Recently, this picture of Derrick Rose throwing up Gangster Disciples signs surfaced. No one knows how old it is. No one knows who he’s with, or why he’s throwing up signs. However, this isn’t one of those Paul Pierce is-he-or-isn’t-he things, where we’re not sure if he’s throwing up signs. He is. And really, it’s not terribly surprising that something like this would happen.
It’s common knowledge that there’s a very big gang structure in Chicago, particularly on the South Side where Rose grew up. In fact, checking back on an old Byron Crawford post, we find this:
Every single aritst, athelete and business that made it is sponsored by the gangs(mainly BD’s) and they all have to give a cut of their money. [sic]
That whole post is hearsay, obviously, but it’s certainly based in some truth. Chicago and it’s surrounding areas are a hotbed of gang activity. It’s a huge, huge city, so that sort of thing happens. But it’s also a circumstance of his upbringing that Rose would be associated at all with this sort of thing. It’s scary and dangerous that Rose could at all be indebted to Chicago gangs, if it’s true. But it’s also a fact of his life that he really didn’t have much choice.
Gang growth and police action pushed this stuff out to suburbs like Aurora, and even to my hometown of Plano, a place with a population of 5,000 that’s a little more than an hour south of Chicago. My town was tiny and a week after graduation, several of the kids from my graduating class of 68 were arrested for running a gang affiliated drug ring. If I had friends like that in a podunk town famous only for inventing the reaper, it’s not too hard to imagine that Rose’s friends could be associated with something similar but worse.
I find it hard to condemn Rose for being a 20-year old (or maybe younger) who throws up gang signs he was raised with. We can’t know why it happened without being there.
(photo via DaBullz)
Rate this post!
Dwyane Wade, too?
He could be joking around. Hard to glean anything from a photo. It’s not like he has ‘Bloods’ tattooed across his stomach like Stephen Jackson does.
This photo has been circulating for weeks on various Bulls blogs, and it was taken before Rose was even drafted by the Bulls. He doesn’t have the “Sweet home Chicago” tattoo on his hand in the photo.
So what does this amount to? A teenager in high school or college at a club partying it up like any guy his age throwing up signs that may or may not show his affiliation with a particular gang. The guy above him is flashing a completely different gang sign, methinks if they were actually being serious 2 rival gang signs would not appear in the same photo.
derrick rose aint no GD He BD III Black Disciple
That’s exactly my point.
so we are going to ignore that he is stoned and focus on the gang sign…good priorities….
I think the real question is how much herb he smoked prior to this, that aint just a hazy photo
He looks stoned too
Derrick Rose explains and apologizes in a statement released here:
http://bit.ly/12YycF
Now that is the way to handle controversy admirably. I commend him for his honesty and clarification coupled with a sincere apology.
Anybody that is going to make more of this should ask themselves if everybody is a Satanist, who holds up their hands with the “devil sign” at a rock concert.
As a Bulls fan, I’m not worried about this alleged “gang sign”. Last I checked you can’t get suspended for having been affiliated with a gang. I’m more concerned about him clearly standing in a cloud of smoke with pot leafs on his t-shirt… last thing the Bulls need is him failing a drug test.
Still, lots of these kids in chi look up to these athletes, especially ones that made it out of the hood like he did. If hes throwing up the signs it may show that this is alright. And there is enough blood on the streets of chicago from teens this year.
Rose should be building up groups.. not letting himself be caught in a bad pic. i will equate this to michael phelps being pictured smoking the bong.
it doesnt help society at all… and it is the opposite of what he should be doing.
first of all you can’t believe that this is a mistake or joking around. Even if he is joking around look at his surroundings. He’s at a party where smoke you can obviously see smoke around him while he is wearing a shirt that has a weed nug on it. Also, his eyes are cashed as shit. So you can probably make the judgment that he used to or still smokes marijuana. Him being in a gang wouldn’t surprise me either back when he lived in Chicago.
this is super stupid. first the sat scores, now this. someone is definitely out to get derrick because of envy. it’s clear. i mean, c’mon… how dumb is this pic?! let’s grow up ppl!!!!!!
its not that big of a deal. considering where he grew up (i grew up in the same area), its not surprising. in fact, alot of people who arent even in those gangs throw up the signs just to do it, and i think thats wat he’s doing in the picture.
