I use text to convey simple messages to family and friends in order to find out when they get out of work, if they want me to pick up any groceries on my way back home, and so on.
Derrick Rose apparently felt that would be enough to ensure LeBron James would want to sign with the Chicago Bulls last summer:
Rose sent James a text. First reported in an article in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, Rose confirmed Wednesday that he remembers the text reading: "I'm just hitting you up to kill all the rumors that I don't want to play with you. I'd like to play with you. I just want to win." Of course, a few days later James joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. The decision surprised Rose, who over the summer said James coming to Chicago seemed like a "no-brainer."Apparently it was such a no-brainer that Rose couldn't bother to actually call up LeBron and talk with him. Better yet because you owe it to your franchise, teammates and diehard fanbase to get up and fly to wherever James is and meet him to personally convey how much you want him to be a part of a championship run. Nope, a simple text devoid of any substance or emotion should be enough to get the two-time MVP to want to join. Rose has enjoyed the kind of nonstop positive media coverage that James used to have, most of it stemming coincidently because they were drafted by their hometown team. But Rose, like Kevin Durant, is also praised because of his humble personality that is devoid of any, well, actual personality. Even his commercials don't require to say actual words. This is all well and good (and certainly Rose has played very well this season) but in this case it was a huge detriment to the Bulls recruitment to James. Look at what Dwyane Wade did to woo all the free agents to come to Miami. He didn't text James and Bosh, sit back in his sofa and wait for them to sign on the dotted line. The man was an extension of Pat Riley, affording Wade all the access to LeBron and Bosh to help answer any questions they might have about the Heat organization and get in their ear how it could work playing together. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo had already reported back in January that Rose sent a text, but the contents of the message were not known. Put aside the romanticization that Rose didn't need LeBron because he felt he was good enough to make the Bulls better, or however you want to spin it so Rose comes out smelling like roses. Just look at the facts. Wade succeeded for his team, Rose failed. Will Bulls fans or the media chastise him over this? Probably not, he's a really humble, down-to-earth guy so it's okay.