By David Jacoby on May 14, 2012 3:58 PM ET
This week, Jalen quickly offered his thoughts on the big NBA playoff games from this weekend and then turned his attention to his predictions for the second round. Although it seemed encouraging for Sixers and Pacers fans for a while there, Jalen says there is no chance either fan base will be cheering on its team in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jalen doesn’t see the Staples Center hosting any of the Western Conference Finals, either. When the conversation turned to flopping, Jalen declared Dennis Rodman the O.G. flopper (which I believe) and says he never flopped in his career (which I don’t believe).

Check back next Monday for the next Jalen Rose Show, and throughout the week for other Grantland Network podcasts.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here.

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on May 7, 2012 5:15 PM ET
Look, aside from the Clippers/Grizzlies series, Round 1 of the NBA playoffs is pretty much a wrap. With that in mind, Jalen and I looked ahead and previewed the potential (by potential I mean very-soon-to-be actual) second-round match-ups. In addition to the usual astute analysis, entertaining delivery and off-key singing Jalen always provides, this week he was in an educational mood. He gave the people a lesson on how to develop as a basketball player for anyone that thinks that could grow to be taller than 6-foot-9, a lesson on his counter-intuitive approach guarding a player like Rajon Rondo and a lesson on how to handle women on the road for young NBA players. Oh yeah, we also spent about 10 minutes talking about Justin Bieber’s new role as Money Mayweather’s belt boy. Methinks you will enjoy this one.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here.

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on April 30, 2012 1:03 PM ET
No overreacting! That was the rule that Jalen and I set for today’s podcast. It is shortsighted to write off a team after a Game 1 loss in a series. Remember after Game 1 of the NBA Finals last year? Admit it, you thought the Heat were going to win the whole thing. We all know how that played out. One thing that will never change about the NBA playoffs is that in a matter of minutes, a comeback, an injury, or a suspension can drastically change a series. Today on the podcast, Jalen addressed how all of those momentum-shifting events have already altered Round 1 of the NBA playoffs and we looked ahead to the rest of the week.

Oh yeah, we also did the whole singing of B.I.G. songs, calling out NBA analysts, and talking about Kanye and Kim … you know, the usual Jalen Rose Show thing.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here.

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on April 23, 2012 3:55 PM ET
This week, Jalen and I broke down the upcoming NBA playoffs and spent at least 20 minutes talking about the Metta World Peace/Ron Artest elbow that found its way to James Harden’s neck/head. Why did he do it? What was he thinking? How long will he be suspended? Why did he tweet that he didn’t see Harden? What does this mean for the Lakers?

Also, Jalen explained why rich people seem to have tax problems … and it actually makes sense.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here.

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on April 16, 2012 5:05 PM ET
Every week, The Jalen Rose Show is more fun to record. When Jalen first got to the studio this week, our intern (shout-out to Jovan) handed him the video clip of the Tupac hologram at Coachella. He lost his mind. He wasn’t himself for 10 minutes — we had to delay the recording of the pod because his mind was so blown. When he regrouped, we pushed record and dove into the following topics:

• Tupac resurrected, and what rappers should be next
• The Heat’s bench (or lack thereof)
• The Knicks’ need for Amar’e to return
• The squashing of Mobb Deep’s Twitter beef
• The squashing of Jalen and Skip’s First Take beef
• The Celtics making one last run at a chip
• Coach Kobe Bryant
• What happened with Lamar Odom in Dallas
• NBA playoff picks

We continued our strike against NFL topics. Don’t worry, we will dive deep into the NFL, just not in April. Enjoy, and check back every Monday for The Jalen Rose Show.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on April 9, 2012 1:59 PM ET
We recorded this week’s pod in between Jalen’s appearances on various ESPN studio shows, as he is giving the people what they want on television from Bristol this Monday. We started the show breaking down the big Sunday matinee Bulls vs. Knicks game, which featured heroic performances by Carmelo and Iman Shumpert. We then moved on to theLamar Odom weirdness in Dallas and the Spurs’ winning streak, before turning our attention to hickey-gate and the budding Kanye West-Kim Kardashian relationship.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Subscribe to the Grantland Network on iTunes, and check out our podcasts page.

