Derrick Rose is getting slaughtered for something he said, and it's just not fair

Derrick Rose has sat out some games this season as he comes back from knee surgeries and recuperates from ankle sprains. These quotes stated the dust-up:

"A lot of people don't understand that when I sit out it's not because of this year — I'm thinking long term,'' Rose said. "I'm thinking about after I'm done with basketball, having graduations to go to, having meetings to go to. I don't want to be in my meetings all sore or be at my son's graduation all sore just because of something I did in the past. Just learning and being smart."

From there, people lost their minds because, as they see it, athletes signed up for playing with aches and pains they know can stay with them for life. Not only that, his comments sent a wrong message to a team of gamers who gut it out everyday, long-term injuries be damn. The Chicago Tribune ripped him. His coach and teammates had to come out in support of Rose.

What a bunch of crap. Rose has been a gamer his entire career. When he's healthy, he plays as hard as anyone in the game —- just look at him when he slashes to the basket and throws his body around. I don't think any real fan expects any athlete to sacrifice their future health for the sake of a game. That's why the outcry isn't at all fair.