Conference back40::soapbox

    
    Chicago Bulls, would like to see them face Orlando for the Eastern
    Conference Champsionship, then Seattle for the NBA Finals.

    da Bulls... just because

    da Bulls are overrated.  They aren't even as good as the '91-'93 teams.

    
    don't care.  but chances are i am somehow going to get stuck watching a
    game or two if i want to see my hunnie before the champonship is over. 
    if i had to pick, i'd say the bulls.  they may may or may not be
    'overrated', but they are a pretty good team.  if i had my way, the
    celts would win, but that's pretty much impossible at this point.  :>
    

    
    
    I have to wash my hair during the play-offs...
    

    
    <---- you sure must have clean hair by now, Andy.

    Not really. He only washes it four times a year- hockey playoffs,
    basketball playoff, baseball playoffs and football playoffs.

    RE: Over rated.  Yea, right.  
    
    
    Mike
    

    After watching the NCAA tournament where teams actually play defense,
    the NBA is boring ...... basically a collection of slam dunks and
    three point shots ...... with defense defined as being in the same
    area code.
    
    
    

    Yes, the NCAA tourney is much more exciting.

    
    >Yes, the NCAA tourney is much more exciting.
    
    
    
    yer right... the minor league is much more watchable...

    
      TTWA : I wonder how it feels to be on the Miami Heat, being
     toyed with by the annointed Chicago Cattle.  ALL the media mavens
     in the other guys' locker room.  They must go home and kick the dog.
    
      bb

    
    
    .10 is right..the NCAA is much more unpredictable and exciting. UMASS
    could have won it all this year (:) boo hoo
    
    
    But DA BULLS are unbeatable this year. Nobody can touch them, not a
    chance.
    
    Saw a foxy lady on CNN tonight with a sign asking Dennis for his
    T-Shirt or marriage...
    
    Them's DA BULLS!
    
    I will bet the rent.
    
    John
    

    
    I agree John. They do look great so far, but the Knicks should give
    them a little bit more of a test. Orlando will really be the
    championship series. None of the teams in the West can beat Chicago,
    even on their best night.

>    championship series. None of the teams in the West can beat Chicago,
>    even on their best night.
    
    That's not a very observant comment.  Houston is clearly the best in
    the west.  They simply don't know how to lose and play better as a team
    (i.e., teamwork) than anyone in the league.  Seattle was also one of
    the few that beat Chicago during the year.  They have the weapons to
    challenge them.  
    
    I agree though that the rest of the west doesn't cut it.  Of course,
    this assumes that Chicago survives Orlando.  I don't think they will.  
    The playoffs are more physical, half-court styled, and the Bulls don't
    have the inside presence to compete with Orlando.
    
    I think it will be a rematch of last year.
    
    Mike

    Chicago *can* be beat - a first year expansion team proved that earlier
    this season.  8*)

    
      you guys are mooing into the wind
    
      bb

    
    Chris, they did lose 10 games this year, but no team beat them twice.
    The Bulls will take Orlando, then Seattle or Houston. don't forget
    Mr. heiser, the Bulls beat both Houston and Seattle.

    
       I thought the Pacers beat them twice this year, the second time
     being the Bull's last home game of the year. It spoiled their chance
     to tie Boston's record for most home wins in a season.
                                                          

    
    <---- eek, I stand corrected.

    Chicago faced Houston when they were depleted with injuries.  The real
    Rockets are playing now.  Remember, they ARE the 2-time defending
    champs.
    
    Mike

    
    Mike, the Bulls will crush them for their 4th title. Rember, they used
    to be 3 time defending champs. :-)

 Z   Mike, the Bulls will crush them for their 4th title. Rember, they used
 Z       to be 3 time defending champs. :-)
    
    Mark, keep things in perspective...I come from Celtics country and for
    years the Bulls were good for laughs!  Remember from whence you came!
    :-)

    
    California, but don't tell anyone.

    "used to be" is the operative phrase.

    
    Mike, talk to me in June, and we will see who IS the champ. :-)

    If they don't win it all, it will go down in NBA history as the biggest
    choke ever.  No excuses!
    
    Many, including NBA players, still say that the Bulls of '91-'93 were a
    better team than this one.

    If I lived in Chicago I would be rabid about the playoffs, but here in
    Boston, I'll be looking for some drying paint to watch. Dennis Rodman
    IS my favorite NBA player, and also has the best tattoos and piercings,
    so I'll pick da bulls.
    
    lunchbox

    Teams on a good night can beat the Bulls.  I don't see
    any team beating them 4 ot of 7.  As far as matching with
    Orlando,  depends on the refs.  If they let Shack shoulder
    and push, they may have a chance.
    
    
    Mike
    

    That whole "no hand check" rule killed the Knicks this year. Shaq
    racked up the fouls, too. Stupid rule. 

    Re: -1
    
    this is basketball not hockey.  If you aren't quick enough to guard
    your opponent without checking then you shouldn't be playing.

    re:-1
    
    this is basketball, not ballet. If you can't stand somebody placing his
    hands on you without crying you shouldn't be playing.

    since we all know that Michael Jordan will singlehandedly win the NBA
    playoffs by hisself, if u believe the Chicago press, then it's a moot
    point.  They should all just crown him king and go home 6 weeks
    earlier.

    >Dennis Rodman IS my favorite NBA player, and also has the best tattoos 
    >and piercings, so I'll pick da bulls.
    
     It figures that Lunchbox's favorite is the biggest AH in pro sports.
    How incredibly.... consistent.
    
    >this is basketball, not ballet. If you can't stand somebody placing his
    >hands on you without crying you shouldn't be playing.
    
     It has nothing to do with crying, you moron. Defense is played with
    the feet. Allowing "hand checking" is tantamount to legalized fouling.
    You can't just hold someone to keep them from going around you. I take
    it you are unacquainted with basketball fundamentals...

    
    	Agreed.  Rodman is a sorry guy.  I saw the Stone Phillips'
    interview the other night, and the biggest emotion I felt for him
    was pity.
    
    

    talk about craving attention...

    Aw...you guys are just jealous of his hairdooooo.  8^)
    
    I wonder what color it will be next game?

    re.34
    
    There are different schools of thought as to how basketball, or any
    sport for that matter, is to be played. 
    
    Europeans gawk at the NHL. They don't think the game should be played
    with the physical element.
    
    The AL in MLB has a designated hitter; the NL does not.
    
    Boomer Esiason(sp?) spearheaded a movement to have the ridiculous
    "crowd control rule" in the NFL, because the opponents' crowds were so
    loud that his line could not hear him shouting the plays, so when a
    crowd got above a certain decibel level, the home team was punished
    with a 5-yard penalty. I see the crowd as "part of the game", and I
    find it appalling that somebody would charge $75 for a ticket to a
    sporting event, and tell me not to make noise. 
    
    I, personally, feel that handchecking IS a legitimate form of defense.
    I also think driving through the defender is a legitimate form of
    offense, though most consider it an offensive foul.  Forgive me for
    playing the game physical, that's the way we played it at school, after
    school, and it's the way I play it now. Of course, it has consequences. 
    I have a scar over my right eye by somebody deciding to answer my
    physical play with an overhand right(he wasn't the first nor the last;
    simply the luckiest). I view the game differently from you. You
    consider me a moron for it. In my neighborhood your masculinity would
    be questioned because of it. Is everybody that disagrees with you a
    moron, or does your knee-jerk ignorance apply only to me?
    
    
    lunchbox

    Lunchie:
    
    Boomer "did NOT spearhead the rule for crowd control...he just
    bellyached the most and whined all the way up to Tagliboo and
    threatened to leave NYC.   The rule actually came into the NFL in 1963.

    >I, personally, feel that handchecking IS a legitimate form of defense.
    
     That's because you're too slow to play real defense. Handchecking is
    an admission that you can't move your feet. Handchecking happens when
    A) the player is overmatched and just can't keep up or B) the player
    has no wind and is in poor shape, and fatigue dictates lazy defense.
    
    >Forgive me for
    >playing the game physical, that's the way we played it at school, after
    >school, and it's the way I play it now.
    
     Playing physical is a poor substitute for talent.
    
    >In my neighborhood your masculinity would be questioned because of it.
    
     BFD. Fortunately I don't consider my masculinity to be held hostage by
    your friends.

    
    Bulls won a squeeker last night. Can't honestly remember the last time
    I saw them miss so many shots in one game. Jordan to the rescue, again.

    714.40     :)
    Peter

    RE: .38
    
    Must be a NY Brick fan.

    The goons have no place in any sport.  Goons atempt to make up for a
    lack of skill with intimidation.  Hockey haas been destroyed because of
    the unnecessary fighting that goes on.  Hockey can be played very well
    and excitingly without fighting.  The Olympics do not aloow it,
    International rules forbid it, and the games are wondeful displays of
    hockey.  The NHL can eliminate it, but right now they won't. Maybe
    someday they will.
    
    The NBA, and basketball in general, is a non-contact sport.  Aloowing
    goons to take cheap shots and hold only brings the level of the truly
    outstanding athletes down.
    
    As a side note, I saw an incredible call against Rodman on Sunday.  He
    got called for his second personal and the replay was very
    enlightening.  Oakley had his arm and elbow up onder Rodman's chin,
    pushing him.  When the ball came down Oakley pushed Rodman back and
    knocked him to the floor, and Rodman gets the call against him.  I am
    not a fan of Rodman's antics, but I do think he is a very accomplished
    rebounder and really gets some bad calls because of his rep.
    

    Rodman is a one-dimensional player and a clown.

    .45
    
    Yeah, but he's pretty good at his one dimension.
    