By David Jacoby on April 2, 2012 5:30 PM ET
I knew Jalen was ready to talk college hoops when I saw that he was dressed head to toe in maize and blue. We broke down the NBA potential of the stars playing in the NCAA championship and then moved on to the Thunder’s recent hot streak, Miami’s recent cold streak, the Bulls’ run without Rose, Jordan’s commitment to the Bobcats, Jeremy Lin’s injury, and even had time to touch on Stephon Marbury’s foreclosure. Oh yeah, we also talked about Rihanna. For some reason, it seems like we talk about Rihanna every week. Enjoy.

iTunes Link:
http://bit.ly/x1uL7H

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on March 26, 2012 10:36 PM ET
When we started to record the pod this week, Jalen freaked out and started running around the studio. I thought something was very wrong. It turned out I was right — Jalen didn’t have his baseball bat to sling over his shoulder. Once the trusty bat was in place, we went in on Kobe’s beef, Tim Tebow’s announcement, Tiger’s win, the Thunder’s statement game against the Heat, and Kevin Love’s big weekend.

As always, the best stuff we talked about wasn’t what we planned on talking about. Jalen ranted for 10 minutes on how and why NCAA players should be paid, five minutes on flopping, and told the story of winning two grip in a dice game while in college. You know, the usual.

Enjoy the pod.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on March 19, 2012 5:49 PM ET
Peyton Manning has picked the Broncos, North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall has a bum wrist and we know which teams advanced in the NCAA tournament … blah blah freaking blah.

This week on the Jalen Rose Show, we touched on those hot topics, but also dove deep into the Miami Heat, Kobe’s tough night against the Jazz, and discussed why a rapper would spend thousands of dollars in one night at a strip club. Yes, after listening to this podcast, a rapper spending $8,000 in one night at a jiggle joint will make perfect sense. Enjoy.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By Grantland Staff on March 12, 2012 5:15 PM ET
In Monday’s podcast, Jalen Rose and David Jacoby discuss Sunday’s Lakers-Celtics game, the play Kobe said he called for Andrew Bynum, and whether Jalen expects to see Pau Gasol in the purple and gold during the playoffs.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on March 8, 2012 4:37 PM ET
We are not going to talk about Peyton Manning. Not even a little. Jalen and I have collectively decided that we don’t care about where Peyton Manning is going to play next year, until he is actually there, playing. What do we care about? Dwyane Wade emerging as “the closer” in Miami, Ricky Rubio’s organization making him look soft, and who Kanye West is dating.

If you want to hear an hour on Peyton Manning, I am sure you can find that elsewhere. If you want 45 minutes of funk, click the link below. You won’t regret it.

Listen to Thursday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on March 5, 2012 7:13 PM ET
After a week off, the Jalen podcast is back!

This episode was especially high-energy. Jalen Rose was all fired up about Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, and imports. What are imports? Imports are the result of NBA players “working the frequent flyer miles” and importing “friends” to hotel rooms during road trips. Toward the end of the podcast, Jalen couldn’t answer my line of questioning without getting fined or possibly fired. We felt like that was a good place to stop.

Good one this week.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on February 21, 2012 3:45 PM ET
Once again, Jalen Rose came by the studio to record the show, slung his trusty baseball bat over his shoulder, and started breaking down the NBA. He reviewed the New York Knicks offense and discussed how they will incorporate all their new pieces into Mike D’Antoni’s “system.” He then explained that even though Kobe said he wished the Lakers front office would “come out and either trade [Pau Gasol] or not trade him,” what he really means is “TRADE PAU RIGHT NOW.” When the conversation turned to the All-Star Game, Jalen explained his grudge over the event. Unless you are Jamal Mashburn, I think you will really enjoy this pod.

Listen to Tuesday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on February 13, 2012 6:23 PM ET
We included video in this week’s podcast because we think it is important for people see what happens behind the scenes, like the fact that Jalen will record an entire pod with a baseball bat in his hands. Everyone has their thing. Now that the NFL season is over and we have sworn off football topics (sorry, Randy Moss), we took a deep dive into Jeremy Lin’s rise to stardom, J.R. Smith’s impending impact, and Carlos Boozer’s hairline.

