The difference between the media coverage of the separate sexual-assault accusations against Patrick Kane and Derrick Rose has been one of decibel level.
Kane’s case has been eardrum piercing. Rose’s has been a relative whisper.
Why? All sorts of reasons. The Bulls star’s injury woes have driven the city crazy the past several years, but he hasn’t been in any serious trouble off the court. Fans might not be able to square the accusations with the player they think they know.
The Blackhawks star, meanwhile, has a well-documented run-in with a cab driver in his past, and his party boy adventures have been public for a long time.
No charges have been filed against Kane, but his case was serious from the beginning. A woman had accused him of sexual assault in early August after he allegedly had taken her to his Hamburg, N.Y., home. An investigation continues.
The case against Rose is a civil suit, and it was filed last month. A former girlfriend accuses Rose and two of his friends of sexually assaulting her two years ago. His spokeswoman has called the suit a money grab by the accuser.
“I will be proven innocent,” Rose said Monday at the Bulls’ media day. “It’s not true. This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was just working out every day and spending time with my son.’’
Then there’s the timing of the two cases. The Blackhawks are coming off another championship. The Stanley Cup was due to visit Buffalo, Kane’s hometown, a few days after news broke of a police investigation. One of the best players on the planet accused of sexual assault less than two months after a third championship in the past six seasons? That’s a national story.
Injuries have cost Rose some of his Q rating. Add to that the fact that the NBA is dead in August, and you had a story that lasted a day or two and went away.
Kane’s story, on the other hand, won’t stay quiet.