C’ mon. What is this? Is every young black kid who is a product of south side Chicago a gang member? Another unfortunate stereotype about people of color.
I currently live on the southside, and its not very hard to associate yourself with what you see on a daily basis for years. I’ve been drunk at a party and thrown up those same signs as well. I’ve never actually been blessed into the gang, nor do I have a record or anything like that. He was just drunk and doing something that came natural to him.
Nobody is indebted to any gang. Gang signs in the South Side of Chicago are like peace signs or thumbs up or hook’em horns. They mean nothing, but, more signs of “Great” or “Excitement”. They are so common it becomes habit.
this is garbage, he is obviously joking, leave the kid alone and get a life. D rose gis is no way in a gang, he is a polite and well mannered kid and doesn’t deserve this crap
The guy in the background is Antonio Anderson from Lyme, MA and this is not about Chicago gangs. This is about two college kids goofing off. If you need someone to think poorly of start by looking in a mirror.
Everyone knows Derick Rose is a member of a gang, it’s called the Chicago Bulls.
are you serious? do you think a gang member throwing signs would stand for being dissed by a wannabe behind him throwing garbage? get real! Rose may show gangster disciple, but anderson’s showing nothing.
The person behind him is Antonio Anderson, also a Memphis Tiger. Both of these guys are good kids just goofing off. Not saying they would pass a drug test after this photo, but they’re definitely just playing around.
Doesn’t mean he’s in a gang or indebted to them,just means he grew up around this particular gang (GD’s) Many of them may be his friends or family. Don’ make this bigger than it is
ooops…your bad!
this is crazy…..i think there is one of his so called friends that was hating on him…and the fact he was rookie of the year and wanted to try to destroy that….and i think this picture is from when he was 18….
by the way…im 13..im an BIG Bulls&&Derrick Rose fan…
&&i think you guys should just leave him ALONE!!!!! :(
i can’t believe this is happening to him….
why must people try to destroy him?????? :(
why i ask you why??????????????????????????????????
SO WHAT,MOST KIDS ACT LIKE THEY ARE PART OF SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY ARE NOT, IF HE WAS A REAL BANGER HE WOULD NOT BE IN THE PLACE WHERE HES AT NOW. BESIDES DOES THAT STOP HIM FROM SCORING DURING A GAME? NO. ALSO FOR A CHILD WHO REALLY IS IN A GANG FOR WHATEVER REASON CAN LOOK AT THIS AND BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE TO STILL BECOME SOMETHING GREAT, AND COME OUT OF THE CONCRETE LIKE A ROSE. SO STOP LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AS SOMETHING BAD. LOOK FOR THE GOOD SOMETIMES, THATS IF SATAN ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN WITH YOU DEMONS.
Much ado about nothing…
Man leave Derrick Rose alone. Thats all I got to say.
Hes joking around considering the other guy is throwing up a rival gang sign. Just having normal fun at a college party. Guys rep there hoods all the time. Snoop dogg is an admitted Blood and every white kid has a CD. give me a break, leave the kid alone. The author of this doesn’t really believe DRose is gangbanging does he? What a joke!
GANGS are overrated sometimes, sometimes its your neighborhood you grew up in,he threw it up so what, of course it don’t look good, its just haters or somebody trying to bring this young man down let derrick play ball and enjoy his money it probably was a gd who kept him out of the streets he grew up in chicago, a gang sign aint never hurt nobody but it was probably a reason somebody got hurt, a gun cant kill nobody by itself it takes somebody to shoot it to kill somebody, police is the biggest gang in chicago they kill people everyday and plant guns on the the person they kill, so what is a gang blacks and latinos who hang out together who created a brotherhood yall got this thang twisted and stop name dropping and snitching.
The other person in the picture is Antonio Anderson, and it’s quite obvious they’re probably just screwing around…sheesh…
Another tragic story of an up and coming superstar. This completely changes my views of this young star. He is clearly a gangsta and the NBA needs to do better with their background checks on these players. Although the game has roots to the street, it cannot be vice versa. Children watch an idolize these stars and emulate their behaviors on and off the court. Now he will be grouped up with the likes of Ron Artest and Paul Pierce. Tragic. Suuwoop, B’s up.
