January 24, 2019: Six is Enough

Bulls got smoked by the Hawks.  It’s pretty depressing watching right now.  Going through articles online and Twitter, it’s not much better.  These are some dark days no doubt.  When will we get back in the game?  At least the playoffs, right?  Well, once this year is over, it will have been 21 years since the last Chicago Bulls title.  For those Bulls fans who weren’t around for that run of titles in the 90s, I’m sorry.  For those of us who were, we hold onto those memories to get us through times like this.  The Bulls are one of the worst teams in the league; back then though, we were running things.  I miss those days.

Speaking about getting through these times, I think about what I’ve seen from the Bulls in my lifetime; not too shabby, let me tell you.  Besides having the best player ever to lace them up play for our team, we made it to the top of the mountain 6 times; we cashed in on each of those opportunities, bringing home a total of 6 NBA titles.  These were the only 6 titles the Bulls have won in their franchise history, and they were all in my lifetime.  For that, I am grateful.  I ask myself if six is enough….

There is never enough winning when it comes to my teams.  Yes, that type of sustained success by any other franchise breeds hate, but for my teams, it’s glorious.  The 90s were glorious…  did I say I miss those times?  There is only one other team that has won more NBA titles in my lifetime:  the Los Angeles Lakers.  Yep, they have a Hate File… told you.  Here it is: http://www.thelocalsportstalk.com/january-26-2018-the-hate-files-xxxii/

They’ve brought home 10 NBA titles since I’ve been alive.  They are one of two franchises that have won more titles than the Bulls franchise.  The Lakers have won a total of 16 NBA titles; they’ve also lost 15 times.  Of course the Celtics are the cream of the crop;  17 NBA Titles and only 4 losses… wow; strangely, I don’t really hate the Celtics specifically.  With their recent surge, the Warriors franchise has actually pulled even with the Bulls with 6 total titles; they have lost 4 times though.  That 6-0 NBA Finals record for the Bulls looks pretty damn good.  There is NO other franchise in NBA history that has won more than 1 title without losing any.  So, there’s that…

But back to my lifetime… 6 out of the 42 possible NBA titles have been won by my team.  That only comes out to 14%, but it sure feels like a lot; it’s a lot better winning percentage than any of my other teams.  But I ask myself, what if the Bulls never won another title in my lifetime?  Would I be OK with that?  Would I still be a satisfied Bulls fan with all that I’ve seen?  Again, I do this because it’s so fricking hard watching the Bulls suck so bad right now.  I’m trying to make myself feel better; I’m trying NOT to care as much, because hey, I’ve seen 6 titles.  There are fans who haven’t celebrated 1 NBA Title.  Shouldn’t I be content with 6?!?!

I am… and then again, I’m not.  If the Bulls never win another title, I think I would personally be OK.  But what about those that have never seen the Bulls win it all?  What about everybody who didn’t get to watch MJ play night in night out?  The people who have never been to the Bulls championship rally in Grant Park… never being able to wear their Bulls gear around town, basking in the glory the way only a champion can.  I think of my son…  For those reasons, we need another; I want another.  No, I’m not OK with the Bulls never winning again; right now, it sure feels like they will never win again.  But times will change… I hope.  We may have to wait until Reinsdorf dies, like with Wirtz and the Blackhawks, and GarPax are a bad memory, but it will happen, right?  Let’s try to keep the faith through this rough ride, and make sure to buckle up, because it ain’t over.  Go Bulls!