    Chicago would've been better off keeping Horace Grant.  He plays better
    D, will board as much, give you 15-20 ppg on top of it, and not disrupt
    the team chemistry on or off the floor.
    
    Mike

    I agree with you on this one, Mike.  I thought that losing Grant was a
    huge loss for Chicago.  Rodman plays good D and grabs a lot of boards, 
    but he has zero scoring talent whatsoever.  He DOES do pretty good on
    the outlet passes, though.
    
    
    -steve

    I had no idea that crowd control rule was so old. I haven't heard much
    of it lately, is it still on the books?
    
    I don't think the physical style of play where I used to play was due
    to laziness. We would play for around four hours most days. I just
    figure it was something that evolved long before I started playing.
    Hoops to me was always something to do in between hockey season, so I
    never shared your passion for the game, which is probably why I'm so
    willing to stray from the rules. It reminds me of an exchange student
    from Holland at my friend's high school a few years ago. He was on the
    soccer team, and would always get offended, because soccer was serious
    business to him, and he was sick of all the hack kids he had to play
    with/against. I have no illusions that kids I played hoop with are
    going to go to the NBA. There was a severe lack of finesse, but we had
    fun and I guess that's what counts.
    
    My one complaint about Rodman is that he tends to get lazy after a
    turnover, he just kind of leisurely jogs up the floor. I admire the
    emotion he puts into the game, even if he loses control of it from time
    to time.
    
    lunchbox
    
    

    
    If you would have seen what he wore to his book signing on Friday you
    have been howling with laughter. Silver hair, silver lipstick, eye
    shadow etc... a feathered boa, driving up on a motorcycle.

    saw it.
    
    howled.

    Well, he's....creative, anyway.  <snicker>
    
    He really goes out of his way to look gaudy.

    Attention seeker extraordinaire.

    prolly really shy

    He's just...um...eccentric. I think it's admirable that he expresses
    himself, as opposed to blending in with the rest of the non-superstar
    players.

    And his talents speak for themselves. How long has he been in the
    league, since way back in Detroit? He didn't get by on his tattoos.

    I thought Rue Paul was signing for him.

    
    Lunchbox..you can't be serious? Running through an opponent to score is
    good offense? This is basketball, not football.
    
    Someone said that basketball is a non-contact sport. In theory, maybe,
    but I'd sure hate to get whacked with those flying elbows that get
    thrown after some big dude grabs a rebound. I think basketball is one
    of the most demanding of physical sports, next to hockey.
    
    John

    
    basketball is a non-contact sport??? bwahahahahh   just tune into the
    Bulls and Knicks second round game tonight, to see just how little
    contact there is. While that may be true in theory, it doesn't hold up
    in reality.

    We just always played that way. As I said, it had evolved to be
    physical before I got there. I don't know if it started as some macho
    competition or what, but elbows, grabbing, and fighting were all
    commonplace. Any basketball purist would be aghast seeing it, I'm sure. 
    It was a bizarre mutation of basketball, now that I think about it, but
    that's how I was taught and that's the type of basketball I enjoy
    today. That is why driving through the defender and handchecking to
    slow an offensive attack hold credibility in my eyes. Just a matter of
    opinion, I guess.
    
    
    lunchbox

    hack-et ball

    exactly.

    
    
    
    
    	Chicago 91  NY 80
    
    BTW Rodman *was* very shy as a youngster. 
    
    John
    

    
    
    >BTW Rodman *was* very shy as a youngster.
    
    Is that why he's a dork/jerk nowadays???

    
    
    re -1
    
    Maybe..maybe he's overcompensating
    
    Of course he could walk our hallowed hallways and see some of the
    pocket protectors, white socks, black glasses, etc, and come to the
    same conclusion about 'dorks'.
    
    John
    

    
     Sonics swept Rockets (OT), Orlando over Atlanta, Bull beat Knicks,
    Jazz over Spurs.  Best player of the day Sunday was surely Morris
    of Utah.  This guy is quite exciting to watch.
    
     bb

    The Bulls didn't look too sharp yesterday.  

    But they were sharp enough...

    Seattle sure looks sharp though.

    I think it was just that they matched up well against the Rockets.
    We'll see if they can carry that kind of play forward into the next
    series...

    
      Watched Atlanta hang on and win one over Orlando.  This won't
     last - it will be Bulls v. Magic East, Sonics v. Jazz West.
    
      Shaq's free throw shooting is painful to watch.  He should practice.
    
      bb

    He has practiced. He's had his own free throw coach. He apparently gets
    himself worked up when he gets to the line.

    as most fans know, Wilt was a terrible free throw shooter also ... he
    still bagged his points and won a couple of titles too!

    Wilt had been a terrific free throw shooter, up until the time they
    made it compulsory to stay within the free throw circle for each free
    throw. Prior to that, he took a running start at halfcourt, took off at
    the foul line and slammed it home.

    too ludicrious to even be believable...:-)

    
    Wilt used to shoot his free throws from the top of the key. still was
    a lousy free throw shooter. Rick Barry was one of the best, underhanded
    to boot.

    
    Bulls beat the Knicks 91-84, to advance to the Eastern Conference
    championship round. Orlando on deck.

    
      Spurs forced game 6.  Admiral had a day.
    
      bb

    What an ugly first half, eh Mark?  What were they, like 5 or 18
    or some such?
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    yeah Mike, they couldn't shoot to save their bacon. 5 out of 18.
    9 of 30 for the first half. oh, and the final was 94-81. their defense
    was great as usual though.

    Aye tough "D".  Jordan finally started hitting, that helped.
    Did you see/hear why Rodman got the second "T".  Didn't look
    like he did anything.  Wasn't even a hard foul.  He may have 
    said the magic word.  Has there been even one playoff game, 
    where he hasn't picked up at least one technical???
    
    
    Mike
    

    He didn't deserve the first "T", IMO.
    
    
    -steve

    I'm inclined to agree with you, Steve.  Don't know what he
    said, though.  Bulls announcers were joking about the ref
    not	taking any guff, Johnny Red Kerr said, "He even tossed
    and announcer out once this year."  Pretty funny, but locational.
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Orlando wins game 5 over Atlanta 96-88. next up the Bulls on Sunday
    at 2:30 CST.

    
      Magic shoot down Hawks.  Cattle next.
    
      bb

    <--  I don't think so,  bb
    
    
    Mike
    

    
      Admiral sunk jazzily. Next gig sonic, Sat.
    
      bb

    
    Bulls lay a whipping on Orlando to start the series. oh, it was fun
    to watch indeed!!!! Rodman with 21 rebounds, ruled the boards.

    Rodman also had 13 points...to the surprise of Orlando.  8^)
    
    The Bulls put on a clinic of how to score, they did.

    
      Sonics boom jazz.
    
      Revenge of the Herds...
    
      bb

    Good Bulls game.  I still don't like the crap O'neil gets
    away with.  Bulls better come to play Tuesday, or Orlando
    may slip by them.  Any update on Grants elbow?
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    It's still attached.
    
    BB, this is the Bulls year. number 4.

    
    O'Neil gets away with plenty Mike. He backs in constantly and never
    gets called for it. He isn't above taking an extra step or two either.
    
    Tuesday's game should be much closer.

    I remember a series between Boston and LA in which Boston utterly
    pummeled the Lakers (by 34 points, or so). Boston ended up losing the
    series...
    
     Still, the Bulls made quite a statement.

    RE: Still attached.  Thanks for that update.  Remind me to smack
        your sunburn when I see you.
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Sonics edge out the Jazz. 2-0
    
    Bulls vs Orlando in game two tonight. 7:30 start time on Sport's
    Channel.

    
    Michael Jordan looking for $36 million over two years. This is the
    minimum amount by the way.

    
>    Sonics edge out the Jazz. 2-0
 

     Gee, that's a low score for a basketball game, isn't it?


   
   
 Jim

    Yes indeed.  Must have been an outstanding defensive battle.

    
    <---- shaddup youse guys

    
    Bulls pull it out in the second half, to go up 2 games to none.
    Final score Bulls 93 Magic 88.
    
    Game 3 on Saturday.

    Good come back.  They were down by 18 in the third quarter.
    36 million yikes!  This from the same guy who took less
    money to get what's his name from North Carolina.
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Horace Grant is out for the rest of the year with an elbow injury.
    No big deal. Bulls will crush Orlando with or without him.

    Running into Shaq can be dangerous... 

    
    Well, the Bulls sweep Orlando. Seattle on deck.

    
      Um, Jazz won game 5 last night in Seattle in overtime.
    
      bb

    
    umm, Utah won't take the series.

    No, but the Jazz might.

    
    
    Bulls waiting on their next fodder...Rodman is outstanding on the
    boards and has actually stepped up his scoring. Michael is just...
    Michael.
    
    Bulls win the series 4 games to 1, against Seattle.
    
    If Orlando stays intact as a team till next season ( Shaq talking about
    walking), then they will finally become a real contender starting next
    year. Only because Da Bulls are getting old.
    
    John
    

      The bulls will never get old.
    
    BG

    
    I could be wrong here, but I think the Bulls will contend for the title
    for at least the next two years. They will resign Dennis Rodman, the
    "King", and Phil Jackson. Of course, Reinsdorf will have a much lighter
    wallet because of this.
    
    Mark

    
    Looks like I may have penned in Seattle a tad early. Utah thrashed
    them by 35 points, to force game 7 on Sunday. Game 1 of the Finals
    will be in Chicago on Wednesday night @8:00 p.m. CST.
    
    Bulls will crush either team in 4 games, 5 at the most.