He is wearing such a sick shirt.. love the pot leaves..
That’s Antonio Anderson that he’s with.
He is with Antonio Anderson you moron….. He played in the NC …Get a clue
Please, you don’t just flash the sign. Doing so without being a member of the gang will get you killed. You take it from there…
Anyone who knows anything about gang life, especially in Chicago, knows that the people in this picture are NOT gang members nor are they gang related. I grew up on the South Side, and know many GD’s. While the sign that Derrick is attempting to throw up is close to it, it’s not “quite right”. Further more anyone who knows GD’s know that they would NEVER be photographed throwing signs up with a member from a different set, and allow that set’s sign to be above his. Them’s fighting words without anything being said. Looks like a couple of goof-offs doing what goof-offs do.
it is what it is…
it really seems like they are coming after him hard. when’s the sex tape allegations gonna begin!?
It is not a gangster disciple sign, it is a FOLKS sign which originated in chicago by larry hoover
[...] It could just be youthful mistakes and he definitely hasn’t hurt anyone with his actions but we’ve seen things like this turn into habits fast throughout the years, mostly in the NFL recently. Keep an eye on it. Article On Rose [...]
so what if he threw up GD mostly everybody do in chicago..people just tryn make him out to somethin he aint..he from the south side of chicago where GD’s is known..people throw up gang signs all the time..dat dont make them a gangbanger which derrick rose is not..he was just doin somethin at the wrong time in the wrong place..get over it he was young
Whether it is a joke or not.He should’ve known better.Whether he like it or not he is a role model.I am quite sure that if he is/was affiliated then he wasn’t in the percentage of members who are involved in illegal activities.Contrary to what THE MAN thinks there are gang members who have not commited a crime.Last I checked there was no law against hand signs or even being in a gang.
Geez.
Seriously, Im from chicago & I went to school with him,
THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS!!!
They are [always] trying to find something rachet about any and every sports player, entertainer, or famous person in GENERAL!!! They need to get a GRIP!
Gangs are so over-rated.
[...] Raptors Looking To Deal Bosh To Bulls (Internet Rumor Mill Spins Again) Hardwood Paroxysm On Derrick Rose, Gang Signs, and Chicago Bleacher Report The Celtics’ Trade and Draft Options MLive John Hollinger [...]
F what u heard, why is it that the powers that be, along with every one else, but mainly the powers that be; because they have an effect on mass communication, and public affairs when dealing with the conciousness of the people, portray people as evil doers or discredit their character when they become something, he could have been doing that all his life for fun, from surroundings, or whatever. Why bring it up now? except for the reason to tarnish or belittle his character, and accomplishments, as if these same people are exempt from some sort exploitation of somekind that everyone endures in life. In this case people only want to see people play the game at its finest; who cares if it is a scholar with skeletons that have not come out yet? or if it is some one throwing up gang signs at least 3 or 4yrs back, even if it is a crackhead, if they can play the game at the level with no incidents when at work they should be able to play the game with no demise. If the scholars produce gamers let them play, if crackheads produce gamers let them play, if the so called GD’s produce a derrick rose then G_Dammit I say its something wrong with the NBA, they need to hire some of these Guys as scouts! Chi-Town do what you do my dude. PEACE!
Everyone needs to relax dude is a human being he is probably only like 18 or 19 years old in this pic. He is very young and has alot to learn. Remember when you were this young you were probably doing something worse. The past is the past lets leave it as that.
you white folks are crazy… go free some slaves and stay out of peoples business.
A kid making a mistake! Weather in a gang or not! Everyone has things in the past. Especially as teenagers. People grow up and change from Boys to Men!!
He gotta be jokin cause the dude behind him is throwin up vl! I’m Derrick rose biggest fan!
White people, stop jumping to conclusions! You know not of what you speak.
[...] [Hardwood Paroxysm] Share and Enjoy: [...]
As far as I know, the NBA doesn’t test for marijuana use. IMO if the league did, better then 50% or more of the players would be gone.
