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This is the time of year when people in Chicago have to remind themselves why they live in a city that can offer a high temperature of zero and wind chills off Lake Michigan that can burn your skin. Residents often joke that Chicago is a city of two seasons, winter and summer, but not in equal proportion. Winter can seemingly last well into Spring, it did snow on Easter this year. Though the weather has been atrocious, the roads have been hazardous and the failing economy has most Americans learning Scrooges’s lines this Christmas, we will always have our sports teams to focus on. That was more than apparent watching the sold out crowd at the Bear’s game Monday night, where temperatures were at an all-time low of –12. However, I digress, I’m focused and right now my tunnel vision is on the heads of the Bulls.
Despite the snow globe affect right outside my window and the extended travel times, the Bulls made their way to Detroit to take on the Pistons. I am finding it hard to channel the rivalry “grr” deep down in my spirit, because I am happier for the city of Detroit than I’ve ever been or cared to be. The motor industry bailout announced last week was clutch for our economy, even though it has some wrinkles that could stand to be ironed out. For a city that has already been through so much, you can’t help but give the entire city a thumbs-up and a quick encouraging pat on the back. There I go again, slipping down the icy slope that can lead me into an entirely different article.
Our beloved and most unpredictable Bulls eased into their 28th game with a record of 13 wins and 14 losses. The Pistons hit the court with just three fewer games, but a record of 14 wins and 11 losses. However, the biggest difference is the Pistons are 4-0 in the division, whereas the Bulls as 2-3.
Unfortunately, the Bulls were not able to practice before the game, because the road conditions were so slippery that they opted to have a team meeting at their hotel instead and hope for the best during the game. Even the winter storm crippling the Midwest has contempt for the guys.
Following the shaky National Anthem, both teams took to the court to see who would come out on top. The Pistons fans were slow to fill the stadium, most likely due to the inclement weather causing slippery roads. Nevertheless, the show must go on. Joakim Noah earned a part of his paycheck, a very small miniscule portion, when he won the first tap to give the Bulls possession. Sometimes you have to be thankful for the small things, in order to be blessed with bigger and better. It really doesn’t matter where your faith or religion rests, just be grateful. No really, because we need bigger and better.
Derrick Rose scored first for the Bulls with a beautiful lay-up. The rookie is really trying to make a bold statement. He’s forming his words and getting his grammar in line, very soon we’ll know exactly what he is saying. It will not be long before we see exactly what Rose is capable of doing with this team. Along the lines of a Truman Show type observance, he’ll grow right before our eyes. The only difference is, Rose is well aware that not just Chicago is watching his every move.
It is quite difficult to follow the Bulls play-by-play, because so many of the calls are against them and so many of the points were not made by them. At the end of the first quarter the Pistons led the Bulls by 10, and I promise it appeared to be with great ease. Have you ever sat at your desk and tried to look busy so your boss would be impressed, but all you were really doing was signing your name and moving stacks of paper from one side to the other. Well that’s kinda how I see the Bulls. They look like they’re getting the job done. They look busy and focused, but they’re just shuffling papers. (I feel like I can say anything now because I have yet to get angry mail, so that means the masses agree with me, right?)
While the crowd began to fill more seats and Tay-Tay Prince proved there is still room in the NBA for the nice quiet guy with much game, the first half ended 45-58 (You get one guess on who was leading).
After the Bulls came out of halftime with renewed energy it made me wish I had been a fly on the wall during Vinny Del Negro’s pep talk. In my mind I like to imagine it went something life this: Hey guys, we are better than this. Don’t let the Pistons get into your head. We owe it to Chicago to come home with a win. We owe it to ourselves to tap into the true talent that rests in our souls. But most importantly, we can’t have Thaisa Gee write another negative article about us. Let’s give her something else to talk about! It could be considered vain to want to be a part of a halftime speech, but it’s my fantasy and I don’t have to answer to anyone regarding what goes on in my head. Closing the gap to 4 points within 4 minutes showed signs of a real NBA team with winning on the brain. Remember when winning was a true top priority? Do you remember how it felt to have a winning team? Can you feel your adrenaline rush just thinking about it? Do you miss the Grant Park rallies and the overly decorated t-shirts, ok maybe we can leave behind the t-shirts.
With 5:31 left in the third quarter, I started to get that queasy rollercoaster feeling in my stomach. Even with Allen Iverson limping back on the court from the locker room, I felt no relief. The Bulls had found their way back down by 11. Up and down, hit and miss, my emotions were on the same ride as the points. I suppose by now we should both be used to the sensation. At the end of the third quarter I’m pretty sure my voice got raspier (which to some I understand can be sexy). I was exhausted from yelling at the screen and my fingers were tired of hitting the keys so hard. Or maybe my laptop was fighting back from the abuse. Either way, those horned mammals were down 69 to 80.
Rose, possibly frustrated from trying to figure out why he wanted to play for the home team, took a seat on the bench with just over nine minutes left in the fourth due to claiming his fifth foul. The look on his face says he’s processing what has just happened and he’s calculating how not to end up there again. He listens attentively to the coaches and study’s his teammates movements on the court.
The last six minutes of the game creeps up and I can’t help but begin to think about what’s coming on television later on or what sugary snack I can sneak in the kitchen and steal. There have been times I’ve seen the Bulls come back from behind, but there have also been times I couldn’t find the words to type these articles (very seldom occurances). Even after Rose beat Stucky down the court for a steal, it still ended with Tay-Tay dunking the ball over the top of all of their heads. I don’t know why, but doesn’t Tay-Tay remind you of the kid in kindergarten who couldn’t have cookies or red number 40? Never mind.
Perhaps the Pistons fans were trying to beat the crowd or make it home to read my article (again, a girl can wish), but the stands began to empty fast and with just under two minutes left in the game. Nine points in 1:35 minutes would be amazing and could be done by say a Michael Jordan team, a Lebron James team and even a Chris Paul team, but not a team led by a rookie. Not a team still trying to find their identity.
With 18.7 seconds left in the game Del Negro calls a 20-second timeout while the team is down 95 to 102. I’ll let you imagine what he was saying over the dry eraser board. I will leave it to you to fill in the conversation bubbles over his head and the thought bubbles over the team. With all the last second scurries, the Bulls fell to the Pistons 98-104.
Because this is the holiday season I will keep the rest of my sarcastic remarks to myself. I will end with a simple sigh, a warm smile and a big HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! SEE YOU IN ’09! KEEP THE FAITH! NO REALLY, WE NEED BIGGER AND BETTER.
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