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Derrick Rose: Just can't beat coming home

Mike Downey | In the wake of the news

July 1, 2008

Well, Derrick Martell Rose, welcome home.

I enjoyed Monday morning very much. I enjoyed meeting your big brother, Dwayne. I enjoyed meeting your new coach, Vinny.

How lovely to see your name up in lights on that United Center scoreboard and to find a long-stemmed American beauty on every Stadium Club chair.

May each day in the NBA be this good for you, young man.

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May you never have Shaquille O'Neal do a rap on you.

May you turn 20 in October and get to come to a Sox-Cubs game the way you did Friday.

May you play for us in the 2016 Chicago Olympics. (You'll be an old dude of 27.)

May you go one-on-one once in a while with President Obama.

May you "be like Mike" in every way you can — but promise you won't quit the Bulls to join the Sox.

May you also be like Tiger Woods in almost every way—but promise to watch at least one hockey game.

May your brother Dwayne never turn off a TV during a Bulls game as he did when you were 9.

("I was too nervous," Dwayne explained to me. "They're playing Utah and I don't know if Michael Jordan's going to make the next shot or not. I couldn't watch. I had to hit the button and turn it off.

("Derrick's just there cool and collected, same as he is now. Telling me, 'Hey, turn that back on!' ")

May you win a championship and then win it again, the way you did with Simeon High.

May you end up on a Sports Illustrated cover with a trophy like that guy Kevin Garnett from Farragut High.

May you pose for a Vanity Fair cover with a beauty the way LeBron James did. (And be pleased with the picture.)

May you form a winning home team with a beauty, the way Tony Parker did.

("Of course, girls," you said Monday after being asked what kind of distractions you've dealt with so far in your young basketball career.

("That's not going to change," Bulls GM John Paxson promptly advised.)

May you never be a Grizzly or a Clipper or a Hawk.