ENVY ME

The others fell as Derrick Rose.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

Nothing is stronger then the passion of the Rose...OK, it's over! You can can all that 'whose the best Point Guard in the L right now' off. Sure the Deron Williams/Chris Paul debate will rage even for years after they unlace and unstrap their ankles and sure in this new generation Rajon Rondo is the truer, purer point. Still, as of right now nobody in the league is better then Derrick Rose. No Kobe, no LeBron, nobody. Sure tomorrow is a different, new playoff day and yesterday may have told a different story but right now the National Basketball Association's 'Most Valuable Player' wears a Chicago Bulls jersey that doesn't carry the 3, or the 2. Instead this remainders number one in more ways then his jersey number. Point proven? Right now D-Rose is better then everybody in the league. After all that's what the awards for.

MOST

This Rose may not have grown from the concrete of a playground like other P.G. legends but you best believe you are watching a lasting legacy bloom in this league. Sure talent-wise Rose is only a thorn in the sides of Bryant and James, but still who's having the better year? OK, unquestionable 'Rookie Of The Year', Blake Griffin may have garnered more eyes, wows, league passes and replays, but don't say that Derrick's breakaway plays and two-handed flushes aren't entertaining...'aint that right Boston? Talking green, their guard Rajon Rondo may posses more basketball quarterback skills but Derrick's grid-iron play more then makes up for this, plus D's got the buckets of water wet jumpers that Rondo often can't find in the drought. Sure Rajon's Celtics, James' Heat and even more talent in the West effect things championship wise for the stampeding Chicago Bulls, but don't be surprised if this grown team ends up making the competition looking like matadors with Derrick leading the charge seeing red and championship gold. You can almost here another Chicago legend from another game, Kanye West exclaiming, 'can we get much higher'.

VALUABLE

25.1 points per game, 4.10 rebounds, 7.8 assists to go with 1.10 steals and even higher playoff averages are incredible for any player (let alone a Point Guard) but know this, Derrick's worth is more then numbers. So over the years and lack of champagne tears these 'Baby Bulls' have had some teething problems but their all grown now. A taste of Curry and the Ron Artest and Jalen Rose eras birthed potential, but now Chi-town has planted the one Rose that refuses to let this franchise wilt. The Jordan years are over no matter how much this franchise or this league misses the G.O.A.T. but still these Bulls have a new animal now. A lion-hearted, shy cat, courageous but humble. A Point Guard wizard outside of Washington (word to the one that outruns cheetah's) who leaves opponents looking like scarecrow and tin men, taking his team up the NBA's yellow brick road. There's no place like Chicago. There's nobody like Rose. The Windy Cities first MVP and real franchise guy since Jordan is putting the air back into the United Centre building. It could be a banner year for the ballclub. Now nobody can doubt his worth.

PLAYER

Luol Deng may have been the catalyst, top scorer and Chicago's player of the future, and Joakim Noah brought his enthusiasm and cut down nets to be the most passionate player in the league. While Carlos Boozer was the top free-agent, Rasheed Wallace to Detroit Pistons esque, team completing steal but everything starts, ends and goes through Derrick Rose. With all overdue respect to these other top-tier talents this franchise leader is Derrick. He's more then the glue of this team, he's the sealant. Word is bond. When the best all-round player in the league Kobe Bryant was named MVP a couple of 82's Back rapper Lil' Wayne honoured him in a song and just like the Lakers mamba, Chicago's Rose never "takes a day or a J off"... or even a play off for that matter guiding the leagues most diversely talented and underrated team to the big leagues.

From music stars to movie ones Rose is gaining an entourage of high profile fans, just check actor and basketball aficionado Jeremy Piven's Tweet yesterday; 'A Rose by any other name is NOT MVP! Go my brother, now take flight....' All sorts of ballers love this b-baller and from the rap sheets to the broadsheets this one-time publicity shy guy is the headline. Check any magazine, front-cover to the back Adidas adverts, Derrick is in and published. Bookending the fact that right now-from the fans to the competition-Derrick Rose owns everything. The NBA's most-high and valuable commodity. A Point Guard of past, current and the next generation to come. One hell of a player. The youngest MVP in NBA history is about to be one of the greatest.