From Chicago SIMEON Career ACADEMY .......to MEMPHIS University TIGERS........to the #1 Overall Pick in 2008.....Meet NBA MVP Derrick "POOH" ROSE

We all have had dreams of being this or being that and when we were KIDS we really thought that's what we were going to do when we grew up. No Matter where your from, race, sex, and/or religion........You wanted to be that Pro Athlete....or that Policeman.....Fireman........DOCTOR........or Entrepenuer.........I just say to yourself..........I know I am going to be someone someday.

Well the KId from one of the roughest areas in the city of CHICAGO, the ENGLEWOOD Neighborhood, said he was going to play for the BULLS one day.........and not only is he playing for the BULLS........he is following in the footsteps of one Michael JORDAN and SCOTTIE PIPPEN.......as one of the greatest to lace'em up for the BULLS.

The youngest of 4 boys, Derrick being the youngest, after REGGIE, DeWAYNE, and ALLAN, Brenda ROSE raised these young men through some tough times and the toughest was the Streets and Area that they called home. Derrick was always looked after by his older brothers as they already knew the lay of the Land in their neighborhood.


Although his 3 brothers were all talented KIDS DERRICK was by far the one that had to make it. As all of his brothers kept a careful EYE on their talented young brother.....Derrick was the most sought after 8th grader in Years in the WINDY CITY. AT 5'11" he then enrolled at Powerhouse SIMEON CAREER ACADEMY on the South Side of CHI CITY and played for the Late LEGEND Bob HAMBRIC.

PLAYERS out of SIMEON were the LATE GREAT Benji WILSON, Nick ANDERSON (ORLANDO MAGIC), Deon THOMAS (DALLAS MAVERICKS), Bobby SIMMONS ( Milwaukee BUCKS), and Bryant NOTREE among others. A rich tradition and Coach HAMBRIC had a RULE.....NO FRESHMAN ON VARSITY NO MATTER WHAT.

Derrick ran with the Freshman team and SIMEON won The All-CITY Championship for Freshman and Sophomores. Then the next season Coach HAMBRIC retires and enter Current Head COach Robert SMITH........and as he entered so did one DERRICK ROSE who was then labeled as a SOPHOMORE...the best PLAYER In the CITY and the STATE of ILLINOIS.

Derrick led the WOLVERINES to 2 Straight City Championships and STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS on his way to being Mr. BASKETBALL in the STATE of ILLINOIS as well as a TOP 5 National RANKING in all publications.

I, the BLUEDUDE, remembers vividly Derrick's Senior Year when the Powerhouse and Famous OAK HILL ACADEMY of VIRGINIA came to the WINDY CITY with the a TOP 5 National Ranking, along with SIMEON being TOP 5 Nationally as well, and a Fabulous backcourt of then Senior NOLAN SMITH DUKE All- American and 2010-11 ACC Player of the YEAR and one JUNIOR BRANDON JENNINGS 2008 McDONALD'S All-AMerican and a Top 10 Consensus National Player....and DERRICK did not disappoint as he handled that back court and the rest of OAK HILL for a huge W and after that game that's when Derrick "POOH" ROSE had arrived as one of the Best Chicago High School Players of all-time.

He then took his talents to MEMPHIS and Coach JOHN CALIPARI after and intense battle between them and the University of ILLINOIS. He led the TIGERS all the way to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME only to come up short vs the KANSAS JAYHAWKS and then that BIG Decsision came.......AM I ONE AND DONE?.......you DAMN RIGHT you are.

The #1 Overall PLAYER selected in the 2008 NBA DRAFT with the HOMETOWN BULLS getting the selection it was a no-brainer as they selected D ROSE #1 over Kansas STATE'S Michael "B-EASY" BEASLEY.

I think the BULLS knew what they were getting........a humble young man whose upbringing paved the way for this GINORMOUS Opportunity in the NBA and playing for his hometown. DID the BULLS think that ROSE would be LEAGUE MVP in 3 YEARS?..........NO......Did BULLS players think that DERRICK would eventually get to be MVP?........NO DOUBT. As Teammate LUOL DENG put it on Channel 7 Chicago News Today," He IS SUCH A HUMBLE KID WHO WORKS ON HIS GAME WITH NO ABANDON AND PUTS THE TYPE OF WORK IN THAT EXUDES SUPERSTAR", I am just glad he is on our side.

ROSE edged out Orlando MAGIC'S Superman DWIGHT HOWARD by an overwhelming amount of votes and DERRICK became the Youngest NBA MVP Ever at 22 years of age in the HISTORY of the NBA.

Although there is some work to be done in the 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS........Derrick ROSE will hopefully lead the BULLS to the PROMISE land more than once.....and as ADIDAS would put it (Derrick ROSE is an ADIDAS ENDORSEE check out his shoe he is wearing now ADIZERO by D ROSE)....." IT TAKES 5".....well ADIDAS and CHI CITY........IT TOOK 1......as in PLAYER #1 DERRICK "POOH" ROSE.

CONGRATS FROM THE BLUEDUDE SPORTSTALK....you earned it.