Seriously, as you listen, remember Jalen has a baseball bat in his hands the entire time. It changes everything.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on February 7, 2012 5:01 PM ET
Jalen Rose is done talking about football. Methinks my pod partner is a little upset with the attention that the NFL gets during the offseason, so after briefly reviewing the Super Bowl (read: defending Gisele and Gronkowski), we turned our attention to the NBA. There was no shortage of NBA stories to tackle, what with Kevin Love stomping on people,Jeremy Lin scoring on people, and Shaquille O’Neal “sneak dissing” people. We also discussed Allen Iverson’s rumored return to pro basketball in Puerto Rico, and Jalen details exactly how NBA players can end up in financial trouble. The math might not work out down to the cent, but you will catch the gist of what he is getting at. Enjoy.

Listen to Tuesday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on January 30, 2012 4:59 PM ET
Jalen and I decided that the Super Bowl is boring. Not, like, the game. We mean the lead-up to the game. Gronkowski is going to play, Eli is “elite,” and Bill Belichick is a great coach. Ho-freaking-hum. So instead of going over tired Super Bowl storylines, we dove right into the exciting NBA season. We talked about the Heat and how their depth is going to win them the East. We talked about how close the West was. We talked about Kobe and the Lakers’ trouble on the road. And we talked about Dwight Howard because you really can’t say anything about the NBA without talking about Dwight Howard. We tried.

Oh yeah, we also talked about the Souper Bowl, which I am way more excited about than the Super Bowl.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

By David Jacoby on January 25, 2012 5:58 PM ET
Jalen Rose stole Patrick Ewing’s television. For real. Patrick Ewing fouled Jalen, it wasn’t called, and then Jalen exacted his revenge by stealing the man’s television. Not just any old television, a television-VCR combination. These are the types of stories that Jalen drops week after week that make recording this podcast so much fun.

Aside from Jalen’s criminal history, we also discussed the Super Bowl, the hot topics around the NBA, and the recent photos of Rihanna that have been all over the Internet. Have a listen.

Listen to Wednesday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Monday, January 9, 2012 8:12 PM David Jacoby
Jalen came through this week and we couldn’t help but talk a bunch of football after the weekend we just had. We covered his Lions losing to the Saints, Tebow Tebowing the Steelers and New York’s domination of Atlanta. We would have talked about the Bengals and the Texans, but that game was so long ago and so boring, we just decided to skip over it.

We turned our attention to the NBA a few times, including the discussion featured above, in which Jalen detailed an NBA veteran’s pre-game preparation ritual. It rivals something a lady would go through on her wedding day. Who naps that much? Is there a nap room in Staples Center? Why don’t NBA players put bubbles in their bubble bath? Are they too tough for bubbles? Who is too tough for bubbles?

Oh yeah, and we both agree: Blue Ivy Carter is a silly name.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Monday, January 2, 2012 9:32 PM David Jacoby

We are giving the people what they want on a new day. Moving forward, you can find The Jalen Rose Show here on Mondays. This week, we said “What holiday?” and taped a podcast today. Jalen gave his impression of the start of the NBA season, his advice to the Indianapolis Colts franchise, and his picks for the wild card NFL weekend. His weekly mind-blowing story from his playing days was also fantastic, as always.

Enjoy, and remember we will be posting the Jalen Rose pod every Monday.

Listen to Monday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, December 16, 2011 3:46 PM David Jacoby

“Got to give the people / Give the people what they waaaaaaaaaaaant.”

Jalen was in the studio for the pod, which means we recorded it about 100 yards from Chris Paul’s new arena. We spent a ton of time breaking down what Paul’s arrival in Los Angeles means for the Clippers, the Lakers, and NBA fans. When we moved on to discuss Dwight Howard, Jalen did that thing he does where he casually drops inside information in the middle of a conversation. According to Jalen, a couple of weeks ago, Howard was saying his move to the Nets was a done deal.

Jalen was also really entertaining and informative when we discussed the rest of the major topics in the NBA, the current issues with his Lions and the rest of the NFL, and what it feels like to be a professional athlete heading into a new season. However, Jalen had nothing when I asked him to make a bold prediction for 2012. Nobody is perfect.

Enjoy.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, December 9, 2011 3:33 PM David Jacoby
Chaos, just chaos all over the NBA. Good thing we have Jalen Rose to make sense of it all. Not just the Chris Paul deal — pretty much everything.

