It’s the official start of basketball talking season as most NBA teams held their individual Media Days on Monday. It’s the first Chicago Bulls Media Day without Derrick Rose since 2007, as the point guard was traded to the New York Knicks in June. At the time, many thought the Bulls got fleeced on that deal, but it was still easy to understand why Chicago was looking to part ways with the controversial, injury prone locally produced star.
Exactly one year ago today, the hometown hero pretty much punched his ticket out of town when he made very strange, self-defeating remarks at Chicago Bulls Media Day.
He wasn’t thrown a hardball question, but he lost the press conference anyway when he made unsolicited remarks about his obsession with his upcoming free agency.
Again this year, Derrick Rose is making national headlines on NBA Media Day. Rose said Monday at the Knicks media session that he isn’t worried about the rape trial set to start next week because he feels he “didn’t do anything wrong.”
Derrick Rose at the podium for Knicks Media Day: pic.twitter.com/pCTih2aCPN
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 26, 2016
Los Angeles Police Department detective confirmed last week that New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose is the subject of an active criminal investigation over sexual assault allegations raised against Rose and two friends by a woman who says the three men gang-raped her in 2013. The woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Rose and the two other men over the incident, and that trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 4.
“When filing the crime report, the victim in this case exercised her right to confidentiality as outlined in California Penal Code section 293.5. (a),” Hernandez wrote to Anand. “Her identity will continue to remain confidential throughout the criminal investigation being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department.“The ability to offer anonymity to victims of sex crimes is an invaluable investigative aid to investigators as well as a great comfort to victims of crimes of such a sensitive nature.”As noted by Think Progress, Rose’s attorney had previously alleged that Anand was lying about an active criminal investigation “in order to extort a settlement from Rose.”
A year ago at this time, Derrick Rose addressed the situation, and maintained his innocence.
“It’s not true,” Rose said. “I can’t let one incident that’s not true affect the way that I live, and I’m not going to let it. I love my life actually, so I can’t complain about anything. I’ve just got to take this, use it as fuel and the season is around the corner.”
Chicago Bulls front office leaders Gar Forman and John Paxson were asked today about the Derrick Rose legal situation. Forman said it was strictly a basketball decision to part ways with Rose while Paxson said that he wasn’t privy to any advance knowledge of the sexual assault case involving Rose.
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Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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