Best Games You Have Ever Watched or Attended

You heard this morning about my experience just watching last night's epic game between Syracuse and UConn. I still haven't digested everything I watched last night. That really could take days. However, this video will help. (and don't mind the dork at the end)



I was thinking though, what are some games that you, our faithful readers, consider games that you'll always remember the rest of your life, even down to the minute details?

I can think of a few more that resonate with me in the way that last night's game did:

• The "Bartman Game" October, 2003, Cubs in the NLCS, really every game in that series could fit in this category, but certainly that one (and I was sitting 20 rows behind him that night)
• The "Paxson Shot" to win the 1993 NBA Finals
• Michael Jordan's last shot as a Bull over Byron Russell (1998 NBA Finals)
• The Wild-Card Play-in game between the Cubs/Giants in 1998
• The Bears Super Bowl appearance in 2006
• Vermont's upset of Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament my freshman year of school

There may be others, but at the moment those are the few I can think of off the top of my head. Let us know what games resonate with you, and why.

M.J at 45? Still the Greatest

I went on YouTube today and it was recommended I watch this video on the home page.  When I started watching, I started thinking, how lucky are these kids?  They not only got to participate in a basketball clinic with Michael Jordan, but they also got to go one-on-one with him (a couple minutes into the video).

I'm sure they learned a lot by the way, because Michael can execute everything he teaches.  Unlike some coaches that can tell you how to shoot but when they shoot it doesn't go in, everything Michael shot went in.

If I got to play one-on-one with Jordan, I'd probably become so weak in the knees I'd faint before we started playing.  I've always said he's the one person that if I met him face to face I'm not sure I could utter a coherent word or thought.  

For all you basketball fans that miss M.J. and the glory years of the 80s and 90s, during which we were all privileged to watch His Airness and his legendary career, you'll love this.  He's still great even at 45!

Enjoy.

The Mount Rushmore of Sports

Lately on ESPN I've noticed that they're starting to debate who would be on the "Mount Rushmore of Sports" in every state. Sure, you could say it's another corny way to fill programming. But I actually think it's pretty interesting.

Who would you put on your state's Mount Rushmore of sports? Better yet, of the teams of which you're a fan, how would you construct that Mount?

Since I'm writing this post, I'll start. Feel free to comment on mine, but I'd like to see yours. Tell us which teams or state you're choosing from first. And remember, there are four dead presidents on the mount. You can only choose four athletes or coaches to make your mount.

My Teams: Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Syracuse Orange, Illinois Fighting Illini

My Mount Rushmore: (All these players played in my lifetime)

1. Michael Jordan--Greatest basketball player of all-time, arguably the greatest athlete of all-time, certainly the greatest Bull of all time.
2. Greg Maddux--He didn't play that much of his career with the Cubs, and won just one of his four Cy Youngs in Cubbie blue. But until his retirement this year he was the active leader in wins with 355, and is a first ballot hall of famer.
3. Walter Payton--Until Emmitt Smith, he was the NFL's all-time leading rusher. He helped lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory (January 26, 1986 in a 46-10 win over New England).
4. Ryne Sandberg--A hall of fame second baseman that hit the second most home runs among 2nd basemen all time (when he retired he was first). Of course, they didn't win a championship with him there, but they won the division twice, which is good for the Cubs.

Let us know what you think. Post away.

MJ To Take Over as Bulls GM?

A source at the United Center in Chicago has told BERNing on Sports that Michael Jordan may soon replace John Paxson as General Manager of the Chicago Bulls.

This comes after New York Post writer Peter Vescey reported yesterday Paxson would resign from his current post in the imminent future.  Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf downplayed the rumor yesterday, but it is believed that Paxson will soon be out and the vacancy will be filled soon.

Jordan was in Chicago last Tuesday night for the Bulls win over Detroit, as he took part in the tribute to Johnny "Red" Kerr at halftime.  The source indicated that Jordan met with Bulls brass after the the ceremony, and has been in and out of the United Center a lot recently.

MJ is currently a part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.  His last position handling basketball operations came with the Washington Wizards, where he famously selected Kwame Brown with the number one pick in the 2001 draft.  He has not held a role in this department since.  However, this move could be the Bulls way of trying to entice top-flight talent to sign with Chicago when the free agency class of 2010 hits the market.

When It's Not About The Game

Last night my dad and I went to the Bulls game.  It happened to be a great game, and a 17-2 Chicago run capped a Bulls five point win over hated rival Detroit.  But the game wasn't what I'll remember from last night.  It was this:

Granted this is just part of the ceremonies.  There was more, including speeches by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and President Barack Obama on the jumbo-tron.  

Bulls TV voice Neil Funk led the ceremonies, and did an admirable job.  They brought in a bunch of ex-players, former Johnny "Red" Kerr teammates, and ex-broadcast partners of his.

When Michael Jordan stood up to speak, the United Center shook.  It was so loud that you could barely hear the beginning of Michael's tribute to Red Kerr.  The showman that he is, MJ walked up to Kerr and clapped some talcom powder in his face, just like he used to do every game.  That was the original talcom powder ritual in pregame, before LeBron James copied Michael by throwing it into the air.