The man is having fun enjoying the party, what should he do tell everyone to stop smoking and throwing up signs. Its a party what do u do at a party, drink tea and talk about ideals you have in general? What if he was drinking tea i guest that would be better or can I say how lame. He made a mistake and thats it. He might have to live with it for the rest of his life or not. Everyone makes mistakes I know I do, everyday of my life because God didnt make us perfect. By the way we live in a world ran by Gansters if you didnt know. Like Bush he was the biggest Ganster I know and he wasnt raised in Chicago. I lived in different states and Chicago doesnt come close to the stuff I have seen. Ive seen people who did vodo [ Black magic] to people who tip cows. This doesnt compare to bad at all. And dont let me start with the drugs, pot would be normal to what Ive seen people use. Like crank, meth, sniffing paint an etc. Everyone has had fun, an if not u wouldnt even care because u wouldnt know what was a gang sign.
throw it up folks. 6 point all day
Get over it, this has gone to far, They didn’t do this much talking when the KKK had photos hanging black people.
He still cute
ALL YA’LL FOLKS WHO THINK ROSE IS A ACTIVE GANG MEMBER ARE CRAZY IS ROSE FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT YEAH? HE MIGHT HAVE FAMILY OR POTNUHS FROM GD’Z THAT DON’T MEAN HE IS! SO BASICALLY THAT MEANS HE’S AFFILLATED BECAUSE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS DON’T CHASTIZE ROSE IM SURE HE HASN’T KILLED OR ROBBED ANYONE. PPL WHO ENVIOUS OF HIS TALENT ARE OUT 2 PAINT A NEGATIVE PICTURE OF ROSE. SOME OF PPL HATE 2 SEE A BLACC MAN BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING WITHOUT COMMETING ACTS OF VIOLENCE LET THE YOUNG BROTHA SUCCEED. STOP HATING AND START CONGRADULATING!!!!
dont nobody care about the folks…let derrick rose do him…get off his nuts…cuz its all about the moes anyway
~all well
He’s a product of Englewood, one of the most crime-ridden areas in the entire United States. He is, and always will be, a member of some sort of a gang….
From the looks of the things, the picture looks smokey. Was he smokin dope too? When is the Media going to talk about that? Leave the kid alone, just cuz its a gang sign doesnt mean anything. Hes just a another person posin for a pic.
I feel that D waz wrong for what he did but yet he is still young. He made a mistake which everybody does. now he knowz better and i have faith that he will not make such a crucial mistake again. Derrick don’t worry everything gon be okay! yu still da best player in game right now! Just keep God first!
Let D.Rose Go..
Ya’ll was just ridin’ his ben wagon..
now yall hatin cause he reppin a hood her from..
GD_74 that’s his hood so stop hatin.!
The other guy in the picture is Antonio Anderson from University of Memphis. This pic had to have been taken in 2007-2008.
[...] we’ve learned, athletes being themselves is too much for most fans who buy [...]
well put it like this he can do whatever he wants aint no body at all da rapper who gangbang so just because he a hooper dont mean he cant bang come on now mafukaz sound dumb
Did everybody here forget…..Clinton really inhaled….but he was a damn good President! REHAB MAN!!!!!!!! LOL!
That’s Antonio Anderson. This pic was taken in 2007-2008 school year at Memphis.
For real ya’ll?
Who gives a shit, they were obviously high and just fucking around.
Derrick’s throwin’ up pitchforks and Anderson didn’t quite get there but he’s definitely reppin’ Vice Lords.
If those two were serious or gang affiliated at all, they wouldnt be taking pretty pictures together, GDs and VLs ain’t exactly best friends.
The number one pick is sayinG kiss his ass to all the doubters who said he wasn’t going to make it. I’m assuming the other guy is his friend, apparently they’re young and saw something they didn’t know anything about, just walking the streets of Chicago. I know for a fact being a “jock” and headed for superstar status, he got the big head and regrets he threw up some “what some people may call gang signs” but they’re not. If it were true his friend would have done the same thing, but he knew it was a joke so he didn’t play along. SO LEAVE MR. ROSE ALONE !!