By now, we can remember that fateful Bulls playoff game last April like it was yesterday. As a superstar lay crumpled on the ground, the whole city was on the ground with him. But if you think that’s the end of the story with Derrick Rose, well, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
As the point guard climbed his way back through a long road of recovery after a torn ACL injury, he did something that very few athletes would dare consider – let the public in to view the progress of his rehabilitation in a series of mini-movies entitled, “The Return.” If that weren’t enough pressure, he was launching a new signature sneaker for adidas called the D Rose 3.
Touting both the sneaker and the video series required a bold launch event that definitively declared D-Rose was on his way back. Starting now.
That’s where ER2 Image Group (Formerly Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow) was thrilled to help produce the printing for the adidas event. Of course, like so many projects of ours, we didn’t have an eternity to plan for it – once the printing was complete, we’d have only 2 days to install posters and banners throughout a large room designed for family, friends, teammates and the press.
A big challenge, yes. But hey, we’re the same people who scaled a few skyscrapers this summer too.
The photographs we were reproducing were truly stunning – vibrant images of Derrick Rose on the court, looking casual, along with close ups of the new shoe from every angle and D-Rose logo. And we had to do justice to all of them in the finished printing.
While only 6 hours, the event launching “The Return” of D-Rose was as high profile as one could possibly imagine. Remember, while Rose wasn’t staying out of the spotlight, few fans knew the true extent of his progress – in other words, a whole lot of eyes would be focused on this event and ears listening for what the Bulls star said. Everything surrounding him had to complement him beautifully that day and not be an unnecessary distraction.
After the 6-hour event was complete, we didn’t have too long to bask in the euphoria left over from the experience. Our crew went right to work taking down the printed pieces. But in our memory for quite some time will be how exciting and moving it was to be a part of this chapter in Derrick’s comeback. We have absolutely no doubt from being around this humble young man that he’ll be better than ever. And we’ll be as proud to witness that moment as we were to be involved with this one.