The speeches were great.  The spectacle was great.  Red Kerr should be in the hall of fame, and this tribute to him was quite fitting.  Kudos to the Bulls organization for doing such a good job with the ceremony.

It was a memorable night, and not because of the game.

Back and Forth: Fixing The NBA Edition

Jordan: Scott, I have two radical ways we can change the NBA so that it's no longer an inferior product. (And you can fight me on whether it's really an inferior product or not in a second.) But before you tell me I'm insane, hear me out. First, the NBA should limit timeouts to three per half. We already have built in TV timeouts, and with 7 extra team time outs per half, the game stops and starts far too much. One of the appeals of NBA basketball, or basketball in general for that matter, is it's fast paced action. The NBA has ruined that by having so many time outs, especially in the last two minutes. Second, for every foul in the last two minutes of a game, teams should be awarded three free throw tries each time. This would help prevent the 45 minutes that it takes to finish the last two minutes of an NBA game. Also, all those timeouts are full time outs, since the 20 second time outs are really just full timeouts that don't go to commercial.

Scott: First of all, you are insane.

J: Why am I insane?

S: Well, to be honest, for reasons unconnected to this argument, which makes some sense, but not a whole heck of a lot. Would you like me to tell you why?

J: That would be good, yes.

S: First of all, college basketball has the same sort of problem with too many timeouts and fouling at the end of games, no? And does anyone complain that the action there is too slowly paced? Honestly, does the game need all of these extra timeouts? Probably not, you're right. But I don't think that would solve the problem. The fouling thing, well that's just strategy, boring as it may be.

J: Ok, I hear you. But you never explained why I'm insane. Maybe that's assumed. Either way, the fouling and timeouts are an issue with college basketball too. I agree. But the NBA is the league declining in popularity and not college hoops. These are the better athletes in the pro game, so why shouldn't it have more interest? If you make it a faster paced game, it has a different style and likely more appeal to the mass audience that has soured on it. Oh, and the strategy of fouling ruins basketball on both levels. Try this: play defense.

S: Let's clear up the confusion. You're insane, like I've said, for reasons unconnected to this post. However, would a bit of defense help? Yes. But as far as I'm concerned, that's not the biggest problem.

J: Then what is the biggest problem?

S: Thought you'd never ask.

J: I'm an inquisitive man, Scott.

S: So I've noticed. Basically, it comes down to a lack of rivalries. Simply put, there aren't any left in the NBA. None. Think about it for a second, can you come up with any?

J: Well, no. Maybe Lakers/Spurs, Spurs/Suns, Celtics/Cavs or Celtics/Hawks. But I suppose those are just recent rivalries and not legitimate rivalries that you can count on year after year.

S: Exactly. Think back to when the NBA was truly great. Just say Michael, get it over with. You know you want to.

J: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Whew, out of the system.

S: Good, now we can all progress.

J: Bulls/Pistons, Celtics/Lakers, Knicks/Heat, Bulls/Knicks...

S: See, that's what I'm talking about. Knicks versus everyone basically. If you were playing in the mid-90s and didn't hate the Knicks, you weren't alive. But that sort of hatred of teams and not just cities (be fair, we hate Boston more than the actual Celtics largely because they were bought a summer ago) is what is lacking in the NBA today.

J: Quite true. But how do we restore rivalries? David Stern has the marketing of the players down pat. How does he rekindle the old rivalries?

S: That I can't answer. You didn't ask me to actually solve the problem. Just address it.

J: True enough. So for the time being, my rule changes would help.

S: I can only do so much. As it is now, I'm already listening to music and talking to you. To taxing already.

J: Sorry to strain your already small mind.

S: Rule changes might help mask the problem, at least for a small while. Not solve it, that's for sure.

J: But they would ultimately help too. Wouldn't you rather the game be faster paced and have less stoppages? It doesn't solve everything, but it does make NBA a better product.

S: Yeah it would. But because in college and even in the pros back when it was viable some years back, there were the same amount of timeouts and fouling at the end of the games and all that nonsense. And yet the product was still enjoyable. There were stars back then. There are some great stars now. Maybe now, to be honest, there are more. The lacking factor here? rivalries. Of course, no one's going to be MJ. That's ridiculous. but the NBA doesn't need another MJ to restore some glory.

J: That hurts, I agree. But the renaissance with the league is over and it's time to make some changes.

S: Kobe's and LeBron's and D-Wade's are enough star power.

J: It doesn't need another MJ, but people will always negatively compare those players to MJ. That's another problem with the league. The last decade or so has been the MJ hangover.

S: Again though, I think that's because there's been nothing for the fans to focus on alternatively. If there had been some great rivalries and such, people would be focusing on the product rather than what it was missing.

J: Maybe. All I know is I'll never be as interested in it unless there are changes. Whether that's a new rivalry to watch or rule changes. But I'd rather it be rule changes because those are easier to fix. You can't call up two teams and ask them to hate each other for the good of the league. (Although It would be great if you could)

S: It just takes one tough guy like Al Horford to start some crap. And if those two teams face off again [the Celtics and Hawks] that will be fun again. All I know is, I'm starving. Not for some NBA action, but for food.

J: Well then go eat and I'll get David Stern on the phone.