The Official Site of Derrick Rose

Sat, May 9th 2009, 12:28

Rose drops the puck at Blackhawks Game 4

The NBA Playoffs might be over for Derrick Rose and the Bulls, but the postseason lives on at the United Center.

On Thursday, the rookie point guard found a way to take part as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in overtime of Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinals to even the series at 2-2. Rose was on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck, an honor previously enjoyed by some of Chicago’s biggest sports figures, including Bobby Hull, Mike Ditka and Jay Cutler.

“I wish I could play hockey right now,” said Rose, who joined a sellout crowd of 22,685 to take in his first hockey game. “The crowd is so into it; they give you that feeling like you want to go out there and play. During that anthem, that’s about as loud as a crowd can get. Fans in this city are great.”

But has Rose ever actually played?

“No, I’ve never tried… I can barely skate.”

Rose didn’t get to meet many of the Blackhawks players during pregame—he said he wanted to let them focus—but he’s well aware of right wing Patrick Kane, another 20-year old who has been integral to his franchise’s resurgence. Kane was also selected with the first overall pick in the draft when the Blackhawks took him in 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Last summer, Kane received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie (teammate Jonathan Toews was second).

Between, Rose, Kane, and Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, three of major sports’ reigning rookies of the year play for Chicago teams.

“God must’ve had something to do with that,” said Rose. “We’re all really lucky and hopefully it’s a bright future for all the teams in the city.”

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