    The Bulls will be well-rested, unlike the team they face, who will have
    played three more games than the Bulls.  A definite
    advantage for them (the Bulls), if they can stay mentally sharp.

    
    Sonics take game 7, 90-86. 
    
    Now let the real games begin...

 Will the playoffs be over in time for the new season to start?

    
    yes, but it will beclose.

    The real games are already over ....... Kentucky beat Syracuse.

    
    <-------- you are mistaken. you call Syracuse a team????????/
    
    Sorry Jack

Go Orangemen

    WTF kinda name is that? Orangemen? I guess they don't have much
    imagination up at Syracuse. 
    
     "And what color do you want the uniforms to be?"
    
     "Uh, orange, I guess."
    
     "Ok, and what's the team name?"
    
     "Uh, um, they need a name?"
    
     "Yeah, it's kinda customary for the team to have a name. Like the
    fighting irish of Notre Dame, or the crimson tide of Alabama, or the
    tar heels of North Carolina."
    
     "Uh, I dunno. Jes' call 'em the orangemen and be done with it."

The name of the teams at my alma mater, NYU, is The Violets.

 Years ago when I lived in Colorado Springs, the El Paso Community College
 (now Pikes Peak CC, I believe) named their teams the "Fighting Aardvarks".



 Jim

"How did you get that aardvark bite?"

>The name of the teams at my alma mater, NYU, is The Violets.
    
    Shrinking or African? :-)

When I went there, they had neither a football team nor a basketball team.
Both programs had been shut down due to gambling [?] scandals.  So I guess
they were shrunken violets.

    
      In an interview, Dennis Rodman's mother informs us that he is
     a joyful, wonderful boy.
    
      bb

| <<< Note 714.127 by GAAS::BRAUCHER "Welcome to Paradise" >>>

| In an interview, Dennis Rodman's mother informs us that he is
| a joyful, wonderful boy.

	Joyful? Is he gay? :-)

    
      Wouldn't surprise me, Glen.  He did the book tour in black/white
     striped hair, feather boa, bare arms with all the tattoos, hooped
     earrings.  It made the straightlaced commentator (and former star)
     Julius Erving practically barf.
    
      But D.R. is mebbe bizarro even by your standards...
    
      bb

	Not maybe, he is. Btw, he already said he was bisexual.

    
    well, the tattood one will be there at the United Center tonight.
    Bulls will rock and roll over Seattle for game 1.

| <<< Note 714.131 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs" >>>


| Bulls will rock and roll over Seattle for game 1.

	But will they win when they play the game?

    
    
    Yep, they will and did, win. 107-90.
    
    I think all the time off they had waiting to see who the next opponent
    would be actually hurt them for a bit...they looked a bit rusty in the
    first half. Too much time on their hands.
    
    But they lit it up when it counted.
    

    Absurd flagrant foul call on Brickowski. Then the ref compounded the
    error with a pair of technicals (although at least Brickowski deserved
    a technical.) But he had plenty of reason to be PO. The "flagrant" foul
    was a foul all right, but it was just a regular foul, one that is
    committed 20 times a game without even being called half that many
    times. The announcers, like Battis, have already decided who's won.

    
    christ almighty doc, get that damn chip off your shoulder. The Bulls
    are the best this year or any other year. I guess you just get ticked
    off because Chicago has a winning team. Like our teams, we have a world
    class city. get over it. maybe, someday Boston teams will win
    something.

	Battis, Boston was winning the NBA long before the Bulls ever had a
winning season. 

	While I think the Bulls are the best in b-ball right now, you saw what
it was like without MJ.... they just can't pull together without him.




Glen

    
    Boston hasn't won a championship in a decade or more. Yes, they have
    won more titles than any NBA team. The Bulls are third with 4. (this
    year included). My point with the doctah, is that he gets ticked off
    because I've known all year the Bulls are the best. He says I'm
    being "obnoxious". tough noogies, the Bulls are the best. ever.

    RE: Doctah,  I have to disagree, Brickowski went after his head.
    	The bench is going to have to show up next game.

>He says I'm being "obnoxious". [...] the Bulls are the best. ever.
    
     You don't have to go out of your way to prove my point for me.
    
     As for the Bulls being "the best ever", <smile>.

    
    I think they are. everybody is entitled to their opinion. some say
    the 71-72 lakers, some say Boston teams, etc......

Mark,

No offense, but the Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bears
don't make me think "winning tradition", at least in my lifetime. 

Not that Boston is any better these days.

daryll

    
    daryll, you are correct about the Cubs. last division title was 1989,
    before that 1984. Sox on the other hand are going head to head with 
    Cleveland this year.

Mark,

The Bruins and the Sox have more than their share of division 
titles over the past decade. Division titles are a joke. Going 
into the Garden and seeing all these Bruin division banners next 
to the Celts World Championship banners used to be good for a 
chuckle. When I was at the Forum in Montreal a couple years ago 
with my brother, the ultimate Bruins fan, I made him painfully 
aware that those Canadien banners were not "division 
championships". They couldn't be bothered to hang those...

daryll

    >I think they are. 
    
     Well, of course you do. They clearly are the best we've seen in the
    90's, from my perspective. But it's impossible to know how they would
    have matched up to other super teams, even those of the mid 80s. And
    face it, match-ups are very important. A team that appears to be
    invincible to most of the league can be victimized by another team
    simply due to match-ups. We've seen it before- teams that are supposed
    to "go all the way" only to lose in a preliminary round to a team with
    an inferior record because they didn't match up well.
    
     My problem with your crowing is that you've been an obnoxious little
    piss-ant about it. It's one thing to say "Chicago's gonna go all the
    way. This is the year they get the championship back!" You won't even
    raise an eyebrow with it. It's quite another thing to give them the
    trophy before it's been earned. Pippen starts shooting like he did
    against New York and Kucoc gets his back spasms back and the team will
    look to St Michael for salvation. And they might not find it. It's a
    mental game, and right now Chicago is overflowing with confidence. But
    it can be shaken. A poor showing in Chi-Town tomorrow could turn the
    series around. Not that I'm counting on it or anything. But there is
    uncertainty. 

    The greatest team of all time has Luc Longley as the center ?

    
    Jordan more than makes up for Longley or Wennington. and yes, they do.
    Doc has a point. Teams from different eras are hard to compare.

    The greatest team of all time has Luc Longley at center and a star
    player who takes himself out of a playoff game because he doesn't get to
    take the last shot ?
    
    

    
    <---- well the second greatest team has a center that says he slept
    with 20,000 women. what's your point?

    Wake up people.  The greatest team of all time was the 1966 Celtics!
    
    You Cossacks!

    
    <---- were'n't they defeated by Attila the Hun in 5 games?

    It is hard to compare different eras.  Athletes now, are bigger
    stronger and faster than athletes from the past.  If it were
    possible, I'd wager a few teams of the 90's would run the old
    {insert your fav championship team from the past} ragged, regardless
    of matchups.
    
    
    Mike
    

Then again, those old-timers could shoot a free throw...

daryll

    
    yes. Wilt Chamberlain could shoot free throws, making them was a
    totally different story though.
    
    Actually, the best free throw shooters that I have seen are
    Rick Barry, Jerry West, Calvin Murphy, Gail Goodrich..... the old
    timers were better free throw shooters than todays players.

    My point, senor Battis, is that throwing the term "greatest team in
    history" at the 1995-6 Bulls squad is very funny.  Now I do understand
    that they won more reglar season games than any team before them ....
    and had the fortune to play the new Toronto and Vancouver franchises
    a few times to boot ...... and they have one of the finest players to
    play the pro game in Jordan ...... but everything today has to be
    "the best" ....... and IMHO any team with no center ...... and a 
    soft star player (Pippen) ...... that plays in a league where show
    takes precedence over substance really can't be the "greatest" of
    all time ......... but, hey, it's your time to shine .... enjoy the
    ride and may the best team win ........ I won't be watching.

    
    small nit, senor young. Jordan is the *greatest* player of all time,
    bar none.

I think the 86 Celts match up quite nicely against Da Bulls.
Parish, McHale, and Bird would give them fits and DJ would do as 
good a job as anyone could guarding Jordan.

daryll

    
    the player best suited to guarding Jordan hasn't been born yet.

    
    
    Chicago is the best team this year. And maybe in the 90's. But the best
    team of all times? I doubt it. I agree that '86 Boston would probably
    kick their butts in a 7 game series. Even some of the Magic-era Lakers
    teams would beat them in a series, when their fast-break game was
    clicking. Remember 'Showtime'? I think even Chicago's dfense would have
    a hard time with that.
    
    John
    

    Yeah, I'm sure that Luc would have all the answers needed to silence
    Kareem. :-) For my money, I'd take any of the 84-86 Lakers or Celtic
    teams over the Bulls. Who on the Bulls would cover McHale? And that
    would leave whom to cover Bird?
                             

    
    Rodman on McHale, Pippen on Bird. Who guards Jordon?? DJ?? he'd eat
    his lunch.

	You seem to forget about Parrish..... 

    
    well, the Bulls have proved once again, they are the greatest team on
    this planet. There isn't a team alive that can beat them. It will all
    be over on Wednesday night.

    
    no, Glen. Luc Longley will cover Parish.

    I think your're over looking their depth.  Bird, McHale etc.
    would have to play so many minutes, by the 4th quarter they 
    wouldn't have much left...
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    The only thing wrong with the Bulls is no defense from Toni K.
    if he played defense like he plays offense, the Bulls would be a
    juggernaut. well, they are now, anyway.

    <<< Note 714.163 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs" >>>

    
  >  no, Glen. Luc Longley will cover Parish.

