In a normal circumstance, a professional athlete with flair or a borderline obnoxious amount of confidence is welcomed and appreciated because it adds to the entertainment level of sports (i.e. Deion Sanders, Dennis Rodman, Joakim Noah).
Also, as a kid on the court or field, trash talking and cocky comments made all opponents play harder because the talker wanted to defend his statement and the listener had an inner desire to shut him or her up. These components made for an almost pro level atmosphere on a definite amateur scale.
Then there are times when players need to be quiet and let their performances speak for themselves.
The Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose claimed he is the best player the NBA has to offer in a 90-second rapid fire interview with CNN last week. The question was “Who is the best player in the NBA?” and Rose quickly answered Derrick Rose.
As a huge Chicago Bulls fan who has followed every Rose take to the basket or clutch shot to close out a game in the fourth quarter, it was a good feeling to hear the Bulls’ superstar still has concrete-like confidence in his abilities after tearing his ACL in Game 1 of the first round in the 2012 playoffs.
However, as a realist, there is no reason or right (I guess there is this thing called the First Amendment) Rose has to say he is the best in the league when he hasn’t done anything to prove it. The man missed an entire year of basketball, even when Chicago could have been a real threat to the eventual champs, the Miami Heat, in the semifinals if he would have suited up. He was medically cleared, but didn’t want to play if he wasn’t at his best.
aBrandedChance 