First jobs stink, or they’re supposed to. My first job was at the United Center and US Cellular Field, now known as Guaranteed Rate Field. I was 17 and had an affinity for nice sneakers so i was willing to settle for any paycheck. The rules at work were bordering oppressive and some fans were obscenely obnoxious, but it was nothing like being a kid at the UC. I saw the end of great White Sox run, the beginning of Kane and Toews. But nothing compared to seeing Derrick Rose in his rookie season. D.Rose worked at the United Center too but on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. He was the #1 draft pick in 2008 and the answer to Chicago Bulls fans’ prayers everywhere.

Simeon’s finest was back at home after a year at Memphis. A city legend before college, Derrick Rose was the ultimate Chicago hooper: tough, handles, and willing to bang on whoever. He put on a show on the CPS (Chicago Public School) circuit and put on a show at AAU tournaments. He was the best player in college basketball and a couple free throws away from being a national champion, but he had to prove it on the biggest stage. The preseason had more of a buzz than usual. Before Rose was drafted by the Bulls, the team was mediocre at best. They were destined to be a fringe playoff team for the foreseeable future unless they landed a superstar through free agency or the draft. The Bulls had a 1.7% chance to land the #1 pick and miraculously, they did.

I remember a game in November against the Phoenix Suns. The 300 level was crowded and it was my first time getting a chance to see Derrick play live. Throughout the game, my job was distracting me from watching the action on the court. In the 4th quarter, the Bulls were up 18. Joakim Noah fights for a rebound and gets it to D. Rose. In two dribbles from half court, he rises up and dunks on Leandro Barbosa. “OOOOHHHH!” The crowd went nuts. There I was with my hands on my head, standing in the middle of the vomitorium and ignoring the fans next to me trying to show me their tickets.

"He's obviously very explosive. He's a highlight reel waiting to happen," (Raja) Bell said. "I'm excited to see where he goes from here. He's a really, really good player.”

The world was learning who Derrick Rose was. After winning the Kia Skills Competition at All-Star weekend, Rose had the look of a future superstar. But Derrick didn’t sound like a superstar. His sound bites weren’t great content and he seemed completely disinterested during interviews making it painfully obvious that he was only here to play basketball. Unfortunately this was more than playing basketball, this was his job. He still had some adjusting to do from his one year in college. According to NPR, Derrick’s college diet was that of a teenager. “A teammate says that for breakfast, Rose eats ‘gummy bears and Starburst.’ For dinner, he switches to ‘Twizzlers and Honey Buns.’ Reporters didn't get a chance to ask Rose about his diet. He missed a pre-game media session because of stomach trouble.” One year of college was enough to test his game but he still had much to learn about being a professional.

After a mid-season trade, the Bulls acquire Brad Miller and John Salmons in exchange for Andrés Nocioni, Cedric Simmons, and Drew Gooden, This move helped solidify the front court with a skilled big in Miller and a versatile wing scorer in John Salmons. Derrick Rose continued to improve through the second half of the season. He was running old guards out the league (sorry, Andre Miller) and dominating his peers, proving he was the next great point guard to take the torch from Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Most importantly, his team won games. The Bulls squeaked into the playoffs with a .500 record.

The Bulls had been in the playoffs since Michael Jordan but this felt different. We were led by one of our own and he was also the best player since MJ to put on a Bulls uniform. The Bulls were facing the defending champs in the first round of the playoffs. Kevin Garnett was injured for the rest of the playoffs but Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo were all ready to go. In Game 1, Derrick Rose poured in 36 points and dished 11 assists in a win. He torched the Celtics. At one point the corpse of Stephon Marbury was out there to give up an And-1 to Derrick. Game 2, the Celtics brought him back to earth by holding him to 10 points and a loss. Before Game 3 in the United Center, Derrick was awarded the Rookie of the Year trophy in front of the city and the world. He had another rough game that night.

Game 4 was a Sunday afternoon tip-off. I remember because I had to work the 200 level that day. For the first time all season, I was happy to be at the United Center working. There’s nothing like a playoff game (of consequence) at the United Center. So much excitement in the building to see if the underdogs could tie the series. Within the first few minutes of the game, D.Rose makes a backdoor cut, receiving a perfect pass from Joakim and ending with a dunk. He screamed at the crowd and we screamed back. After a decade of mediocrity, we had our guy. The Bulls won that game but loss the series. His team wasn’t championship ready and neither was he but, on the bright side, it was just his first year on the job.