   Luc would have a hard time with Kite, forget Parish.

   daryll

    Longley is coming along...finally starting to get his offensive legs. 
    It was good to see him go aggressively to the hoop.  I think he had 19
    points last night (a personal best in the playoffs).
    
    I think this series will be over next game.
    
    -steve

    
    I see where John Calipari left UMass to coach the Nets. $3 million
    a year is good incentive, especially with Camby leaving early.

      I think the first year Moses Malone Sixers team would beat
      the Bulls...
    
      C Malone eats Longley alive.
      F Erving beats out Pippen
      F Rodman over Caldwell Jones (closer than you'd think)
      G Andrew Toney assasinates Ron Harper
      G Jordan anihilates anyone who comes near him (Maurice Cheeks).
    
      6th man
      Bobby Jones toasts Tony Kukoc
    
      I would definitely take the Showtime Lakers over the Bulls.
      No way Jordan badly outdoes Magic, Worthy on fastbreak outshines
      Pippen.  Jabbar clobbers Longley.  Cooper over Harper.  Rodman
      over Rambis.
    
      But, as a team, that fast break of LA's - best team play I ever
      saw, imo.  And then at half court offense; best single weapon in
      the game; the unblockable sky hook of Kareem's.
    
      Probably '86 Celtics too!
    
      One thing about players of the past.  Give them the same environment
      these players had - more sophisticated training, conditioning, sports
      medicine, sneakers, coaching and *then* see how close they would 
      match up.
    
    							Tony
    							Tony
    
    						Tony

>    							Tony
>    							Tony
>    
>    						Tony

When does your next CD come out?

    Andrew Tony was a ball hog!

    
>    I see where John Calipari left UMass to coach the Nets. $3 million
>    a year is good incentive, especially with Camby leaving early.


     more like $5m..



 Jim

    
    <---- I thought it was $15 million for 5 years.

    
    Who would guard Jordan? Well, don't forget about DJ and Danny Ainge.
    I'd like to see Rodman try to peddle his s*it on Danny..
    
    re Doc, .159
    
    Yeah, and remember about what somebody said about Larryy Bird, early
    on. Even Larry likes to quote it "Can't jump, can't run. Pathetic."
    
    ;)
    John
    
    Da Bulls will come out on fire Wednesday, because they want to be in
    the NBA history books. As well they should be, given the year they've
    had. Good luck to them..Seattle deservs to lose, since they just rolled
    over on their home court yesterday.
    
    Just remember to keep the scenario in perspective..look at the
    competition.

      I didn't mean to be unkind to the Bulls either.
    
      We're talking best teams of ALL TIME!!!
    
      I'm amazed the 80's had those three teams (Lakers, 76'ers,
      Celtics).
    
      I would have had fun arguing this back and forth, but whatever.
    
    						Tony

	the '84 Celtics 'green team' could beat dese bulls.

    
    <---- you sure about that Jay?? I mean they haven't played together
    in 12 years, I'm sure they would be rusty as a nail.

	:-)
	
	actually, i'm never sure about anything, mark.  ;-)
	
	for instance: was it the '84 Celtics or the '86 Celtics that had
	the "green team" ? 

    
    Mark, congrats on your team.
    I know how much fun it is when your favorite team wins it all.
    Jordan is a special player and you're lucky to have a talent like
    that to enjoy watching.
    
    As for which team from which era is better...tis fun to speculate
    but we'll never know. 
    
    						Enjoy, hell gloat!
    						You've earned the right!
    
    							Hank

    
    You're right Hank, comparing past to present teams is an excercise in
    futility. There is no way to prove or disprove who is best. I have
    enjoyed watching the Bulls all year. Even went to a game this year, but
    I watch them whether they are good or bad. I just love the game, be it
    pro or college.

    
      Although, Jordan DID play against the Bird teams.  Granted, this
     was at the end of the Bird/McHale/Parrish period, when they'd lost
     a step, and Michael was still getting better, although the Bulls
     were largely awful otherwise.  What is interesting about those old
     playoff games was that, while Boston almost always won, Michael was
     always top scorer in the game.  I think he had 50-60 in two straight
     losses.  Nobody on that team could stop him.  But those Bulls teams
     were so bad, it was all in vain.
    
      bb

    
    I believe Jordon scored 63 in a playoff game in Boston a few years
    back, maybe in the late 80's?

    Yes, 63, a playoff record, in a losing cause. I think it was in 1985,
    but it may have been 1986.

    
    <--- I do remember the Bulls losing the game in spite of Jordan's
    performance.

 Z   Yes, 63, a playoff record, in a losing cause. I think it was in 1985,
 Z       but it may have been 1986.
    
    It was actually the quarter finals in 1987.  The Celts went on to lose
    to the Lakers.
    
    

    
> Z   Yes, 63, a playoff record, in a losing cause. I think it was in 1985,
> Z       but it may have been 1986.
>    
>    It was actually the quarter finals in 1987.  The Celts went on to lose
>    to the Lakers.
    
    I believe it was 86.  I know it was his second year, the year he broke
    a bone in his foot and missed most of the year.  The next year he won
    the first of 7 consecutive scoring titles.  I need to back up to
    get to which year that was.
    
    96 - this year
    95 - Orlando eliminates Bulls
    94 - In retirement
    87-93 - scoring title years
    86 - broken foot and 49 & 63 point playoff games versus Celts
    85 - rookie year
    84 - Olympian as collegian
    
    That looks right to me,
    Greg
    

    
    wow. I believe the Bulls forgot that they had to actually play game 4
    last night. I think this Seattle blowout will help to focus them
    on their priority, and that's winning the title. I look to tomorrow
    night's game to be totally different than last nights game. Bulls
    will win by 12 or more.

	Mark, I thought you might like seeing this:




================================================================================
Note 714.162                      NBA Playoffs                        162 of 187
ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs"      4 lines  10-JUN-1996 08:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    well, the Bulls have proved once again, they are the greatest team on
    this planet. There isn't a team alive that can beat them. It will all
    be over on Wednesday night.

    
      The Sonics also played better.  But Mark's right - the Bulls
     played worse.  This might even go back to Chicago for a Game 6.
     
      bb

    Seattle spanked them but good.  Don't think it will happen twice...
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Glen, I believe someone broke into my account that day. :-) :-)
    
    oh, I might just be a teensy bit biased regarding the Bulls.

    What was the final score?  I went to bed early in the 4th quarter, as
    the outcome had already been determined.  Chicago came out flat and
    stayed flat.  Even MJ couldn't buy a basket.  Unlike in the first three
    games, there was little to no offensive movement (in the first three
    games, you saw a very active offense- everyone cutting and moving, and
    good ball movement).  In fact, they spent most of the game standing
    around.
    
    Perhaps they will be more enthusiastic next game.  They had a chance to
    set a playoff record and blew it.  My guessis that they will win the
    next game, though it may be a reasonably close game.
    
    Seattle looked darned good, on the other hand.  If the Bulls has been
    willing to put a bit of effort into the game, it would have been a very
    exciting game to watch.  Seattle had a hot hand shooting, and their
    defense looked very good.  A different team than the one who played in
    game 1 and 3 (they looked good in game 2, actually, even though they
    lost).
    
    
    -steve

    
    <----- 107-86

    Isn't this thing over yet?  

    Tiny nit, I was under the impression they could have tied
    a playoff record.  According Costas & company...
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    no Mike, they would have set a new one 15-1. The Philadelphia 76'ers
    have the best pct at 12-1 920.00. The Bulls can onlt tie for 2nd
    again by going 15-2.

    If last night's game had been game 3, it'd be a new series. As it is,
    it seems more like a delay of the inevitable. It's absolutely
    UNTHINKABLE that the Bulls could lose the series leading 3-1. At 2-1,
    with two more on the away court, it would be a different story.

    The entire game changed on the call of an official. Rodman's Technical
    foul was IMO unjustified and immediately sent the message that the
    officials were not going to allow Chicago to play it's game. The
    frustration was evident on the faces of the Chicago players. Game
    officials should never dictate the flow of the game. I think they did
    in this case and the game's results were as correographed by the
    officials.

    >I think they did in this case and the game's results were as 
    >correographed by the officials.
    
     You mean like game 1? I note that Brickowski's "flagrant foul" has been
    rescinded by the league.
    
     And it's "choreographed".
    

    .187
    
    It was just good advertisement.  Had to let them have one.  Heck of the
    Bulls beat 'em everytime people would quit watching. :-)

    I saw several touchy calls on both sides of the ball, though I did miss
    the opening quarter (I was taking my C final...but that's another
    story  8^) ).

    
    	"On both sides of the ball"?
    
    	Were there more calls on the outside of the ball or the inside
    	of the ball?
    

    
    time for the Bulls to end this series once and for all.

    
    Oh boy, I'm starting to wonder about this series. Seattle won again
    tonight. Da Bulls had their lowest output as far as point production.
    
    The series goes back to Chicago now. Final score was 89-78.
    
    Chicago won't lose the championship on their home court, that's almost
    for certain. But all of a sudden, the Bulls look mortal.
    
    Hockey's over, basketball almost over. Soon all we'll have is baseball
    to hold us over till football.
    
    Prediction: Dallas and Pittsburgh once again in Super Bowl. Pittsburgh
    wins, 24-17.
    
    John

    looking into your crystal monitor?

	Mark, I think someone might have broken into your account again....




================================================================================
Note 714.203                      NBA Playoffs                        203 of 205
ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs"      2 lines  14-JUN-1996 09:14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    time for the Bulls to end this series once and for all.

    
    <----- nope, the series and the championship are over. Bulls are the
    1996 World Champions.

