what makes Rose special.
"Probably the greatest aspect about Derrick Rose is his loyalty," Forman said. "I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of this"
Asked about the new deal for his star player, Thibodeau said, "I wish it was a 10-year contract."
The contract is another step on Rose's hometown success story. After Rose grew up in the crime-ridden Englewood neighborhood and led Simeon High to back-to-back state titles, the Bulls cashed in 1.7 percent odds to earn the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. They picked Rose, who won Rookie of the Year in 2009, made the All-Star game as a reserve in 2010 and as a starter in 2011 and capped that with his historic MVP last spring.
And now this, which resulted from the so-called "Derrick Rose rule" landing in the new CBA after the lockout. The provision rewards players who outperform their scaled rookie contracts. Rose qualified by virtue of that MVP.
"I just want to thank God for blessing me with this incredible talent," Rose said. "I want to thank the Bulls for taking a chance on me. I would like to thank my teammates and coaches for pushing me. I'd like to thank the city of Chicago for sticking behind me."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ulls-rose-eyes-titles-20111221,0,257704.story
that shit was Cal's non-coaching ass fault.. now the NEXT year.. Cal knew that shit was coming down, which is why we lost to Missouri. Cal had one foot out the door already. He had already been contacted by the NCAA and Kentucky he knew he was leaving. Which is why he told RC Johnson (the AD) to delay announcing NCAA violations till after he already had the job at Kentucky. If they had let the violations leak to the public there is noway in hell Kentucky would have been able to hire him and Cal would have been on the hook for all that shit. Cal played the fuck out of Memphis. and took his players with him.