According to Jalen, Chris Paul will, in fact, be on the Lakers on Christmas Day, the Heat will win the NBA championship, the Lions will get the wild card, the Packers and Patriots will meet in the Super Bowl, charter schools are the future of urban education and the insurance industry in America needs to change. Oh yeah, and the new Friday movie is going to be great. We covered a lot of ground, hope you enjoy the pod.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, December 2, 2011 2:30 PM David Jacoby
“Got to give the people / Give the people what they waaaaaaaaaaaant.”

Confession time: I have no idea what song that is from, or who sings it, or what it even sounds like. As far as I know, Jalen made it up when we taped our first podcast weeks ago. Here is what I do know: It makes me happy, because it marks the start of the weekly journey that is the Jalen Rose podcast.

This week we rocked out with our lockout. Now that it is over, we could really dig deep into free agency, rumors, and whether Jalen has a fresh crop of suits to wear on ESPN. Jalen also broke down why he thinks players should have the option to go directly from high school to the pros, why Ndamukong Suh stomped on people, and why Tim Tebow may not be the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL.

If nothing else, have listen to hear what Jalen would tell Kris Humphries if he were in the Nets locker room.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:
ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, November 18, 2011 3:26 PM David Jacoby
Jalen and I don’t agree a lot of the time. He isn’t convinced (as I am) that Timothy Richard Tebow is the greatest quarterback in the history of the National Football League. Weird. He also isn’t convinced that the Lions are a dirty team. Odd. We did agree that the saying “Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.” isn’t 100 percent correct.

As always, Jalen casually drops mind-blowing stories. This week, he detailed negotiating the sale of his Las Vegas home to none other than Iron Mike Tyson. It was easily the most fun we’ve had recording the pod. Enjoy.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:

ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, November 11, 2011 3:24 PM David Jacoby
Jalen joined the pod from Vegas where he is covering the Pacquiao-Marquez fight. We discuss his thoughts on the fight, what it’s like to go to a big fight in Vegas, and the surprisingly solid undercard. Jalen then discusses the current NBA lockout and reminds us that in the 1998-99 lockout, a deal wasn’t reached until mid-January and there was still a season. We then went on to hit the major (non-Penn State) topics of the day — Michael Jordan (Jalen compares him to God), Jets-Pats (Jalen says Jets), Shaq calling out Kareem (“blasphemy”), Albert Haynesworth (no good for the Bucs), and the recovery of Shaun Bradley’s bicycle (Jalen tells the tale of Webber dunking on Bradley in high school) and much more.

My favorite part of the pod was when Jalen tried to defend his draft day suit. As you can see above, it is a horrendous, red, double-breasted, pinstripe number that even Bishop Don Magic Juan couldn’t pull off. Check back every Friday for more of Jalen Rose, and throughout the week for new Grantland Network podcasts.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:

ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, November 4, 2011 4:25 PM David Jacoby
I knew Jalen before he asked me to do this pod with him but I did not know how much he knew. You can talk football, baseball, basketball, Kardashian, and Pacquiao with him and he is an expert on all aspects. Okay, maybe not Kardashian but I guess that is what I am there for.

One sport that I had no idea Jalen was so well versed on is boxing. He was very knowledgeable and interested in the Manny Pacquiao Juan Manuel Marquez fight. I was very knowledgeable and interested in the Lenny Dykstra/Jose Canseco “fight”. Jalen will also casually break out a story every podcast that will make your jaw drop. This week he recounts the time that Shaquille O’Neal mushed Kobe during a five on five game. He wasn’t there but he has “100,000 credible sources” that corroborate the story.

We also touched on Ndamukong Suh’s meeting with Goodell, pleaded for Peyton Manning to stay on the sideline, were dragged into talking Tim Tebow and Kim Kardashian (apologize in advance) and covered the cricket scandal, you won’t get in depth cricket coverage on Mike and Mike.

Enjoy the Jalen Rose pod, they honestly get better every week.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:

ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, October 28, 2011 3:55 PM David JacobyJalen Rose came back for Week 2 of the Jalen Rose Show. We would definitely have to retitle the podcast if he didn’t.