 Looks like "the greatest team of all time" chatter has all but ended, however.

| <<< Note 714.207 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs" >>>


| nope, the series and the championship are over. Bulls are the 1996 World 
| Champions.

	Hey.... they had to win. This ain't baseball, so they couldn't go with
3 strikes.... well, at least not if they wanted to be known as the best team
alltime. So did Rodman do something outlandish after the game? Like did he dye
his hair it's natural color (whatever that may be)?


Glen

    
    I'm happy to report that very little looting went on in Chicago. Though
    some idiots tried to burn down some gas pumps at a Shell station. Good
    thing the owner had the sense to shut the pumps off before they started
    throwing matches. Damn fools.

well Mark, if them fools didn't shut off the gas pumps, you might have just
burnt the place down! :-)

    I fail to see the connection between being happy about your team
    winning and looting/burning/etc.  What's the deal?
    
    Seems the happy town who took the Stanley Cup had a rip-roarin' time
    trashing their town, too.  To me, happiness and breaking windows seem
    to be on opposite sides of the coin.  
    
    Makes me happy that Cincinnati hasn't won anything big lately (I do
    remember a big to-do down-town in 1990, though, but there was no
    looting).
    
    
    -steve

    
    Chicago does have its share of idiots. One 19 year old kid was quoted
    as saying "It's our God given right to loot" Say what?????
    
    Of course, it's the police God given right to shoot people like him
    

 "our teams the best! Let's destroy the city!"

    I read somewhere that the city of Chicago has been working a strategy
    many weeks in advance that cautioned the populace about rioting and
    so on ....... looks like it may have worked.
    
    

	Jim, I know you weren't trying to be funny.... but it did make me
smile... not the act, but the way you put it.

    Got a bit of new respect for Kemp.  He went into the Bulls
    locker room to congradulate them...
    
    
    Mike

 Did he congratulate them as well?

    Hey, I never claimed to be a good speler
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    of course now that the Bulls have won the trophy, I won't have to
    worry about the good doctah giving me grief had the Bulls lost..

    <-- you woulda deserved it...
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    <---- et tu brute?

    Well, you were sorta cocky.  Don't get me wrong, I felt the
    same way.
    
    
    Mike
    

    Three cheers for the greatest NBA team in history who almost lost....
    
    Hip hip.....

    <-- I don't think so, Jack. Seattle is a good team.  Heck,
        64 wins is a _good_ season.  
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Bulls are the first team to go 87-13. Best record of all time.
    The game was a good one.

    .213
    
    
    No, not the police's right, it's their DUTY to shoot people like him.  8^)

| <<< Note 714.226 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs" >>>


| Bulls are the first team to go 87-13. Best record of all time.
| The game was a good one.

	I thought it was interesting that they could be embarrassed 2 games in
a row.... 

    
    um Glen, Seattle is the first team to win 64 games and *not* win the
    NBA championship. It wasn't like the Bulls were playing Hadley School
    for the Blind. Seattle has a very good team.

    	I agree with Mark, on this one.
    
    
    Mike
    

| <<< Note 714.229 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Chicago Bulls-1996 world champs" >>>


| It wasn't like the Bulls were playing Hadley School for the Blind. 

	Gee... from your earlier notes you never would have known it...(before 
the Bulls got a double spanking)

    
      Isiah Thomas, now general manager of the Toronto Raptors, says
     if Philly takes Iverson as expected, Toronto will take Camby.
    
      bb

    i think the bulls only lost 2 games in a row once this season,
    right...no other NBA team could make that claim since 1944 

    The 1986 Celtics?

    
    Jack, even the 1986 Celtics didn't win 87 games. only 13 losses
    in 100 games is great, no matter who the team is.

    -1 
    
     ......... depending on who you're playing also counts.

    
    <---- if I recall correctly, Toronto handed the Bulls one of their
    losses. The expansion teams actually played the Bulls closer than most
    this year.

      Congrats to the Bulls!
    
      I recall someone mentioned the team with the better postseason
      record - 12-1.  That was the Malone Sixers.  I don't know who
      they swept in the first series, but my beloved Bucks swept the
      Celtics that year.  Then the 6'ers beat Milwaukee 4/5.  Then they
      SWEPT the Showtime Lakers!!!
    
      Now THATS a feat!!
    
      So, once again, congratulations to the Bulls, but I'll still remember
      some of the great teams of years gone by!
    
    							Tony

    
    <---- um, like the 69 Cubs?

      Not even from Chicago, but...
    
      Ron Santo, Glenn Beckert, Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins...
    
      Nice team.
    
      Who were some other players on that team?

    
    Don Kessinger, Don Young. Jim Hickman Ken Holtzman, Bill Hands,
    Adolfo Phillips, Randy Hundly, Phil Regan...

    I just heard a rumor that Phil Jackson is out and Jimmy Rogers is in a
    bulls head coach? Any confirmation from Chi-town?

    
    don't know, but i heard the same thing this morning...
    
    

    
    well, no decision yet, but it's looking like your rumor may end up
    being true. Reinsdorf is an idiot if he let's that happen. Jordan
    would then leave the Bulls as well, possibly Rodman too.

    
    Phil Jackson signed a 1 year contract for $2.1 million.

    
     Phil got $800K this past year.  He had vowed that after the Coach
    of the Year came in, he would have a non-negotiable demand for
    three megabucks next season.
    
     bb

    .246
    
    So he lied.

    
    And what I heard was he got $2.5 million, not $2.1.
    
    But what's $400K among friends?
    
    John
    

    <-- Fastest to reach 200 wins, best playoff percentage.
        
    
    
    	Mike

    
    Phil Jackson is worth every penny he can make. 

	You would think after all those titles he coached, he would ask for
more than pennies.

    
    well the NBA draft is tomorrow. I wonder who the Bulls will pick.
    Some think it will be Brian Evans from Indiana. Good shooter.

    Ask us if we care.

 almost as exciting as the NFL draft..

    
    It's draft day!!!!

    
    
    Have a Bud-Lite, on me...
    

    Would that be a Bud-Lite-Draft-Dry-Ice?

    
    thank you andy, how thoughtful of you!

    
    No problem, Mark...
    
    I'll even call the panther, and have him ready for you when you get
    there!!
    

    
      Philly took Iverson, Toronto, Camby.  Celts got Antoine Walker
     at sixth - good pick.  Bulls got Travis whatisname, the Uconn
     standout, the 29th pick.
    
      bb

    
    Travis Knight. 

is that Micheal's brother? if so, say hi to Kitt for me!

    
    	Since "Michael Knight" was a name given to the character in
    	question after he was rescued by a government agency and al-
    	lowed to function with a new identity, I seriously doubt that
    	he has a brother with the same last name.
    

    
    
    	Ah, but he did.  Kinda.......  remember Garth?  He was evil
    	and his face was who Michael's was made to look like.
    

    
    	Yup, I remember Garth [and Goliath], but I would bet lots of
    	money that his last name wasn't Knight.
    

    
    what are you all blathering about??? this is about bball not
    country western music. shape up you guys.

    
    any word on Jordan's negotiations with Reinsdorf yet??

    
    Michael Jordon has signed a contract with the Bulls. I don't know
    how much or how long. probably 1-2 years, and around $18-20 million
    per year.

    
    	That reminds me, I need to tell my husband to be
    	sure Andrew practices at least 30 hours this weekend.
    
    

Try $25,000,000 for 1 year.  Of course, that still dwarfs the amount he
gets from endorsements.

    One has to wonder how Jordan can support endorsements from at least one
    company with a documented record of running sweatshops in undeveloped
    nations.  I could rationalize it if they at least paid the minimum
    subsistance wage for those countries, but it appears that the
    descendant of former slaves has no problem with doing the same to
    people in other countries.  
    
    meg

    One guy gets 25M to play basketball for one year ...... medical
    researchers scratch for funds ...... does this society have its
    values mixed up or what .....

    
    Actually, Jordan signed for 1 year for $30 million bucks. The
    negotiations took only 1 hour, and were done over the golf course.
    
    this means he received a 700% raise from last year. Now boys and girls,
    let's see you try that with your boss.

Hmm, mebbe I should go golfing with my boss.

    
      Well, the news today is chuck full of NBA trades, cuts, contracts
     involving tens and hundreds of millions.  Somebody reported that
     Jordan's $15,000 per basket is actually low.  Orlando just offered
     Shaq about $117,000,000 over 7 years, but he says he has to think
     about it.  Gary Payton was mulling a $50,000,000 offers, etc.
    
      And the radio talk-show mouths were decrying the misplaced
     priorities of our country, blah blah blah...
    
      bb

    
    shaq is worth no more than $14-15 million a year. At least i don't have
    to pay his salary.

    
    	RE: -1
    
    	Maybe no more than that, but I'll bet he's worth quite a bit
    	less than that, no?
    

    Shaq might be worth the bucks if he'd hit a free-throw a little
    more often ;-)
    

Can you say $120 Million. For 7 years.

    
    	Yes, I can say that, but I don't see what good it would do since
    	you just said it moments ago.
    

In any case, he's leaving the Magic kingdom headed to LALA land.

From a deafness-related mailing list:

> Let's say a genie (Shaq or whoever) came to you and said, "I've been given
> the power to grant you hearing.  If you wish, tomorrow morning you will wake
> up with the full use of your hearing."

Beware of the rip-off. Let him do this, and the day after you'll get a
visit from his agent demanding 123 million bucks.

    
    well, Shaq leaving the Magic for the Lakers, almost gaurantees the
    Bulls a trip back to the Finals. Almost.

    Yet another reason to continue my silent boycott of all professional
    sports.  

