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Happy D-Rose Day!5/3/2022 Jarrett HuffFormer sports editor at the Northern Star and NIU men's basketball beat reporter and photographer. Current co-host of the T' Him Up Podcast. May has to be one of the best months on the calendar. For those in the Midwest, it's around this time we shed our winter coats and embrace that long-awaited summer-like weather. Personally, it's the month my little brother was born, nearly 21 years ago (shout out to you Zach!). The first few days alone set the tone for the month; May the Fourth be with us as we binge Star Wars everything, followed by the binging of Mexican cuisine on Cinco de Mayo. However, right before we settle in and watch the Millenium Falcon fly past the screen and scarf down tacos, May 3rd gives those of us in Chicagoland and fans of a certain man outside the CHI something to celebrate; D-Rose Day. On May 3, 2011, Derrick Martell Rose was named the youngest Most Valuable Player in NBA history – by a wide margin.
Rose hoisting his MVP trophy in front of the United Center crowd (back when that was a thing), dedicating it to the city and the fans was everything; Chicago’s son on Chicago’s biggest stage leading Chicago’s team to an eventual Eastern Conference Finals appearance really stuck with me as a 13-year-old kid.
Around this time, I was a recovering NASCAR-addict since birth who rooted for most of Chicago’s teams; a Bears fan, but didn’t know much beyond that; a Cubs fan, but would only catch a game here and there; not really a Blackhawks fan, but would catch the last sometimes watch them in the Finals. Derrick Rose and the 2010-11 Chicago Bulls erased the casual Chicago fandom I had for the team. Rose was my gateway drug to becoming a basketball addict – his electrifying play and seemingly-endless highlight reel gave me the best high. I became a Bulls and NBA superfan not long after. I soaked up knowledge of the players, the franchises, the storylines, the history – all of it, in the following years. Without Derrick Rose, I probably wouldn’t be writing anything sports-related – if at all. I wouldn’t currently be looking for a way to finally break into the sports media industry as I navigate my post-college life. Thank you D-Rose, for igniting a passion for something I never expected. Forever my favorite player. Happy D-Rose day.
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Welcome to Huff's Hoops1/31/2022 It’s been awhile since I’ve sat in front of a computer to type something. For many other former college students like myself, this would most certainly be a blessing; no more term papers, essays, research papers, etc. Not for me. Straight out of college I took a chance job opportunity not even remotely related to my field of study (journalism), because the pay was too good to pass up. The hours are flexible, I can start my work day when I choose for the most part and the benefits are pretty nice: It’s just not something I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to be creative.
This may end up being something no one really reads; just a place for myself where I can get the thousands of thoughts out of my head and attempt to cold start my long-dormant writing ability, so I’m not too far out of practice.
However, if this turns into something people can engage with, whether friends, family or strangers surfing the internet have the fortune (or misfortune) of stumbling upon the noise inside my head, then that’s great too. I hope you enjoyed my little intro, and welcome to Huff’s Hoops! |