Athletes never realize how cool their stories are. In Friday’s podcast, Jalen nonchalantly talks about how NBA athletes don’t actually have tons of groupies at their hotels, mentions that Mike D’Antoni doesn’t coach defense, and describes Charles Oakley smacking Charles Barkley during the 1998–99 lockout. He thinks Charles Oakley open-hand smacking Charles Barkley is no big deal. He is very wrong.

We also argued over Tim “greatest quarterback in NFL history” Tebow, talked about why ladies with a love of the spotlight date NBA players, and determined that the Hawks get at least six or seven wins a season simply because Atlanta is a fun town. Over the course of the pod, we broke into song three or four times. I know that last one is weird, but so is the Jalen Rose Podcast. Good weird.

Enjoy.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:

ESPN.com Podcenter

Posted Friday, October 21, 2011 4:14 PM David Jacoby
So I get a call from an unfamiliar area code. “Hey, it’s Jalen,” says the caller. “I wanted to talk to you about doing a podcast.” Next thing you know, Jalen Rose is in the Grantland studio at L.A. Live, telling me what it is like playing for Larry Bird, how he slowed down Michael Jordan and that he has been benched on every team that he played for. It was shocking how much Jalen Rose knows NBA basketball, and how willing he was air it all out. I felt like my sole purpose for being across the table from him was to keep him from saying something that would get us both fired. It was not easy.

There are still some kinks to work out, but the foundation of chemistry, drastically different viewpoints and unforced enjoyment is already in place. Check back into the Grantland Network for more Jalen and other new projects as we continue to expand the roster.

Listen to Friday’s podcast here:

ESPN.com Podcenter

Elements of the partnership include a mentoring program between Jeep brand employees and students, field trips to several Chrysler Group facilities including the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and the Jeep Design Studio, development of a marketing project, and sponsorship of the academy’s boys’ and girls’ basketball team.

“The Jeep brand is honored to partner with the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy and build a relationship within our community.  This program is an authentic, hands-on approach that will fuel leadership, provide educational empowerment and develop life skills for the students,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “With this program, we hope to help students reach their fullest potential.”

“A philanthropic project of this nature requires support from the entire community and it is a privilege to have the Jeep brand join our team,” said Jalen Rose, JRLA Founder.  We will work together to have a positive influence on our future leaders.”

The program kicked-off in February and will continue for the next seven months.  Additionally, the Jeep brand also will award $100,000 in college scholarships to the first graduating class of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.

Jeep Brand Mentorship Program

Focusing on educational empowerment and the development of leadership skills, Jeep brand employees will partner with select students from JRLA to participate in a seven-month long mentorship program.  Each session will focus on personal improvement skills such as goal setting and career planning.

Students  will also embark on a series of educational excursions that will include a trip Chrysler Group LLC’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit and a trip to the World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., where the students will visit the Jeep Design Studio and meet the designers.

In January, students attended the North American International Auto Show Preview, where they snapped photos of the event, Jeep vehicles and their favorite product features.  Their task was to develop a photo journal that outlined their favorite Jeep brand vehicles.

Marketing Competition

Select JRLA students will participate in a marketing competition where students will be given a marketing assignment in which they will compete amongst each other for an opportunity to win an all-expense paid trip for a family of four to a USA Basketball exhibition game in Washington, DC.

JRLA Basketball Team Sponsorship

The Jeep brand will sponsor the JRLA boys’ and girls’ basketball team.  The sponsorship will provide funding to support their team fees, uniforms and equipment.

As part of the Jeep brand’s affiliation with the USA Basketball, the brand will also provide JRLA students with the opportunity to participate in a summer basketball clinic hosted by USA Basketball legends and Jalen Rose.

About JRLA

The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy is an open enrollment, public charter high school on the Northwest side of Detroit. The Academy opened its doors in September 2011 to 120 ninth grade students; an additional freshman class will be added each subsequent year. Detroit area students receive a leadership-focused education based upon real-world, project-based experiences within the career context of sports and entertainment. Students will receive extensive college exposure and course opportunities through a partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy. Immersed in the culture of college, they will take three university courses as upperclassmen to ensure a seamless transition for college entry.   As a Michigan Future Schools initiative grant recipient, the Academy recognizes their expectation of 85% high school graduation, 85% college enrollment, and 85% college graduation, and will meet or exceed these standards.  For more information about JRLA, please visit http://www.jrladetroit.com

Jeep Brand

Built on over 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

Jalen Rose is no slouch.

