Bulls Guard Derrick Rose Apologizes for Controversial Gang Signs Photo

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose issued a statement Friday opposing gangs after he was embroiled in a controversy over a picture of him throwing gang signs.

"I want to emphatically state, now and forever, that Derrick Rose is anti-gang, anti-drug and anti-violence," Rose said in the statement released through the Bulls. "I am not, nor have I ever been, affiliated with any gang, and I can't speak loudly enough against gang violence and the things that gangs represent."

Rose, a Chicago native, was seen in a photo in which he was throwing up "pitchfork: gang signs that were associated with the Gangster Disciples Nation. The Gangster Disciples, also known as the "GDs", are the most predominant gang in Rose's crime-ridden Chicago neighborhood of Englewood and are one of the most notorious gangs in the city.

The picture was taken while Rose was attending the University of Memphis, where he starred his freshman year before bolting to the NBA. A young man identified as Memphis teammate Antonio Anderson is standing behind Rose, smiling and flashing different gang signs, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"This photo was taken at a party I attended in Memphis while I was in school there, and was meant as a joke ... a bad one, I now admit," Rose's statement said. "In posing for this picture, I am guilty of being young, naive and of using extremely poor judgment. I sincerely apologize to all my fans for my mistake."

The incident comes on the heels of another off-court controversy surrounding Rose. The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal broke a story last month stating the NCAA alleged a stand-in took an SAT test for a student who played for Memphis during the 2007-08 season. Several media outlets reported that player to be Rose after the NCAA said that the player played for Memphis only during that season.

The NCAA also alleged Memphis improperly provided $2,260 in travel money and other benefits for an associate of a player during the same season. Yahoo Sports reported that person to be Rose's brother, Reggie.

Rose, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, was named 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year after helping to lead the Bulls to the playoffs.

During the playoffs, Rose was key in one of the best playoffs series in recent NBA history as his Bulls took the defending champion Boston Celtics to seven games, but lost the series in Game 7.

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