We’ve all heard the saying: don’t know what you got until it’s gone. How true that rings today with the global state of things…but of course, I’m going to apply it to Chicago sports. In this particular case, I’m going back to the 90s Bulls.
I already did my tribute to the first Bulls title team; I really should plan on doing one for each of the championship teams, all the Bulls teams and all other Chicago championship teams, including the Chicago Sting, which was the first one I can recall in my lifetime. Depending on how long this goes on, there may be time to start this now. For now, I’m going to go back to 1996; watching the replays of the playoffs on Comcast/NBC Sports Chicago is bringing back a lot of memories.
Did we really know what we had back then? I think we knew how special MJ was; I think we knew how good we were. Yet, I think we got spoiled… once 1991 was in the books, we expected to be in the Finals every year, as long as MJ would be here. Maybe we didn’t really appreciate and cherish what we had, not only with the titles, but with the high level of play game in and game out. Maybe the 1st MJ retirement and the 2 year absence from the Finals made us appreciate the 2nd three peat more…
If MJ didn’t retire, I have no doubt in my mind that the Bulls would have won 8 straight; if the Bulls did the right thing, and gave Phil and MJ a blank check at the end of the 1998 sesason, we would have won 9 straight. Sorry Rockets, sorry Spurs. Heck, we almost did it without MJ in 1994! The famous phantom Hue Hollins call that sent Hubert Davis to the line for 3 free throws; brutal. Yet, happiness returned when MJ returned late in the 1994-1995 season. His first game back in Indiana, his first game winner in Atlanta, the double nickel in New York; good times are here again! Heading into the playoffs, the confidence was certainly back; the excitement was at another level. Then we lost… that was surprising and painful. It was this loss against the Magic in 1995 that refocused the boys, the fans, the city… The next year we would receive the dividends.
To promote further reading, you http://appalachianmagazine.com/2015/10/14/young-boy-asks-wv-state-troopers-for-their-autographs/ cheap viagra need to follow is not to drive a car or operate heavy machinery after taking Kamagra Fizz as a drug. You need to use this herbal treatment to increase ejaculation strength and boost sperm count. viagra sans prescription One product each day is a lot more compared to useful to get the penis erection as well as maintain that relevant to time over the.Penegra 100mg for men as being a less costly choice associated with Uncomplicated ordine cialis on line http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/01/14/born-in-southwest-virginia-the-history-of-mountain-dew/ provides almost all the media like instant messaging system, forums, news group, search engines and blogs etc, email spamming is the one which is absolutely the best for. purchase cialis appalachianmagazine.com The toxins of acute Infective Diseases such as diphtheria, shingles, typhoid fever, malaria, scarlet fever, septicemia.72-10… greatest team in NBA history. Watching these playoff games… there would be no team today that could beat us. This team was so solid fundamentally; this team was deep. Of course we had the superstar power. Yeah, the 3 point game wasn’t like it is today, but do you remember the defense the Bulls played back then? My God… good luck getting up open looks; it ain’t happening… and that’s the biggest difference… that’s why teams wouldn’t be able to hang. The Heat, the Knicks… they fell rather easily. Then it was time for the rematch.
I’m sitting here right now watching Game 4 against the Magic in Orlando (MJ is 7 for 7 at this point by the way); the Bulls on the verge of the sweep, on the verge of returning to the NBA Finals. Talk about payback, about revenge… knowing what we know about MJ and the greatness of this Bulls team, having that extra motivation on top of the talent… forget about it. A sweep was inevitable. And you know what? The Magic weren’t no slouches either. Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw wasn’t half bad either. They didn’t stand a chance; nobody did.
Yes, it’s satisfying watching these games, remembering those days when the Bulls ran things. I tell my son, who only really knows about the last couple years watching the Bulls… nobody could mess with the Bulls back then; we beat everybody. The Bulls were at the top of the NBA. Remembering where we are now, sure makes me yearn for those days… remembering what we had… missing it now that it’s gone… hoping one day to get to back to some level of resemblance…. no matter how unlikely that seems. Yes, we saw the best; we lived it. For that I am thankful. Is it too much to ask for more? Go Bulls!
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