Reporter questions Derrick Rose over 'I Can't Breathe' shirt, thinks NBA player is inarticulate
You knew that it wouldn’t take long before someone of note would be critical of Derrick Rose after wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt during last night’s warm up before the Chicago Bulls’ game against the Golden State Warriors.
Dan Bernstein, a prominent sports radio host, took to Twitter last night and expressed that he doesn’t think that Rose “understands what he’s doing” and even if he did, isn’t articulate enough to explain himself. Cody Westerlund, a sports editor for CBSChicago.com, noted that Rose was not available for comments after the game.
The point guard was paying a tribute to Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who was choked to death by an NYPD officer. “I can’t breathe” were the last words uttered by Garner and have become a rallying cry for protestors across the nation. On Wednesday, a Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choking death of the 43-year-old.
https://twitter.com/Steve_OS/status/541394841348100096/photo/1
While many loved Rose’s on-the-court salute to Garner and the countless protestors of police brutality across the nation, Bernstein seemed to take a condescending tone towards Rose’s gesture. The sports news veteran started off by giving Rose credit for doing “something Michael Jordan has never had the guts to do.”
“He took a political stand — more important than any game’s outcome,” he said. However, his praise of Rose was muddled by his following tweets, which seemed to question the basketball player’s intelligence and ability to speak for himself.
I just wish @drose could talk, or really understands what he's doing. I don't think he does, but he deserves to be treated as if so.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) December 7, 2014
It's this: If @drose felt strongly and deeply enough to make that statement, He should be able to say why. We can only hope, but I doubt.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) December 7, 2014
The Chicago-based reporter received blowback from his tweets, none perhaps more poignant than from Jamilah Lemieux, the senior editor of EBONY.com.
This is the most insulting, racist and uninformed commentary you could make. Kudos to you. @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
You are referring to a 26 year old man, not a child, nor a '40 million dollar slave' who must play and be silent @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
He is also a Black man from the South Side of Chicago, if he 'understands' ANYTHING, it's police violence @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
Furthermore, at every stage of his career, from Simeon to the league, he has talked about the crisis in his community @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
Which, YOU, as a Chicago-based journo, should know. Because you cover him. @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
What does he need to explain about "I can't breathe?"Perhaps it is you who does not understand things. @dan_bernstein @drose
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
This is a classic derailment tool, btw. "If you can explain your stance in way that satisfies me, it is not valid."@dan_bernstein
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 7, 2014
Rose isn’t the first in professional sports to show support for the latest movement against police brutality against black men. Last Sunday, five players from the St. Louis Rams came onto the field with the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture. They were honoring Michael Brown and protesting the decision of the Ferguson grand jury not to indict the officer who killed him. The St. Louis County Police Officers Association demanded that the NFL and the Rams apologize, but both refused to do so.