    I thought the NBA had a salary cap?! They are able to get away with
    these outrageous salaries because they base them on future revenue. Is
    professional basketball getting that increasingly popular or is it
    eventually going to cost $100 per ticket? Don't get me wrong, I'm all
    for the free market and ballplayers getting what they can. I just see
    this strategy as being bad for basketball, in the long term.

    
    	Free market is fine, but that also means that people don't
    	have to buy a ticket and go to a game ... which is exactly
    	what they should do.  Then the teams will hopefully get the
    	message that "something is irking the fans".
    

Sports fans who complain about sports are a little like the right that
complain about the left bias in the media.

Sports fans continue to give money to sports and, apparently, the right
buys what they complain about as well.

TTom

    -1
    
    Please don't make the mistake of comparing the NBA game to basketball.
    
    Basketball was recently played at the Bob Cousy tournament ..... only
    players 6'2" could play ..... the result was free-throw shoots being
    made ...... everyone actually played defense ..... and players cut to
    the basket and received passses which resulted in layups or, in some
    cases, less-attractive dunks.
    
    International field of teams ...... great crowds ...... terrific games
    with all-around skill ..... basketball.
    
    
    greg

    
    .289
    
    you're right you know. Michael Jordan doesn't play good defense, can't
    pass, and is a lousy free throw shooter. oh, he's also overpaid at
    $30 million.

    
    	Any sports figure is overpaid at anything over $1M.
    

    
      After the Shaq deal : ticket price increase at the LA Forum.
     Lowest priced ticket will now be $21.  Next to Jack Nicholson
     and the beautiful people, the top seats will now be $600.
    
      bb

    
    	$120M for 7 years ... $17M/year.  Amazing.
    

That's more per game than >95% of DEC employees make in a year.

    >$120M for 7 years ... $17M/year.  Amazing.
    
    Actually it's $17,142,857.14, but why quibble??  :)
    
    I think with the salary cap LA will have to pay him much less in the
    first year and much more in the final year. That is if they don't go
    bankrupt first.

    
    	Salary cap?  I guess you didn't see the paper this morning.
    
    	They traded 2 players for a draft pick or 2 to free up some
    	of the money required.
    

    
    	RE: Gerald
    
    	Do we have 3000 employees making $200K+/year?
    
    
    	RE: Tom
    
    	Ummm, I rounded down.  At $17M/year, what's a measly $140K+?
    
    	8^)
    

    Re: Shawn, Re: Gerald.
    
    I'd bet on it!

    .291
    
    > Any sports figure is overpaid at anything over $1M.
    
    Any professional sports "figure" is overpaid.  Period.

    Is that $1M number written down somewhere?
    
    ;-)

    
    wrong Dick. Jordan is worth every penny he is getting paid. He brings
    in over $1 billion dollars to the NBA and the Chicago economy. He is
    a god in our city.

 Wrong what???

That was Wilt Chamberlain and Jackie Kennedy, not Michael Jordan.

    
    	Battis, if he is bringing in $1B for the team/economy then
    	there are a few other people who are overpaid as well.
    

    The fact the one movie, for a good weekend, can haul in 100 million
    dollars ought to tell you that there is money to burn out there. North
    Americans are spending more money on entertainment than ever before.
    It's like a bottomless pit.

	Sure... look at all the money that is being spent at the olympics!

  Well, they're at the All Star Break.  The Celts are 11-35.

  bb

    And most nights they are in the game. but they just can't finish.

| <<< Note 714.308 by WAHOO::LEVESQUE "Spott Itj" >>>

| And most nights they are in the game. but they just can't finish.


	Filthaaa

| <<< Note 714.307 by GAAS::BRAUCHER "Champagne  Supernova" >>>

| Well, they're at the All Star Break.  The Celts are 11-35.

	bb.... they just need to go 30-5 over the last games to have a winning
season! Piece-o-cake!

Yeah, the 1996-97 Boston Celtics motto: "Lost Another Close One 
Last Night".

Then again I prefer: "Plenty of Good Seats Still Available".

daryll

    No doubt this explains why SportsChannel is now being made
    available for free on our cable system.  How generous of them.
    
    Chris

	I hear the celtics are going to get the #1 pick and give it to the Jets
who will need one after they give their #1 to the pats. And the Jets will think
this is a good move.

    
    It's a shame the Celtics have slid so far down the ladder. I liked
    when they were one of the better teams in the NBA. The Bulls, meanwhile
    are set to capture their 5th champoinship of the 90's.

Yes, but the Celtics will have fun at the draft, won't they!

Pete

    With their luck their pick will get bumped off by the mafia for an
    unpaid gambling debt.

    
    sure looking like the Bulls are headed for their 2nd straight
    championship season again. No real big threats in the west, and
    really only Miami and Atlanta in the east.

  the biggest threat is that criminal Rodman...

  bb

 That guy just doesn't get it, eh?

    
    	Boston finally stopped its losing streak at 13 games by beating
    	the Raptors, I think.  They're 3-0 against the Raptors, although
    	those same Raptors have beat 3 or 4 of the best teams in the league
    	this year.
    

    Dennis is simply a great argument for new rules in professional
    sports controlling violence.
    
    what the hell do they expect him (and others to act like). the fines
    he pays are like one of us paying a speeding ticket. often not enough
    to learn a lesson from. 
    
    give him the big boot and send him on his way.

    
    	Hmmm, maybe they could hand out tickets for fouls.  3 tickets in
    	a 1-month period and they restrict the amount of travelling that
    	you can do.
    
    	And travelling outside of the lane, or reckless behavior in the
    	lane, and you're kicked out of the league.
    

  well, they sort of do - the recent groin-punch cost D.R. a one-game
 suspension, I hear

  You could ask nostrildamus, but i'm thinking it won't be rodman's last
 brush with officialdom...

  bb

	But the Celtics are back on their quest for the worst Celtics record
ever by losing last night. :-)

    
    	If the Red Sox win 7 more games they'll be tied with the Celtics
    	for current-season wins.
    

    
    The point is this. The Bulls are fighting for a championship, the
    Celtics are fighting San Antonio for the 1st pick. As for Rodman, the
    foul thing was no big deal, but these flare ups are getting very old,
    even amongst us Bulls fans.

    i disagree with that assertion, Mark. the foul thing is a very big deal
    and it's that very attitude that promotes athletes and the game to sink
    to levels that they were never meant to sink.
    
    i say this because of Rodman's history. he is a problem child. always
    has been and always will be. he brings nothing to game, no respect, no
    class, no honor, nothing. because the NBA and the teams choose to
    coddle these morons, the game is less than than it deserves to be.
    
    i can understand that tempers run high and that emotions run just as
    high. i can understand that there will be physical confrontation from
    time to time, but let's face it, Rodman is making a career out of it.
    
    in my opinion, there should be no place for this moroon in the NBA. 

  and how can a class act like michael jordan co-exist with THIS ?

  bb

    >in my opinion, there should be no place for this moroon in the NBA. 
    
     maroon/moron (pick one)

    
    well, like I said, his act is wearing awful thin with us Bulls fans
    as well. I highly doubt that Rodman will be back next year as a Bull.
    I hope not, at least.

    
    	Hah.  Chicago won't get rid of him just because he can't behave
    	himself.
    

    
    <---- care to make a friendly wager, slabbo? I'll give you 2-1 odds
    they don't retain his services.

    
    	Uh-oh, the odds thing again.
    
    	Well, 2-1 is 1, so that means if Chicago dumps him I owe you $1,
    	right?
    
    	That is, I'm assuming that the default for units is dollars, but
    	if it's cents then how about we make that 200-100 odds?
    

    i'll take the macaroon. thanks Doc :-).

    Too bad Dave Cowens didn't play in the same era as Rodman ...... my guess 
    is that Rodman's professional career would have been short. 
    
    But, the NBA condones his antics because it's part of the plan .....
    the marketing plan ....... please don't confuse the NBA with the
    playing of actual basketball ...... for that watch the tube from now
    until about April 1.
    
    

    
    The NBA certainly has its fair share of ego impaired players. Most of
    the younger players that have come up in the last 4-5 years have no
    sense of history or class. Malone, Jordan, Mullin are the last of
    a classy bunch. In their place, we get the likes of Allen "GIve me the
    ball" Iverson, Jerry "I need 35 shots a game" Stackhouse, just to name
    a few.

  part of the fun of watching the tourney is gauging nba prospects

  and this year, some will be celtics

  bb

    
    I love watching the tournament, always a new "Cinderella" team
    every year to root for.

    Bulls lose to NY.  Boy, did they ever look like crap.  Amazing that
    they made it a game late in the 4th. 

    
    yep, Bulls lost. Wait till they play a normal game against the Knicks.

  speaking of Raging Bulls, Chi 53-8 take on the 12-50 Celts next...

  bb

    
    <--- think Celts are favored by 6-8. should be a real close game.

    
    And a low scoring one, too.
    

    Bulls by 14.

    
    I was joking in my prior note. I feel for the Celts, Bulls are going
    to be in a stomping mood tonight.

  and not only that, the only Celt having a decent year, rookie Antoine
 Walker, is out with a twisted ankle...

  bb

I believe Rick Fox is having an excellent year as well.

    
    Celtics play the Bulls pretty tough, but fall by 11.

    
    as if there was any doubt that they would lose.  

    They had me worried for a while. Kept up til the very end...
    
    
    Mike
    

    One thing I'll say for them, they've given it a good effort. They have
    far too little talent, and far too many injuries, but they have played
    to the textent of their abilities. Except for the laugher against the
    Hawks and a few others, they have been competitive in most games. They
    just haven't been able to bring home the Ws.

  antoine gamely played 43 minutes

  bb

    Bulls haven't really been playing well lately.  Unless they get their
    act together, they will have a very tough road in the playoffs.

