Derrick Rose wins MVP

There's a certain storybook quality to Derrick Rose. Hometown prodigy grows up in the shadows of the great Jordan/Pippen/Jackson Chicago Bulls dynasty. Shielded by his family from all the harms of his neighborhood, and all the harms from outside his neighborhood, he leaves for one year of college before coming home to lead his hometown franchise back to greatness.

We've all heard the story before, especially Bulls fans. But the story is far from over, and the best chapter thus far was written today as Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history.

Many thought Rose lost his damn mind when he asked "Why can't I be MVP?" prior to the season, but what many, including myself, didn't realize is that Rose works as hard as any NBA player in the league to be the best at what he does. And while he had many detractors and haters, for lack of a more flattering word, his performances more often than not trumped any talk of him being "inefficient" or "overrated".

Stat-heads like to throw around his field goal percentage and "PER". However, the only stats that matter more than any other are these: 25, 7 and 4. And most importantly, 62-20. Those were enough to give him the MVP.

If you were able to catch his acceptance speech, you witnessed (not you, LeBron) what makes this man, as Gar Foreman said, a "better man than he is a basketball player". Rose thanked his teammates, fans, management, trainer, agent, friends and family, and last but not least his mother and of course, God. When thanking his mother, you can see the admiration he had for what she has done for he and his family. The most refreshing aspect of the speech may very well have been how genuine he was. No note cards, no constant smiling at the camera, no bravado. Just Derrick Rose being Derrick Rose.

Thus ends this chapter titled "MVP". Next chapter being written might be "Championship".