|
|
Derrick
Rose lays on the court when he injuries his ACL. Photo from
ESPNChicago.com
|
|
Overcoming a
sports injury is your decision
By Ashley Studebaker
CHICAGO -- An injury as serious as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
takes around eight to twelve months to completely heal, but... That’s
just the physical part. For some athletes, most athletes, there is also
a mental hurdle to jump over to be able to assure themselves confidence
of coming back again to the game they love. Fans may become extremely
impatient waiting for this athlete to make a return, but you’d rather
them be more safe than sorry. Take it from someone who has followed
Chicago Bulls’ star point-guard, Derrick Rose, and his injury.
If you haven’t already heard, it has been a little while since Derrick
Rose has been on the court last. Some say too long and others say the
decision is completely up to him when to return. Derrick Rose tore his
ACL on April 28 of 2012 in the first round of the NBA playoffs with
1:19 left in the game; he had surgery on May 12 of 2012, and has been
medically cleared since March eighth of this year. So what is taking so
long? I mean, it’s been a whole year.
As always, there are two sides of a “controversy.”
One side is made up of most of the media and some-what “fans.” This
side has been giving Derrick quite the pressure to make his big return.
It’s been said that Derrick “owes it to his teammates to return.” The
other side of this debate is saying, “isn’t an injury more focused on
yourself and making sure that YOU are 100% healthy, mentally and
physically?”
I will have to admit, being a huge fan of the Chicago Bulls and Rose, I
have become a little more impatient as the playoffs go along, but you
have to put yourself in his shoes and try to understand where he may be
coming from. Just because we, as fans, really want to see him back in
action on the court doesn’t mean that we should rush him back to
playing. Coming back too early could be crucial to someone’s season or
career, just ask Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson was one who decided
to come back from an injury a bit too early and ended up re-injuring
himself. Could this be playing an impact in Derrick’s head? Of course
it is. The thought of him re-injuring himself has to be going through
his head.
Rose had torn his ACL on a play that he had done over a thousand times.
If I were him, I would be a little self-conscious, nervous, tense,
maybe even a little scared to make a return just yet. The slightest bit
of doubt in your mind can play one of the biggest mental factors of
making such a decision as this.
Some people who argue that Rose should be back have even questioned his
character as a man and as a player. A Yahoo! Sports reporter, Adrian
Wojnarowski, says that even though Rose has not come out and said that
he will not be making his return this season, he’s already made his
decision. Is it right to question Derrick like that? From some peoples
points of view, no way. Who’s to say that Derrick has already made his
decision when he has been telling the media that, “it’s still up in the
air” for when he may return?
Derrick Rose has been sitting on the Bulls bench every game throughout
the playoffs, so far, offering advice and coaching in order to help out
his team. Rose has also had the support of his teammates, coaches,
trainers, the Bulls organization, and true fans throughout this whole
decision making process. The passion that Derrick Rose has for this
game, I cannot imagine how antsy he is to be back on that court,
despite the pressure and criticism that he has experienced thus far.
Ultimately, this decision is 100% up to superstar himself and that’s
the way that it should be. He will return when he feels he’s stable,
both physically AND mentally.
Ashley Studebaker
is a 2012 Franklin Monroe High School graduate pursuing a Sports
Writing Degree at Wright State University. She has a special interest
in sports injuries.
|
|
Following his
injury, Rose sits on the bench, which is what he's
doing now in the playoffs. Photo from nbaarena.com
|
|
|
|
