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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Recovering Rose practices with U.S.

Chicago’s Derrick Rose, who is recovering after two knee surgeries, made a brief appearance at Team USA’s practice. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

Basketball: Derrick Rose says he feels old.

The 25-year-old point guard’s rigorous play on Monday during the U.S. basketball team’s first practice dictated otherwise.

“I was joking with Kyle Korver, I told him ‘I’m getting old, man. I’ve got to stretch, I’ve got to use rollers and stuff.’ He looked at me kind of weird,” Rose said laughingly. “But I feel a lot more mature. I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. I’ve dedicated my whole summer to this. I think I’ve sacrificed a lot for this moment.”

Rose, the Chicago Bulls star who is coming off two knee injuries that kept him out for much of the last two seasons, said he played roughly nine minutes of the team’s scrimmage during a two-hour practice. He added he was excited about how he felt physically.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski was elated with Rose’s play, saying he was most impressed with his defensive pressure and tenaciousness.

“I think Derrick was a great excitement for us, because you hear about how he’s worked out, but to see him today, I mean, he put it all out,” Krzyzewski said. “He was playing to exhaustion. That was a big plus for today, to see him. I was pleased that he didn’t hold anything back.”

Rose, who played just 10 games last season before his season was ended by a torn meniscus in his right knee, said he’s spent much of the summer in Chicago working out, other than a few promotional days in Los Angeles for Adidas. He was happy to be back on the court, playing against and alongside other NBA players.

“I work out a couple hours a day (and) I know how much work I’ve put into this; I’m just excited to be here,” Rose said. “Going out there competing and having fun, to tell you the truth, just having fun, I think that’s the key.”

The 2011 MVP also said he’s felt no pressure to prove himself to anyone, and isn’t trying to play outside the realm he was accustomed to before his initial injury.

“I think last year I was trying to (prove myself) and you see the outcome of that – that wasn’t my game,” said Rose, who is expected to return next season. “This time around, I know my game and I know exactly what I need to do when I go out there.”

Said Krzyzewski: “Derrick is one of the great players I’ve had an opportunity to coach. He’s an elite player in the world and he’s coming off of some really unbelievably bad setbacks. The fact is, he hasn’t been defeated mentally; instead he’s gotten stronger and he’ll continue to grow as a player.”

• James event fills up: LeBron James’ Ohio hometown says fans quickly claimed the thousands of tickets available for the homecoming event expected to be his first public appearance in the state since announcing his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The free tickets for the Aug. 8 show at InfoCision Stadium in Akron were released Monday and were gone within hours.

The stadium holds 27,000 people, although it’s unclear how many seats were made available for the event.

• T-wolves sign Williams: The Minnesota Timberwolves and free-agent guard Mo Williams have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. Williams averaged 9.7 points last season with Portland.

Man acquited in EMU player’s death

Miscellany: A Michigan jury acquitted a man in the robbery-slaying of Eastern Michigan University football player Demarius Reed.

The jury reached the not guilty verdict in the trial of Ed Thomas, 21, one of two men charged in the slaying of the 20-year-old wide receiver.

The other man charged, Kristopher Pratt, 20, accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, testifying that he shot Reed and Thomas participated in the October 18 robbery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

• Wings retain Tatar: The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to a three-year contract with left wing Tomas Tatar. Tatar’s deal is worth $2.75 million per year. The 23-year-old forward had 19 goals and 20 assists in 73 games in his first full NHL season.