Last Saturday he was in California calling the Long Beach State-Santa Barbara college basketball game for ESPN.

He watched Sunday’s big NFL conference games and then caught a redeye flight back to Detroit, arriving in town at 6 a.m. Monday.

The day was packed with meetings at his fledgling Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a Detroit charter high school that provides free tuition to students.

And now, following in the footsteps of one of his mentors, Dave Bing, he is considering a new gig.

“Maybe, hopefully, fingers crossed, ‘Mayor of Detroit’ might be a title I carry one day,” Rose, 38, said Tuesday.

A photo of Bing at the academy’s ribbon-cutting sits on a shelf in Rose’s office.

“I’ve known Jalen since birth,” said Bing, who played for the Detroit Pistons with Rose’s father, Jimmy Walker. “Not only was he an outstanding basketball player, but he’s an outstanding humanitarian who made it out of the ’hood, but never left.

“I support him wholeheartedly and wish him the best of luck,” Bing said, adding Rose has invested his own time and money in helping to improve the lives of those around him. “Those kids in his school are the recipients of his good nature.”

Rose didn’t elaborate about his political aspirations, but the idea of him being mayor doesn’t sound that far-fetched once you dig into his history.

A Detroit native, Rose was a star at an early age, an All-American basketball player from Southwestern High School, according to Rose’s website, www.jalenrose.com. At the University of Michigan he was part of the legendary “Fab Five,” where he and teammates Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson changed the sport on the court and off by wearing baggy uniform shorts, black socks and black shoes.

The only team in Final Four history to ever start five freshmen, they led the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA Championship game appearances. In 1994, Rose was drafted in the first round by the Denver Nuggets. According to Rose’s website, his most memorable NBA moments during his 13-year career included winning the NBA’s “Most Improved Player” and “Player of the Week” awards in 2000 and “Eastern Conference Player of the Week” accolades in 2005. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, his team appeared in three straight Eastern Conference finals including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2000.

The 6-foot-8 Rose left the NBA for TV in 2001, becoming a reporter and on-air personality for Fox Sports Net’s famed “Best Damn Sports Show Period.”

A mass communications major at U of M who ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland University College, Rose is now an ESPN/ABC sports analyst.

In 2007 he started his own production and management company, and in 2011 served as executive producer on the memorable “The Fab Five,” ESPN’s highest rated documentary. He has two daughters who live in Georgia.

School open six months

But around this area, it’s the academy — a former elementary school in a neighborhood east of the Lodge Freeway and just south of 8 Mile in Detroit —that keeps him busy.

Right now the school has 120 ninth graders — 48 girls and 72 boys, including three students from Oakland County — who were chosen by lottery.

Rose plans to add another grade each year until the school has 480 students in ninth through twelfth grades.

Even with his frantic schedule, Rose says he has only missed one monthly board meeting since the academy opened its doors last September.

Rose, an Oakland County resident, raised $2 million to buy the school building and bring it up to code, and is working to raise another $5 million to expand the school so it can hold more students.

The school sits on a good-sized lot near a neighborhood. Inside, students work on laptops and attend school from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will have a longer school year — 211 days.

“We’re trying to compete in an international global economy,” said Rose, noting children in Thailand and China attend school more than 230 days a year.

Only 6 percent of the students came to the academy ready for ninth grade math, teachers said. The majority are reading between a fifth and seventh grade level.

The academy keeps the student-to-teacher ratio in classes at 20-to-1. In math and English, it’s 10-to-1.

“They need that extra time and boost to help them catch up,” he said.

Ninth grader Brandon Lundy of Detroit — who wants one day to be a registered nurse, then a doctor — said he likes how staff “give you a chance. Some schools give you a grade and that’s it. Here you get a second chance. Some people learn at different paces. Teachers are really good at helping students.”

All the students wear blue blazers and white shirts. Boys wear ties.

“Uniforms are very important to create a culture where (students) can focus on learning, not on what kind of new gym shoes they have,” said Rose.

“You dress how you look, and the students look good.”

When administrators went out looking for teachers, Pam English, vice president of academics, said they wanted innovative instructors who would “think outside the box.”