    
    Steve, the Bulls cannot possibly get up for every game. Once the
    playoffs come around, then you will see them step it up a couple of
    notches. Keep in mind, they have the best road record as well as home
    recored.

    
    	Celtics beat the spread, though, so I guess that's sort of good.
    

    
    i need the Bulls to win on Saturday to collect on my bet. last game
    of the regular season. Let the playoffs begin!!

    They haven't hit 70 games yet?

    
    69 and counting.

    
    	Don't devote too much time to the counting and you might find that
    	you enjoy it alot more.
    

    -2
    
    More like 69 and holding, eh?

    
    yeah, i lost my bet. they should have won the game. not good going
    into the playoffs with two straight losses. they will beat Washington
    no problem.

    Washington beat the Bulls last time the two teams met.

    
    considering this is the playoffs and the Bulls have home court, I'll
    put my money on Chicago. Everyone thinks they will not repeat, the
    sports writers i mean. I'm thinking they'll be hoisting the
    championship at the end of June.

    I as well, Mark.  They are going to be a way different team
    come Friday.  I think they'll win game one by 20.
    
    
    Mike
    

    The Bulls are the team to beat.  Of course, we thought Kansas was the
    team to beat in the NCAA tourney, and you know how that turned out...

    <-- Steve, don't go there...
    
    
    Mike
    

    
    Steve, difference is, the Bulls have already won 4 championships.
    Kansas hasn't.

    What about Utah? Maybe you can tell I don't follow the NBA much, but I
    hear alot of talk about them.

    
    Bulls start the championship drive tonight.

Going to be a long summer in the windy city Mark.

| <<< Note 714.369 by ACISS1::BATTIS "Ferzie fan" >>>


| Bulls start the championship drive tonight.

	They might enjoy it more if they were actually playing. 

    Bulls beat the Bullets last night... good game.  Jordon scored 55
    points... amazing performance.

    
    Knicks move on to round two.

    Larry Brown has resigned as coach of the Pacers.
    
    ML Carr has resigned as coach of the Celtics.
    
    Celts continue to woo Rick Pitino, with Brown as a fallback.

    
    <--- i thought they fired ML Carr as coach and player personel director
    last week???   

Carr is still Director of Basketball Operations. He said today that
his job as coach is finished and that he never intended it to be a
long-term thing.

Thank goodness.

Pete

    Carr's job was specifically to be there and take the heat for the time
    when the Celts were expected to be a crap team, before they could
    rebuild after losing all the older stars.  He did it, and he did it
    with class.

    
    Bulls squeak by the Bullets to move on to round 2. Jordan scores 28
    and finishes the series with 112 points or 37 points per game.
    
    Next up Atlanta or Detroit. I'm hoping it's Detroit, cause I like
    Doug Collins as a coach.

    
    Do you guys think Larry Brown will take over for Carr or Larry Bird?

yes.

    
    daryll, for once in your miserable life, please try to respond with
    a reasonable answer. I know you can do it, I've seen it.

I'm so ashamed.

    
    Bulls against Atlanta. First game is Tuesday night. Go Bulls!!

That might be a good night to alphabetize my sock drawer.

Wait a minute, that was last night, wasn't it?

Darn.  [snort!!]

    
    Bulls pull out a squeaker. Jordan and Pippen to the rescue. Rodman
    has got to go, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. What a selfish P8888!
    Let him take his act to Vancouver or Toronto. Canadians will love him.

    
      um, batti's, you live in chi, you've watched his doggydoo all
     year, and only now do you realize he's a basketwaeving case ?
     He's done it all around the league...
    
      Also, for hoops junkies, the Utes held on for a 103-101 win (on
     several doubtful calls) over the LA Shaqs, to go two up.
    
      bb

    
    I see Utah in the Bulls future. Believe it or not, the Bulls will have
    a harder series against New York or Miami. The West doesn't play tough
    defense like the East. I like the Jazz, good team, good coach.

    
      Road teams won last night.  Knicks over Heat in a defensive
     struggle opener at Miami.  Seattle tied it up 1-1 in Houston.
    
      bb

    Bulls have to win, I wore my lucky basketball tie today!
    
    
    Mike

    
    Rodman better keep his big mouth shut and just play ball. Bulls by at
    least 12 tonight.

>    Rodman better keep his big mouth shut and just play ball. 

Yeah, wouldn't want him to be called for dribbling, would you?

  Bulls roasted...now tied 1-1 with hawks

  Shaq&Lakers take one off Jazz, still down 2-1.

  bb

    
    bb, Bulls are still the best team in the NBA. Although, i admit, they
    have not looked sharp thus far. Couldn't hit shots last night,
    rebounding sucked. They let Mookie run wild on them. They need to win
    on Saturday to stem the Hawks momentum.

    What kind of parents would name their son "Mookie"?  The mind boggles.

Could be a nickname.

    I would hope so...

re: Mookie

It gets better. There was an alternative band that chose _Mookie 
Blaylock_ as the name for their band. Mookie took them to court 
and won and they had to pick a different name. They chose _Pearl 
Jam_.

Not a nickname.

    
    bulls stomp atlanta on saturday by twenty. yesterday, they were up
    by 20 plus points most of the game until late in the 4th quarter.
    Michael Jordan to the recue, bulls win by 9 to go up three games to 1.
    
    Knicks vs Miami game 3 was fun to watch. Knicks win a close one to
    go up 2 games to 1.

  And in the west, Utah has gone up 3-1 over the Lakers, while Houston
 took a 3-1 advantage over Seattle with a dramatic overtime win.  The
 Jazz can finish tonight.

  bb

    
    yeah, bb, the Jazz look impressive. Going to be hard for Houston to
    beat them without home court advantage. Would love to see a Bulls/Jazz
    matchup.

    
    Knicks go up 3 games to 1. Looking like a Bulls vs Knicks conference
    final. I see the Bulls and Utah in the Finals. Would be a great series.

  Jazz eliminated Lakers in OT, 4-1.  Shaq fouled out at the end of regulation.

  bb

    
    bb, what was the final score? it was on too late for moi to watch.

  Last night, with their backs to the wall, the Sonics eked out a gutsy
 win to stay alive and force a sixth game in Houston.

  The Hawks went home, Chicago taking the series, 4 to 1.

  Tonight, Knicks try to eliminate Miami.

  bb

  Truly ugly brawl late in last night's Miami win (Knicks still lead 3-2).

  In manuevering for rebounding position after a freethrow, little NY guard
 Charlie Ward boxed out forward BJ Brown rather roughly, and somebody else
 got the rebound.  Brown put his arm around Ward's waist from behind, lifted
 him off the ground, swivelled him upside down, and tossed him head-first
 into the crowd.  The Knicks bench emptied, followed by the Heat.  When
 everything settled down, there were numerous technicals and ejections.

  Brown may very well get suspended from Game 6.  No word yet from the league.

  bb

    Sounds like he should be suspended.

   it was pretty amazing seeing the guy's legs sticking straight
   up in the air.

    
    the Knicks and Heat have much love between them, NOT!

    If I were an official, and if rules permitted it, Brown would never
    play again.  That kind of conduct is not to be tolerated in basketball.

    
    well, Dick, only the commissioner has that kind of power. I see a big
    fine and suspension on his horizon.

    Well, BlazerBoy, that's just another of the reasons I don't watch
    professional roundball.  The pros are too big, too fast, too mean, and
    too greedy.
    
    Year after year when I was a kid, my dad was the broadcast announcer
    for my home state's Class C tourney, and I still love to watch the
    high-school game.  Even college ball isn't very interesting.  The
    high-school players are there because they want to play, not because
    they're pros and someone is paying them unreasonable amounts of money
    or because they're college players who expect to sign lucrative pro
    contracts before they graduate.

    
    um, some high school kids make the jump to the NBA. Kobe Bryant, comes
    to mind. On the whole though, you are correct about high school hoops.

  Sonics jumped out to a big early lead, and led all the way, hanging on
 through a late Rocket rally to win 99-96 and force a seventh game Saturday
 in Houston.  As usual, Kemp was a force.

  The league office has issued a series suspension to Miami's Brown for his
 violence.  It then issued 4 one-game suspensions to various Knicks for
 leaving the bench in retaliation, including Ewing, who will miss tonight's
 crucial 6th game in New York.  The players' association has asked for a
 court to overturn the suspensions, abd a judge will rule today on it.

  It seems paradoxical to me that the league rules allow Brown to have
 caused a net benefit to his team by initiating a suspension-causing
 violent incident.  But the league stands by the rule about bench action.

  Brown was fined a mere $10,000

  bb

    
    if it was Rodman, fine would be $30,000 and 6 game suspension, maybe
    10.

    he asks for it though.

    >if it was Rodman, fine would be $30,000 and 6 game suspension, maybe
    >10.
    
     That's because it would be part of a larger pattern of behavior, which
    is more appropriately subjected to greater sanction.

    
    <--- um, yes, i guess so. worded so um, elegantly too.

    look, ma! No tpyos!

    
    well, doc. I'm doing my part to keep America clean.

  Rockets down Sonics in seven.  Heat down Knicks in seveth travesty.  How can
 it be that Miami profits from a gross action by Brown, just because
 several knicks leave the bench ?  Fortunately, Riley & co are about to get
 bulled.  Utah-Houston should be good.

