There will always be a place for the Bulls in every Chicago sports fan's heart. After six championship banners were raised atop the rafters of the old Chicago Stadium and the United Center in the 90s, the Bulls will always be relevant in a city that worships the Bears and Cubs. But after last year's dismal 33-49 season, the Bulls seemed destined to fall off the map.
Many experts picked them to win the East, or at least contend to win it. And it seemed like a reasonable expectation at the time. They had made the playoffs three straight years before, and took perennial Eastern Conference power Detroit to a game six, after wiping out then defending champion Miami in a four game sweep.
So when things began to sour, they soured quickly. The Bulls got off to a 3-10 start. They fired Scott Skiles on Christmas Eve. They named assistant Jim Boylan interim coach. Players publicly criticized Skiles and the team finished the season arguably the most disappointing team in the NBA. Not to mention their big free agent acquisition of two years ago, Ben Wallace, was grossly underperforming and was shipped to Cleveland before completing his second season as a Bull.
Then, there was the lottery.
The Bulls had just a 1.7 percent chance of landing the first pick. But on May 20th, in the middle of a baseball season that saw both the Cubs and White Sox in first place, they made headlines by winning the right to draft Derrick Rose. The hometown kid, who played his high school basketball at Simeon, was expected to be the first pick. In one year at Memphis, Rose came within a bad bounce on a free throw and a Mario Chalmers shot of winning the NCAA Title. Now he could become a Bull.
This was a team that finished 16 games below .500, and was without direction. Doug Collins backed out on them. Until Rose's arrival, the only press this team was receiving was the latest on which coach was turning them down.
All summer long, the focus was the Cubs and White Sox winning ways, and who would quarterback the Bears. Maybe more importantly, the Blackhawks were making headlines seemingly every week with conventions and promotions to revive its once loyal fan base. They were rapidly winning over fans as the winter months approached.
The Bulls needed Rose to stay relevant. And now, despite an 8-10 start, and a rapid resurgence of their housemates on Madison Street, they have.
Rose has been everything advertised, averaging 18.4 points per game following Tuesday night's 24 point effort in a loss to Philadelphia. He is also averaging six assists. On Monday he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.
He has shown incredible maturity in just eighteen games, and has created a buzz around Chicago with his highlight reel plays. He is the new face of the franchise, the must-see player. He's been called by some the best player the team has had since Michael Jordan, less than 20 games into his rookie season.
The Blackhawks have increased season ticket sales from 3,000 last year to more than 14,ooo this year. The Hawks have even sucked in my father and me, lifelong Chicago sports fans that haven't followed hockey in years. They have secured the New Year's Day Winter Classic, where they'll meet their arch-rivals, the Red Wings at Wrigley Field on national television.
But the Bulls have stayed on the radar, thanks to the man who wears the number 1. They may not be the top ticket in town just yet, but with Derrick the Bulls may be coming up roses in the near future.
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