Teaching, said Rose, means investing time, energy and caring.

If you are just coasting in the classroom, “kids will see right through it,” said Rose.

“It’s almost like being a coach. Some players need a kick in the butt and others need a pat on the back. It’s my job is to find which button to push with administrators and students.”

Barbara Smith, the academy’s school improvement director, said students earn As, Bs or “Incompletes.”

Smith and Rose shared how several students ran up to Rose this week showing off their report cards. Some of them had “Incompletes,” and Rose asked them what they were doing about it.

“They knew exactly what they had to do,” said Smith.

At the academy, they are not just being given a lower grade with no accountability.

“When charter kids get to college, that’s when many drop out because they look around and their confidence is low,” she said.

Jalen Rose Leadership students will have to do the work to get the higher grades, she said.

In March, students will take their first major tests to judge how they are doing.

“The goal is college,” said Rose.

Smith and Rose appear happy with the progress so far.

“The kids speak for themselves,” said Smith.

“I’m not Bill Gates”

Rose has to think for a minute if there is any photograph of him displayed at the school that bares his name.

“Yes, on the wall with the rest of the board members,” he said.

Rose sits at his desk in a small office. Over in a corner a cooler packed with bottled water hums.

Talking about his motivation for starting the school, he said, “I never wanted to be considered a dumb jock. In high school I made the honor roll, in college I made the dean’s list. I graduated from college.”

Rose speaks of wanting to give back to his hometown.

“Say Detroit when you’re out of town, unfortunately, and a lot of times the first thing that comes out of someone’s mouth, especially someone who has never been here, is negative,” he said.

“If we don’t educate our youth, how can we grow the fortunes of our great city?

“So many parents, educators, individuals are trying to turn around Detroit, I just want to be one of the people doing my part.”

Rose talks of people being able to send their children to great public and private schools.

“It all boils down to money,” he said.

“Adults know what I mean. If you have the means and responsibility, you move to a better school district.”

Besides keeping up on the academy’s operations, he spends much of his time raising money to keep the school going, he said.

“I have to build the brand,” he said, “using every resource to create donors, internships (for the students). I’m looking for mentors.”

Rose is dismayed that governments spend an average of $37,000 annually on prisoners but only $7,000 on students.

He praises his friends, former Detroit Piston Isiah Thomas, former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer and Dave Bing, for helping raise money for the school.

He said Jeep and Chrysler have offered to provide $100,000 in scholarships.

“I’m not Bill Gates, I don’t have a blank check, this is all pro bono,” Rose said.

“We have lot of legwork we are doing,” he said, “trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

“I’m doing whatever I can to make this thing succeed.”

Contact Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oakpress.com. Follow her on Twitter @waterfordreport or on Facebook @OPcarolhopkins.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/25/news/local_news/doc4f2098bebeb60845375144.txt

Jalen interviews boxing great Mike Tyson after the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez fight.

and Comedian/Actor Bill Bellamy!

Sunday, November 6, 2011
MGM Grand Detroit
1777 Third Street, Detroit, MI 48226

Master of Ceremonies – Emmy Award-Winning Broadcaster Ed Gordon

Celebrity supporters of JRLA will be in attendance including: 
Bill Bellamy (Comedian/Actor) *Special Performance!
Lomas Brown (NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl Champion)
Rashied Davis (Detroit Lions WR)
Justin Durant (Detroit Lions OLB)
Howard Eisley (NBA Star and LA Clippers Assistant Coach)
Tommy Hearns (Hall of Fame Boxing Legend)
Jimmy King (Michigan Basketball “Fab Five” Legend)
Helen Phillips (NBC’s Season 7 Winner of Biggest Loser)
Stephen Tulloch (Detroit Lions Linebacker)
Ekpe Udoh (Golden State Warriors)
Perry Watson (Detroit Basketball Coaching Legend)
& more to TBA!

6:00pm – Cocktails & Silent Auction
7:00pm – Seated Dinner
7:10pm – Opening Remarks and Live Auction
8:15pm – Special Performance
8:30pm – Strolling Dessert and Dancing with Simone Vitale Band

Jalen discusses his love for boxing, whether Manny Pacquiao is the greatest in the game, and why it’s important for professional athletes to give back to their community.