This past Wednesday, Derrick Rose scored a career high of 50 points against the Utah Jazz. Derrick Rose has had a rough career in the national basketball association. He was the youngest MVP in the history of the league at the age of 22, but had a major leg injury in December of 2011.

He was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs and did not appear in an NBA game in the 2012 to 2013 season. In 2013, he suffered a tear in his right knee meniscus and was ruled out for the rest of the season. In February of 2014, he informed the media that he required another surgery and was ruled out indefinitely. During preseason of the 2015 to 2016 season, he suffered a left orbital bone fracture and required a face mask.  On June 22, 2016, Rose was traded to the New York Knicks, and in 2017, he once again suffered a knee injury and was ruled out for another season. Rose was then acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but left the team to “re-evaluate his future in the NBA”. He was then acquired by the Jazz via trade and was let go by the team.

In March of 2018, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. At this point, no one believed he’d be the caliber player he was in his earlier years ever again. After his 50 point outburst, there was an incredible out-pour of love from not only the sports media, but other players within the league. Many talking about how he’s come back from so much struggle and adversity and how this was his big comeback moment. However, there’s a very important detail I left out of the Derrick Rose saga.

In 2013, Derrick Rose was accused of drugging and gang-raping a woman in her home in Beverly Hills California. The woman was drugged earlier in the night, but claims she vividly remembers Rose as one of the assailants. When asked in court, “Do you have an understanding as to the word consent” Rose replied, “No. But can you tell me”. The case was dismissed and Rose was acquitted. After the hearing, while jury members gleefully took pictures with Rose, the presiding judge wished him well, “Except when the Knicks play the Lakers”.

The case is currently under appeal. Do you see the problem here? Guilty or not, using someone rape allegations as fodder for some comeback story is completely and utterly unacceptable. It is just normalizing rape culture in a community that has been known to sweep things like that under the rug.

Lebron James was quoted saying “Any kid that’s going through anything… you can look at that derrick rose performance… that’s why our game is so unbelievable.. even when a superhero’s knocked down he’s still a superhero and derrick rose showed why he’s still a superhero”. A SUPERHERO. Someone children should look up to!!! It’s just absolutely bizarre that someone who has been accused of such terrible things can be held up as this story of triumph.