Posts tagged ‘Joakim Noah’

We haven’t blogged (much less podcasted . . . oops) in quite sometime. My apologies. Nick and I are enjoying our last few weeks of off-season vacation before the season starts up again full swing. In the meantime, here are some must-read Bulls-related articles from “Blog-A-Bull”, “Ball Don’t Lie”, and “Dime” to keep you busy:

James Johnson Beating Buzzers and Dunking in London (ed. the put-back is insane)

Bulls Win Thriller in London, Rookies Impress Those w/ Little Expectations (ed. Mr. Blog-a-Bull is strangely positive/optimistic)

Joakim Noah Loves to Dance

The NBA’s 30 Best Go-To Players (#17: Derrick Rose)

BBC Presenters Struggle to Call a Bulls-Jazz Game

I must admit, the recent bombardment of Chicago Bulls trade rumors is beginning to overwhelm me.  Tyrus, Joakim, Gooden, Hughes, Thabo, Luol, Noch, virtually the entire team—minus Derrick Rose of course—seems to be on the market.  I’ve been refreshing ESPN like a maniac searching for Bulls updates.  Moments ago I learned from super-sleuth John Hollinger and his team of spies that the Bulls might be considering the possibility of pursuing a trade sending Captain Kirk Hinrich for unknown players on an unknown team.  Hollinger writes: 

“I’m hearing for the first time discussion of the Bulls moving Kirk Hinrich, though the destination is still unknown – ‘not Portland,’ my spy says.  Such a deal makes great sense for the Bulls but it’s hard to know who would find his contract palatable in these times.”

What is he talking about?  What “deal” makes great sense?  I wonder if this ever so vague little tidbit of “inside information” is enough to make Kirk-worshipper Nick form a few beads of sweat.

My guess, absolutely nothing will happen.  I know, it’s devastatingly unfortunate.  I believe Pax, the Great Gar Forman, and JR foolishly put all of their eggs in the Amar’e basket (the deal was so utterly illogical from the Suns perspective that it was never realistically going to go down—see: Kobe for Luol Deng).  Now, with less than 24-hours before the deadline, the Bulls brass is in panic mode aimlessly searching for another deal . . . hence, Kirk for (fill in the blank) on (fill in the blank) is newsworthy.

The folks over at Dime Magazine recapped last night’s loss to the Blazers on their blog. In one sole paragraph, they take shots at Stacey King’s worthless “Mitsubishi Keys to the Game,” Kirk’s facial hair, the Bulls front court (or the lack thereof), and Tyrus’ immature indifference.  My hatred for Tyrus is reinforced when mainstream publications rip on that idiot.

WAXING OF THE BULLS

At the beginning of Bulls/Blazers we got a look at the home team’s intro video — a CGI “Running of the Bulls” through downtown Chicago that ends with them smashing through a Blazers-logo’d bus in front of the Jordan statue — before the player intros, backed by a remixed version of the Alan Parsons Project joint that MJ made famous. Along with fireworks and a high-profile opponent on the schedule, everyone in the building seemed pretty pumped; until the camera cut to Tyrus Thomas looking like he was waiting in line at the post office. He really couldn’t have been more disinterested … Before tip, the Bulls announcers said the game plan was to shut down Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Chicago did that — holding B-Roy to 11 points and LA to eight — but they didn’t have an answer for Travis Outlaw (33 pts) or Greg Oden (17 pts, 13 rebs). Outlaw brought out his awkward leaners and weird running hook/layups, while Oden just beasted Drew Gooden and Joakim Noah … Kirk Hinrich made his return to action, about a month earlier than expected. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a month … Sign in the crowd: “Tucson Sucks.” Was that directed at Jerryd Bayless?

It has been almost a week since KG uncontrollably roared like an “I Am Legend” alpha male zombie into Michele Tafoya’s post-game microphone. The Boston Celtics capped an historic turnaround season by hoisting the trophy. They shattered the NBA record for best single-season turnaround, catapulting from 24 wins one year to 66 wins the next, a 42-game swing.

So, am I, a die-hard fan of a pathetic Bulls team that won 16 FEWER games than the season prior, a bit envious of the Celtic’s historic rise? No. Actually, just the opposite…I’m relieved NOT to be a part of it! You see, it is no mystery how the Celts elevated from forgotten bottom-dweller to SportsCenter darling…they bought it.

Alright, maybe technically-speaking they didn’t “buy it,” but it certainly feels that way. Garnett and Allen, two-thirds of the “Big Three,” were added this season via Blockbuster Trade and P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell, Eddie House, and James Posey were all signed this season for this specific title run. Sure, you can defend the acquisitions by crediting Danny Ainge as a masterful GM, but that is the same logic New Yorkers use to defend the world series rings purchased by the free-spending Yankees.

Call me crazy, old-fashioned, or naïve, but I’m glad Paxson did not sell our homegrown players for all-stars like K.G., Kobe, or Gasol. Doing so would be pretty much equivalent to Rhys Ifans, the potbellied, snaggle-toothed Welsh actor, undergoing full-body cosmetic surgery in a quest to knock Matt Damon off the “People’s Sexiest Man” throne. (Ifans is pictured here prancing around half-naked in the film Notting Hill. Unsightly.)

You see, as diehard Bulls fans, we don’t merely root for red jerseys; we become invested in and cheer for the players themselves. I’m proud that Deng, Noah, Hinrich, Gordon, Thabo, Nocioni, and (soon) Rose are all homegrown drafted Bulls. They may need a tuck or a lift here and there, but definitely not an extreme makeover. Eventually, when they win their title, Bulls fans will find it infinitely sweeter and more rewarding because we will have watched them grow and persevered with them through the most trying of times.

After all, that Welsh actor, he opted NOT to “purchase” George Clooney-like looks…and now he’s dating Sienna Miller! There is hope Bulls fans.