  More bad news for Celtics.  All they got is the 3&6 picks.  Pitino starts
 from ground zero.

  bb

    
    Knicks shouldn't have shot their mouths off about winning in Miami was
    going to be easy. This will teach Buck Williams and Larry Johnson, that
    you must be able to back up words with action. Knicks deserved to get
    beat bad, they love to whine. I'm sure we'll here how they were jobbed,
    etc...... face it, they choke.

  Jazz humbled Rockets in the opener in Salt.  Stockton sure can play
 the point.  Maloney was a contrast - how NOT to play point.

  Karl Malone is a fine player, but he isn't more valuable then you know who.

  bb  

	Rick Fox of the Celtics?

  Heat cold at freethrows, game 1 bullish, 84-77.

  bb

    
    yeah, Miami led by 16 in the first half. second half Bulls played much
    better. Game two should be good tomorrow night.

  Jazz hit high note, rockets fizzle.

  bb

    gotta like that Stockton guy.

    
      heat cold, bulls nort, 75-68
    
      bb

    I missed the game.  8^(

    
      Rockets tied up Jazz at two games apiece.  The Bulls took a 3-1
     advantage over the Heat.
    
      bb

    
    Bulls will crush Miami with impunity on Wednsday night. I have decreed
    it to happen.

    
      Jazz held serve, back to Houston Thursday.  Hakeem is making a series
     out of this, though the Jazz are better at every other position.  Karl
     Malone humbles Barkley (if that's possible), and Stockton makes
     Maloney look like a quarter pounder with cheese.  Meanwhile, in the
     lane, Utah doubles and triples the man, and tagteams all 7ft-2in 280
     lbs of Ostertag, with Antoine Carr and Foster.  After watching him,
     I'm convinced the charge that O. travels now is hokum.  He just does
     so much down there it's hard to believe he didn't move the pivot.
    
      bb

    
    Jordan is saying that it's now personal. The Heat is going to get lit
    up big time tonight. I see ordan scoring 40 to 50 points tonight.

who is this ordon guy? people can't join the team for the playoffs, can they?

    
    Bulls bury the Heat.  Next victim will be the Jazz or the Rockets.
    Just more fodder for the Chicago express. 5 world championships in
    7 years. pretty amazing.

    
      It wasn't even MJ.  As usual, Eastern finals are won by defense,
     rebounding, and ugly muscle.  I hate to say it, but to my way of
     thinking, Rodman was the series mvp.
    
      Consider this : 90 points would've been enough to win any game in
     the eastern finals, as no losing team scored that many.  In the
     west's five game so far, 90 never would have won.
    
      btw - chi split home-home with both houston/utah in the regular
     season.  But that means nothing - nba has little interconference
     play.
    
      bb

    
    bb, i agree. regular season records mean nothing in playoffs. Heat
    beat the Bulls twice during regular season, and got whupped in
    playoffs. Should be an entertaining finals.

    Nice shot, John Stockton! GFL in Chi-town, though.

    
    doctah, was a great game to watch, wasn't it? I've enjoyed the Utah,
    Houston series as much as the Bulls, Miami series. Looking forward
    to the NBA Finals. Weird thing is, the Bulls have met 5 different 
    teams in each of the Finals. Sunday nights game should be good,
    especially if Pippen can play.

    Yeah. It was the first game that I watched more than 30 seconds of all
    season. Very gritty game played by Utah. They were down most of the
    game, but they never stopped. Stockton was huge in crunchtime. He went
    from 14 points to 25 in a hurry, when the game was on the line. Drexler
    had a helluva game. He must be killing himself over that last shot.

    
    really hated to see any of them lose. That's how the conference finals
    should be played, tough and gritty, with lots of close games.

      Well, I saw some of the Utah/Houston series including most of
      Game 6.
    
      I've a few thoughts...
    
      One, wow is Stockton good!  I never saw him play a whole lot.
      He reminds me of a description Jerry West gave to Bird after
      a Laker/Celtic game.  He said that Bird was at least a couple
      of thoughts ahead of everyone else (Magic did not play by the
      way).
    
      I think Stockton is the same way.  Right up there with Magic
      and Bird *mentally* and I don't think anyone else in the NBA
      is close in that category (gulp! - Jordan included).
    
      Does the guy EVER make the wrong decision?  Does he ever make
      a wrong pass?  Every decision is the right one.  I think he's
      a basketball genius.
    
      I was just thoroughly impressed with Stockton.  He literally
      willed that win.
    
      A lot of the night Walton was complimenting Sedale Threat who
      did play a fine game.  Threat took a three pointer late that
      was SO close to going in and if so game Rockets.
    
      Barkley's offense was painful to watch.  It was a kind of offense
      that basically ignored the rest of the team (a lot of the time).
    
      Olajuwon held the ball low too often and allowed way too many 
      strips.
    
      Drexler was painful to watch until Game 6.  Hoisted a lot of 3's
      that missed and I rarely saw any attempts to do anything but launch
      outside shots (PENETRATE!).
    
      Utah has quite a bench, huh?  I guess you have to favor the Bulls
      because of Jordan and because I don't think their defense is as
      vulnerable to a pick and roll.
    
      						Tony

    Utah let an excellent chance slip away last night. They outplayed the
    Bulls but still fell victim to Pippen and Jordan's scoring. 

    
    yep. Utah looked sharp last night. Bulls were very fortunate to escape
    with the win. Wednsday's game should be another tough game. Going to
    be a great series.

    How about that game-winning shot by Jordon?  Wow!
    
    Bulls escaped last night.  They were down most of the game.  Stockton
    was making some key shots towards the end, I wonder why they don't have
    him shoot more?  He could have scored a lot of points the way he was
    shooting. 
    
    I look for Utah to turn Stockton loose next game, and to be a bit more
    physical on defense with Jordon and Pippin.  
    
    Someone else besides Jordon and Pippin is going to have to step up
    offensively for the Bulls.  I doubt Utah will let themselves get beat
    by two players.
    

  The score : 84-82, an Eastern (slow) pace, defense, rebounding

  Hardly any transition.  Note that "mvp" KM clunked two free throws,
 then "lvp" MJ's buzzerbeater...

  bb

    
    well, game two should be worth watching. Jordan wants $36 million for
    next year. Bulls haven't said no.

    $36 million for ONE year?!  Not even Jordan is worth that much.

  just give him the franchise and be done with it...

  bb

    
    um, steve, he made $30 million this year. how much do you think he
    brings in to Reinsdorf and the NBA?? can you say a billion? i knew you
    could.

  right.  and if they don't humor him, he could threaten to go back
 to whiffing on triple a curves...

  bb

    He's not worth $30 million, either, IMO.  Obviously, the Bulls think
    differently, which is fine by me.  I'm not paying his salary (but boy
    do I wish I had the money to be ABLE to pay his salary  8^) ).

    
    Michael Jordan is worth every cent they pay him. He is the single
    biggest draw in the NBA. The Bulls have been the biggest merchandise
    seller for years. They sell out arenas all over the country. yes, i
    do believe he's worth that kind of money.

    
    	If you think that Jordan is worth $30M because of the money he
    	makes for the team, maybe the team is making too much money to
    	begin with.
    
    	Reduce ticket prices and make the games affordable to watch and
    	the players are no longer worth as much.
    

    why? If you sell out every game, why reduce prices?

    
    	Yeah, that's the tricky part.  Peope are so stupid that they'll
    	pay practically any price that the team sets.
    

    
>    	Yeah, that's the tricky part.  Peope are so stupid that they'll
>    	pay practically any price that the team sets.
  

The Fleet Center found out that plan doesn't work without teams that can play.
At this point the only 2 tolerable teams in this area are the Patriots and the
Revolution.

    
    .458
    
    turnabout is fair play, shawn.
    
    people
    
    nnttm, really.

    Wow, you sure told him!

	Just be glad it wasn't "unttm,hwymf", Shawn.

    
    	YBYSA, Deb!!
    

	I see that Shawn takes after Marv Albert.

    
    	And Battis, there is a distinct difference between spelling a word
    	wrong and missing a letter.
    
    	My letters were all in the correct order ... I just happened to
    	miss one of them.
    

    
    	If I knew who this Marv Albert guy was I might actually find some
    	of the recent comments pertaining to him amusing.
    

    
    OR
    
    i was so caught up in my work that i wasn't paying
    strict attention!
    

	Marv Albert, a/k/a BottomBiter, according to Jim Henderson 8^).

    
    slabbo, Marv Albert is a sports announcer for NBC. He has been accused
    of biting a woman numerous times, also of sodomy.

    
    .461
    
    at least mine are admitted. i don't offer "explanations"

    yours are incontrovertible. /hth

    Bulls put the stick to the Jazz last night. Michael played a much
    better game. The Bulls' defense was smothering, and the Jazz had no
    answers, underscoring the lost opportunity that was game 1. The Jazz
    had better play a lot better in SLC, or they won't be going back to
    Chicago.
    
    I thought the officials let an awful lot of hacking go on last night,
    from both sides. Before I fell asleep, anyway.

    
    <--- Bulls played very good defense last night. yes, the officiating
    was a little looser last night than in previous games. Bulls were
    really hitting the glass last night, they came to play. I think this
    may only go 5. I see the Bulls winning at least 1 in Utah.

  11 points in a quarter will garner no rings...

  bb

    I missed the last three quarters of the game last night.  I saw the
    first quarter at the bowling alley (was subbing on a three man summer 
    league), then forgot to turn the TV on when I got home (had to make a phone 
    call).  It was all Bulls for the bits and peices I caught.
    
    I did manage to bowl a 643 series, though... not bad for not bowling a
    frame for several weeks.  I would have been dangerous had I been able
    to avoid open frames... 

    
    send jenny our love.