25 Things That Happened in the Sports World Before Derrick Rose Returned

It's been a long 18 months.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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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.

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Jason Kidd played for two different teams, retired, and became the head coach of another.

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Manchester City spent $244,841,405 on player transfers.

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The Big Three Era in Boston ended.

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Johnny Manziel successfully trolled all of college sports.

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The NBA announced plans to build their equivalent of Disney World in China.

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Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Kyrie Irving emerged from Rose's shadow.

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Tim Tebow came and went.

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David Stern announced his retirement as NBA commissioner, effective Feb. 1, 2014.

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Alex Rodriguez received a 211 game suspension, the longest in MLB history.

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The Jaguars have won two of their last 22 games.

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The Dodgers became the most expensive sports franchise of all time.

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Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away.

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Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl and briefly became the highest paid player in NFL history.

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Sir Alex Ferguson retired and handed the keys to Manchester United over to the one and only David Moyes.

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Chelsea has hired three different managers.

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Lionel Messi has scored 63 goals.

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Peyton Manning suited up in another NFL uniform for the first time.

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Matt Harvey gave the Mets hope, and then blew out his arm because he's on the Mets.

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Yasiel Puig defected, shot through the minors, dominated Major League Baseball, and became baseball's latest and greatest villain.

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Dwight Howard was employed by three different teams.

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The Boston Red Sox sucked, traded away their entire team, rebuilt, and played in a World Series.

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LeBron James won his first two NBA Championships.

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Robert Griffin III tore his ACL and LCL and returned within nine months.

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The Bulls have won 46 games without Rose.

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