RealGM

Chicago, IL - A photograph has been circulating in e-mail and on some Web sites that appears to be Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose flashing gang signs.

Sources have told Fox Chicago that Derrick Rose is throwing gang signals for the Gangster Disciples in that photo.

An unidentified man is standing behind Rose, and is also showing apparent gang signs.

Rose is apparently displaying the "folks" signal, which is part of Gangster Disciples. According to sources, the other man in the picture is a "known gang banger" with a criminal past.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Bulls said the team isn't concerned about the photo. The spokesperson said there was no reason to believe the image was photo shopped. The spokesperson said it doesn't appear to be a very current photo because Rose recently got tattoos on his hands, which are not in the image.

The photograph began circulating among local police officers in an e-mail chain this week.

This photo controversy comes in the wake Rose's alleged involvment in an SAT scandal with the University of Memphis. The Memphis Commercial Appeal broke a story in late May that stated the NCAA made allegations against Memphis that included "'knowing fraudulence or misconduct' on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team, widely reported to be Derrick Rose."

Derrick Rose released the following statement via the Chicago Bulls:

"Recently, a photo has been circulating on the Internet which appears to depict me flashing a gang sign. This photo of me 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. I want to emphatically state, now and forever, that Derrick Rose is anti-gang, anti-drug, and anti-violence. 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.

"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. I pride myself on being a good citizen, and role model, that young people can look up to and I want to urge all my young fans to stay away from gangs and gang-related activities."

SoCAL24 wrote:

EDIT: oops didn't see you already posted the picture.

Whatever, not a big deal. He was like 20 in a gang driven area. For a guy so humble and gifted, I don't think he's secretly bangin

TonyMontana wrote:But he looks Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii in that pick doesnt he????

magnumt wrote:

TonyMontana wrote:But he looks Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii in that pick doesnt he????

For real...that's like the first thing I noticed

TonyMontana wrote:

SoCAL24 wrote:

EDIT: oops didn't see you already posted the picture.

Whatever, not a big deal. He was like 20 in a gang driven area. For a guy so humble and gifted, I don't think he's secretly bangin

But he looks Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii in that pick doesnt he????

maq25060 wrote:damn shame im a bulls fan so it's going to be taken as homerism...but no, he doesnt look high in that picture...not at all

TonyMontana wrote:

maq25060 wrote:damn shame im a bulls fan so it's going to be taken as homerism...but no, he doesnt look high in that picture...not at all

Oh okay so all of a sudden he has the Stewart Scott eye syndrom then, and he's gasping for air standing in a room while a fire is going on in the background while he's taking a picture throwing up gang signs............. How silly of us to think he's high.