As a Bulls fan, and a Chicago fan in general…..we haven’t had a lot to cheer about over the past number of years. Sure, the Cubs did there thing in 2016, which was the last time a major championship was brought home to the city. Sure, the Bears have been “doing their thing” with Caleb Williams…..even though it has resulted in 4 wins during his rookie year.

But besides all of that…..there hasn’t really been much to talk about in the Windy City. There hasn’t been a lot of “hooplah,” if you will, when it comes to the sports teams that inhabit our fare town.

It’s sad, it really is. These last few years have been rather “bland,” which is BAD when you consider the fact that Chicago is a GREAT sports town. But THANKFULLY, that all changed on Saturday, when it was announced that former Chicago Bull Derrick Rose will have his number retired during the 2025-26 NBA season.

The moment Pooh learned his number is officially going in the rafters 🥹 pic.twitter.com/D8JZjXhdtG

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 4, 2025

Rose, for those of you who are unaware, was a PIVOTAL PART of the Bulls’ success between 2008 and 2016. During his time in Chicago, the former Memphis Tiger would NOT ONLY become the youngest MVP in league history, but he would ALSO post an impressive stat-line in those seven years consisting of…..

35 MPG, 19.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, .448 FG%

He was an ICON! He was the face that ran the place for almost a decade. He was THE GUY who was on all of the posters, and in all of the highlight packages. He was the ‘Chicago Kid’ who was playing for his city, who made the Bulls’ seasons feel “bigger” than they actually were. Hell; he was the guy who all the kids (like me) adored, and who’s jersey we wore RELIGIOUSLY during Bulls games.

He was greatness personified. And now…..his greatness gets the recognition it deserves. His greatness will finally hit the rafters and take it’s rightful place alongside Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan. Just like those four men and their respective numbers, no one will be able to wear the #1 ever again.

OFFICIAL: The Bulls will retire Derrick Rose’s number during the 2025-26 NBA season. No other player will ever wear the number 1 for the Chicago Bulls.

Number 1 will always be from Chicago. pic.twitter.com/s7z3J030WA

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 4, 2025

It…..it feels weird saying that, if we’re being honest. It feels weird to be “excited” for this day, for a multitude of reasons.

For one; the fact that Derrick Rose is getting his number retired NOW, means that I am officially old. It means that I have officially hit “elderly status,” and will probably need a cane and a Viagra prescription at some point in the future. I’m not happy about it, because I still feel like the spry 20-year old who loved to stay up late back in college. But now, I’m starting to realize that ‘Father Time’ is creeping up on me…..and I’m not happy about it.

Then, there’s also the fact that for the longest time……I didn’t think that Derrick Rose DESERVED to have his number retired. Sure, he was a great player. Sure, he was flashy and exciting, and helped lift the Bulls up during his seven years with the team. But with all of the injuries, and the crap with him being cleared to play during the playoffs a number of years ago…..I just never saw him as “that” kind of player. If that makes sense?

HOWEVER, as time progressed and I saw what the team turned into since his departure…..I think it’s safe to say that my thoughts of him made a COMPLETE 180. After seeing this team go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, and everything in between…..I started to realize that Derrick was IN FACT “that” kind of player. He MADE the Bulls special again. He turned this team into a must-watch entity, which is a level that they haven’t seen since MJ.

Simply put; he is, IN FACT, one of the greatest players to ever don the red and black…..and he DESERVES to have his number hanging up at the ‘Madhouse.’

So congrats to you, D-Rose. The ‘Chicago Kid’ will be remembered for all of eternity. Thank you for all of the memories that you brought us, and hopefully (and I truly mean HOPEFULLY) I can be there to see the ceremony myself.

But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.