Youngest MVP in the history of the NBA: Derrick Rose

As has been the assumption for over a month now, Derrick Rose is the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player. Rose collected 113 votes for 1st place, compiling 1,182 total points.

Dwight Howard was a distant 2nd-place with 643 points. LeBron James had 522 points, good for 3rd place. Kobe Bryant came in 4th place with 428 votes.

"I think it's great. I think he's very well deserving. I think it's a situation where everybody knows it's his. It's not like somebody else deserves it," said Joakim Noah. "It's for him and I'm happy for him, but there's really no time to celebrate it right now. We're in a dogfight against Atlanta!"

Rose will get the Maurice Prodoloff MVP Trophy at a presentation during Wednesday's playoff game against the Hawks.

He is the first Bull to win Most Valuable Player since none other than Michael Jordan in 1998 - the last of his 5 MVP's.

Did #1 deserve the MVP? Were you surprised the vote wasn't even close?

Melissa Isaacson has more on ESPN-Chicago.

Post your thoughts in the "comments" section below.

Binti Jua - Daughter of Sunshine - Still a Hero

Binti Jua – the Gorilla Hero of Brookfield Zoo in suburban Chicago – had a physical this week. Vets at the Zoo put her under anesthesia while they conducted a battery of tests – which is done every other year.

Binti Jua’s reputation preceeds her, having saved a 4-year old boy back in 1996.

On August 16, 1996, Binti was in her enclosure when a 4-year old boy fell 18-feet onto a concrete area separating the Gorillas from zoo visitors. The unconscious child lay on the ground – while spectators screamed in horror – sure the Gorilla would kill the boy.

Instead, like the Mother she’d just become, Binti scooped up the child, patted him on the back and then took him an entrance where Zoo personnel could collect the child.

He spent 4 days in the hospital and was released. And Binti became a national treasure.

Binti Jua's name means "Daughter of Sunshine" in Swahili.

Binti Jua – Animal Hero: http://bit.ly/f1EF5l
Binti Jua Checkup: http://bit.ly/gG8pA4

Video of Binti Jua at her home in Brookield Zoo: