Derrick Rose: Chicago Bulls' Star Risks It All in DUI Police Stop

Athletes are not the brightest of people. That is the gross assumption I have been trying to avoid, but I am proved right in my assessment time and again.

The latest proof? TMZ Sports reported that Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose was involved in a DUI stop in Hollywood, Calif. at 2:00 a.m. Friday morning. 

The Sad Tale 

First thing, Rose was not the driver. We have to applaud Rose for one thing—and one thing only—he was not drinking and driving. The report doesn't go into whether Rose was intoxicated, but anytime we can congratulate an athlete for not drinking and driving, we take it. 

However, Rose's personal assistant and close friend Randall Hampton was behind the wheel. The two played high school basketball together, and were out gallivanting Thursday night.

Police officers pulled the BMW over in the early morning and allegedly smelled alcohol on Hampton. After tests, they brought Hampton in on DUI charges. Rose was free to go. 

The Sad Truth

I will temper a complete derision of Rose to say that his actions Friday morning were merely stupid. Hampton may have had one drink and seemed perfectly fine as a driver. 

That is not what digs at me. What is really aggravating is all these athletes that make their best buddies their personal assistants. 

If you are rich and need a driver to take you around town to party and carry on, don't make it your friend. That's the easiest way to get in trouble. Instead of staying sober and taking you home, you end up partying with the man who is supposed to be your designated driver—an idiotic decision. 

Rose has enough money to include Hampton in his entourage and hire a responsible driver that will merely be that—a personal driver, not a friend, not a drinking buddy, but a driver. 

A novel idea, I know. You would never hire a personal chef, then watch his performance suffer from drinking on the job.

So don't hire a driver that drinks. And if Hampton and Rose were prepared to have a good time, then they have more than enough cash to hire a driver for the night. Or take a cab. I'm sure Cash Cab would be more than happy to pay D-Rose's fare.

The great thing about being rich is that you have the solutions we mere mortals do not. It seems you don't have the brains cells to figure it all out though.