Derrick Rose Appears in Photo Flashing a Gang Sign, Apologizes

Posted Jun 12, 2009 6:36PM By Brett Pollakoff (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Bulls

This photo has been making the internet rounds over the past few days, and it features a younger Derrick Rose flashing what appears to be some sort of gang sign.

Gang signs and professional athletes, as you might imagine, don't mix very well. Especially if you're the multi-million dollar organization, or the multi-billion dollar league that employs the athlete in question. Quite simply, it's bad PR, which in turn is bad for business.

That's why Rose issued a statement apologizing for his appearance in the photo, even though it's pretty clear after reading it that he (in all likelihood) had absolutely nothing to do with drawing it up.

"This photo of me was taken at a party I attended in Memphis while I was in school there, and was meant as a joke ... a bad one, I now admit. I want to emphatically state, now and forever, that Derrick Rose is anti-gang, anti-drug, and anti-violence. I am not, nor have I ever been, affiliated with any gang and I can't speak loudly enough against gang violence, and the things that gangs represent.

"In posing for this picture, I am guilty of being young, naive and of using extremely poor judgment. I sincerely apologize to all my fans for my mistake. I pride myself on being a good citizen, and role model, that young people can look up to and I want to urge all my young fans to stay away from gangs and gang-related activities."

Anyone who has spoken to Rose in person, or has seen him interviewed on television knows that these are probably not his words. They might be his words translated by a member of the Bulls' media relations staff or legal team, but this is too tightly-written and all-inclusive to come from a 20-year-old player that has just come into the league.

There's nothing wrong with that of course, but the whole thing is kind of ridiculous. It's clear that the NBA and/or the Bulls organization were simply covering their [backsides] by issuing this statement on Rose's behalf, but in all honesty, it's a shame it was even necessary.

Rose is a spectacular player who's going to be one of the faces of the league in the very near future, so obviously the NBA can't have sponsors turning on him based on this "image" that a single, slightly aged photo is depicting. But issuing a statement like this saying that Rose is against, well, pretty much anything that is bad just seems like an overreaction, and an insincere one at that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-12-2009 @ 7:00PM

Martin said...

Especially unlikely that those are his words because he reportedly had someone else take his SAT test. Photos like this undo all of the PR dollars spent by the NBA about how it cares.

6-12-2009 @ 7:15PM

Dave D. said...

You left off the part where it was co-signed by every male college student who's had their photo taken while drunk in the past 20 years.

6-12-2009 @ 8:59PM

joy1038 said...

So, he is the Rookie of the Year? Great role model, as are most of the "really good" athletes.
When he is burned out and broke, his children will all be in gangs and can support him in style.

8-14-2009 @ 3:53PM

James Seahorn III said...

Dats not even cool

6-12-2009 @ 11:08PM

Bryan said...

who cares.

6-13-2009 @ 12:10AM

jonathan said...

get over yourself pollok. it's a damn picture from college and nothing else. i get tired of you self rightious pencil necked bloggers who never played a sport, making a big deal over nothing. Rose has never been in any trouble and that's all that matters. BTW, you are no more "sincere" than Rose is with your obvious agenda. I'm surprised you didn't copmpare him to OJ or Michael Vick you two bit wannabe journalist.

6-13-2009 @ 4:19AM

YO jawsh said...

U think as a yid and my afro friend and I beleive that for one fakachta ******* second give us jews and negros a break. there is a scientific reason why jews luv kesiv and white girls luv negros... I must remain confidential all i can say I work and do research at the Mao clinic in rochester. basically our research has identified that 90% of white females that graduated from 2001-2008 hsve had intercourse with at least 1 afronegro male. given 59& white alpha males have had relations with 38% white females. Not that this research really means anything to the students at brown but it was done. thank you to mtv,bet,and brown university.

6-13-2009 @ 6:18AM

demzrdopes said...

can't pass his SAT, but he can gang sign with the best of 'em. perfect..

6-13-2009 @ 7:10AM

dmtrsh said...

people get over it..that was 15-20yrs. ago his has not been in any trouble and we all have held up some kind of hand sign in our life time especially if your'e over forty such as myself. remember back in the mid 60's there was the "Black Power" fist sign, also the "peace" hand sign, then the late 70's and early 80's it was the "hang 10" hand sign. and when i attended florida state back in 79-81 hell there were all kinds of hand signs especially at party. now my daughter attends san diego state univ. and i have seen all kinds of hand signs taken from photos of her sorority sisters. so its just out fun. the boy again hasn't been in any trouble so pls let it fly. i should know i'm employed by the best law enforcement agency in country. buy the way...it looks like the younger one is holding up a "playboy" bunny sign. just kids i've delt with worse Believe Me!

6-13-2009 @ 9:48AM

An. said...

I think people really like to blow things out of proportion, especially when it comes to athletes. This thing happened when he was in college. Now, ask yourselves and be honest: did you ever do anything dumb during your college days? Don't lie and be honest. So stop blaming athletes blah blah blah for a stupid little pic taken in college. Lots of regular people do this kind of signs but I doubt you blame them.

Like I said, it happened when he was in college, not during his Bulls career. So cut him some slack.

6-13-2009 @ 10:50AM

John Butler said...

I'm from chicago and people throw up forks for GDN which was what he did and are not in the gang... not that its right but he was prolly just drunk and did it, i think everything in the statement was true tho

6-13-2009 @ 3:50PM

skobexx24 said...

who cares just 1 gang sign

6-13-2009 @ 7:53PM

you act like this was just a profoundly intelligent speech the biggest word he used was emphatically... i could write and read this statement before going to high school let alone after my first year of college

6-22-2009 @ 9:45AM

Andi said...

Coming from Chicago what do you expect? The reason he is alive is to support his gang. The gang protected their interest and now it's paying off. Kinda like Stoudamire who is from Portland and played for the TrailBlazer. Gang member all the way and the NBA knew it. I can't handle the "following" aspect. I could not follow dumb leaders and wear my pants around my kness. I would draw my sign on a piece of paper and pull it out when I needed to. I would put POW and BANG on a piece of paper and show it to rival gang bangers during a brawl. Nobody dies and I don't catch a murder case. Be smart before you go to prison. I do my dirt alone, gang members are known to Snitch in a heartbeat. Most people are followers. They follow themselves right into prison. How dumb is that? Flash yo signs Rose, be like Pierce of the Celtics. The NBA can't do a thing about it. Follow those idiots, follow those idiots. Atleast you can afford and expensive coffin. You don't need a college degree to get in a gang. Just being a "follower" will do. Don't take pictures, they help the police solve cases. STU-P-I-D.

6-23-2009 @ 7:16PM

callmepooter said...

This is just stupid. Funky azz reporters always trying to blow something out of proportion. He's at a party having fun, maybe drinking, just hanging out. So what he throws up a so called "gang sign". What gang is it? How do you know its a gang sign? Does this mean he is in a gang or supports gang activity? How dumb!! Who hasnt been wildn out and did something crazy? Are you a disgrace now for having fun, acting silly, etc.... Find something worth while reporting. Even if its not his words, he is probably wondering why he has to explain his self to ignorant people who have blown harmless fun wwwwaaaaayyyy out of proportion.

8-14-2009 @ 3:54PM

Im not a meat rider but yal wrong

8-14-2009 @ 3:55PM

Dats wat im talkin bout