Image via Complex Original
Eighteen months and one day. That's how long Derrick Rose went between NBA games. He missed the entire 2012-13 season despite being cleared to play nearly a year after the inury. Rose took a lot of heat for taking his time to sit out and mentally readjust to the game, but all is fogiven now that he's back. He played his first game on Tuesday night, and while he showed flashes of his former self, the rust was definitely apparent—Rose shot 4-15 from the floor and committed five turnovers en route to a 107-95 loss to the Heat.
Rose is returning to a different basketball and overall sports landscape though. When he went down, there was still a majority of NBA fans who thought that LeBron James would never get it done in the Finals. Two titles later, and it feels like Rose is the league's only hope to stop the Heat. Scenes have changed in other sports too—the Boston Red Sox tore down their team and rebuilt in one season, Johnny Manziel became college football's biggest star, and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired. We cover all that and more in 25 Things That Happened in the Sports World Before Derrick Rose Returned.
Aaron Hernandez allegedly shot four people.
Date: 7/16/2012, 6/13/2013, and 6/18/2013
It's more than just the murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez is under investigation for a 2012 double-homicide in Boston, and is being sued for shooting a friend in a car after fighting at a Miami strip club.
Jason Kidd played for two different teams, retired, and became the head coach of another.
Date: 4/28/2012-Present
From playing against Rose to coaching against him.
Manchester City spent $244,841,405 on player transfers.
Date: 7/1/2012-Present
The only silverware they've won during that time was the 2012 FA Community Shield. Nice? (Not really.)
The Big Three Era in Boston ended.
Date: 7/12/2013
One major hurdle for Rose's Bulls has been taken out. Thanks, Danny Ainge!
Johnny Manziel successfully trolled all of college sports.
Date: 7/13/2013-Present
Starting with his alleged hangover at the Manning Passing Academy and reaching a tipping point with his autograph scandal, Money Manziel keeps acting like he doesn't give a shit about what the NCAA, Heisman Trust, ESPN, or college football fans think about him. More power to the guy for doing college kid things and looking to get rightfully paid.
The NBA announced plans to build their equivalent of Disney World in China.
Date: 10/13/2012
Remember: there are more NBA fans in China than there are people in the United States. Considering that Rose had the No. 1 selling NBA jersey in China last year despite not even playing, he's one player who'll be keeping an eye on the development of this facility.
Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Kyrie Irving emerged from Rose's shadow.
Date: 4/29/2012-Present
They all want that "best young point guard" crown.
Tim Tebow came and went.
Date: 4/29/2012-Present
Nothing else to see here. Moving on.
David Stern announced his retirement as NBA commissioner, effective Feb. 1, 2014.
Date: 10/25/2012
The Adam Silver Era is nearly here.
Alex Rodriguez received a 211 game suspension, the longest in MLB history.
Date: 8/5/2013
Derrick Rose might have a ring the next time A-Rod takes the field for the Yankees.
The Jaguars have won two of their last 22 games.
Date: 11/25/2012-Present
There's no end to the losing in sight.
The Dodgers became the most expensive sports franchise of all time.
Date: 5/1/2012
$2 billion for a baseball team? MLB, NBA, and NFL team owners in large markets are sitting on a thousand lifetimes of riches.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away.
Date: 2/18/2013
He was the Lakers' biggest loss of 2013—not Dwight Howard.
Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl and briefly became the highest paid player in NFL history.
Date: 2/3/2013
If you had told us back on April 28, 2012 to bet $10 on Joe Flacco winning a Super Bowl, we would've kept the $10 for lunch money.
Sir Alex Ferguson retired and handed the keys to Manchester United over to the one and only David Moyes.
Date: 5/8/2013
And with that, nothing in the English Premier League was the same.
Chelsea has hired three different managers.
Date: 6/13/2012, 11/21/2012, and 6/3/2013
More shockingly, they cycled back to Jose Mourinho for their latest hire.
Lionel Messi has scored 63 goals.
Date: 4/29/2012-Present
And they keep on coming.
Peyton Manning suited up in another NFL uniform for the first time.
Date: 8/9/2012
We're still getting used to seeing Peyton play in colors other than the Colts' blue and white.
Matt Harvey gave the Mets hope, and then blew out his arm because he's on the Mets.
Date: 7/26/2012-Present
Mets fans dont deserve this torture, but it comes with the territory.
Yasiel Puig defected, shot through the minors, dominated Major League Baseball, and became baseball's latest and greatest villain.
Date: 6/12/2012-Present
Puig was stuck in Cuba the day Rose tore his ACL. Now he's on magazine covers. The Dodgers were looking like a failure until Puig went on a tear and helped them reach the NLCS.
Dwight Howard was employed by three different teams.
Date: August 2012-Present
From Orlando to Los Angeles to Houston in 18 months. He's a moving company's favorite customer.
The Boston Red Sox sucked, traded away their entire team, rebuilt, and played in a World Series.
Date: April 2012-Present
When was the last time a team literally went from worst to first in one year?
LeBron James won his first two NBA Championships.
Date: 6/21/2012 and 6/20/2013
Chicago Bulls fans will want to put a "Rose asterisk" next to those two titles. Let's see if LeBron can get it done now with D. Rose back.
Robert Griffin III tore his ACL and LCL and returned within nine months.
Date: 1/6/2013-9/9/2013
We'll see who comes out healthier in the long-term.
The Bulls have won 46 games without Rose.
Date: 4/29/2012-Present
Imagine how many more they'll win with him.