Mix of video clips from the Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls game on 3/6/11 as well as the post game press conference where Eric Spoelstra stated that “there are a couple guys crying in the locker room right now.” What a horrible thing for a coach to say! Thibodeau would NEVER say something like that. I bet he gets fired at the end of this season. What an idiot.

To most everyone else, he’s Derrick Rose, All-Star guard for the Chicago Bulls and MVP candidate.

To Brenda, he’s a 22-year-old who still needs a mother’s care after a doctor recently diagnosed Rose with two painful stomach ulcers. She stayed at his house for three days, making sure her baby was OK. “I was wishing I could take the pain from him and put it on me,” she says.

To most everyone else, Rose is the superstar who had 22 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in a victory against the Orlando Magic— having barely eaten or had liquids in four days because of the ulcers. “You want to be great, you fight through the pain,” he says.

• AUDIO PHOTO GALLERY: Derrick Rose in his own words

• THURSDAY: Rose’s career-high 42 leads Bulls past Spurs

Playing without center Joakim Noah and new Bulls forward Carlos Boozer for extended stretches, Rose has kept Chicago near the top of the Eastern Conference with his outstanding play. Chicago was 37-16 through Wednesday, third in the East, 2½ games behind the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Averaging career highs of 24.5 points, 8.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds with a flair for producing daily highlights, Rose has put his name in the MVP conversation in his third season.

The wins, statistics and leadership prompted TNT analyst Charles Barkley to say Rose is the best point guard in the NBA and the leader for MVP.

“If anything, it makes you feel good about yourself knowing that your hard work is paying off and people are putting you in the discussions,” Rose says. “It takes a lot of work, especially to come out and say you want to be (MVP, which he did in October). It put a lot of pressure on me, but pressure makes me play better.”

• ALL-STAR ROSTERS: Starters and reserves for Sunday’s game

• POWER RANKINGS: Spurs on top; Bulls hold steady at No. 5

Rose’s “Why can’t I be MVP of the league?” surprised some.

“I was like ‘Whoa, is he crazy? Who says that?’ ” Noah says. “Right now, he’s in that position. That’s how confident he is in his ability. I know at the end of the day he’s one of the reasons why I work, because I know in the summer how much work he puts in. And I have to do the same.”

Shortly after becoming Bulls coach in June, former Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau worked late at the practice facility watching video and learning about his personnel. He often heard the ball bouncing in the gym. After a few days, he stopped checking to see who it was.

“The actions told me more than anything else,” Thibodeau says. “When you’re sitting on an opposing bench, you obviously see the talent but what you don’t see is the drive. You don’t see the humility, and you don’t see how important winning is because you don’t know him.”

(more…)

My favorite is the guy in the field .. this video is great. Our words are everything. Have integrity and be person of your word. What’s done is done. It’s too late, LeBron.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says the NBA should examine how free agents LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade all ended up with the Miami Heat.

Cuban tells a group of reporters at the NBA’s summer league in Las Vegas that he intends to ask the league’s Board of Governors to inquire about the situation.

According to a story posted on the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s website Sunday, Cuban says the league needs to develop more definitive rules governing the issue of player tampering.

NBA owners are scheduled to meet Monday in Las Vegas and I think they should! It takes so much away from the sport. Jordan never would have done what LeBron did and that’s why LeBron will never be as great as Jordan. Jordan was a true champion. Through blood, sweat, and tears he fought his way to the top showing no mercy upon anyone that stood in his way. He didn’t manipulate his way into championship after champion ship. He was that great! He wanted it and he took it!

Wade, Bosh, and LeBron were planning this all along. I believe that. They wanted to play together and plotted it. Wade coming to Chicago twice was just to cover it up. I think their whole act of “it’s so hard to make a decision” was nothing but that, an act. All for show! They knew exactly where they were going. It’s such bs*.

Then now they say.. “We didn’t realize it was possible.” What do you mean???!?!!??? Everyone knew it was like 3 months ago. Miami had money to resign Wade and 2 max free agents. Just no one believed LeBron would play behind Wade. So what do you mean you didn’t realize it was possible!! You shady liars!

LeBron asking Bosh to come to the Cavaleirs was another cover up. Bosh says no ..it’s all from there little circle so easy to manipulate the system and make it all seem real. And Wade’s comment on the radio right after him and Bosh announcing their joining the Heat, “Get your tickets now everyone. It’s gonna be a crazy year!” Although it seems normal he would say that but it was out of no where. They played the whole country and made a mockery of the NBA.

It really makes my stomach turn. I wish they could get busted but I don’t see how they will. Even if they could get busted what would the NBA do? Pull Bosh & James from the Heat? NO. Kick em out of the NBA? NO. Slap em on the wrist and give them a fine? NO. I mean what would really happen? NOTHING. It’s good for ratings to have a team like that so the NBA will look the other way.

They played it right.