One of the topics of conversation for this week’s show was the all-new 2021 Kia Seltos. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo)
This week’s Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast was another at-home edition. And we still didn’t have donuts. So, I wore pants that had donuts printed on them. It wasn’t the same.
The #cardujour we discussed this week was the all-new 2021 Kia Seltos, It’s built on the same platform as the Hyundai Kona, has two engine options and most trims come standard with AWD. Collectively, we liked it, but there were a couple of weird things — like how the trim lineup was set up — that we thought were a bit off.
In the news section, we discussed exciting rumors about the next-gen Mazda6 sedan. Please let them be true.
Finally, we had a lengthy conversation with Paul Strauss, publisher of The Awesomer, Technabob and 95octane, to discuss plummeting gas prices and what it will mean for the future of electric cars.
Oh, and (spoiler alert) I won the quiz for the second week in a row!
While I will continue to post the podcast to my blog each week, you can subscribe to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast on any podcast subscription service or visit the Buzzsprout link. New episodes are usually posted on Friday, and then the show itself airs on WCPT 820 AM on Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m.
Be sure to let us know if you have questions or if there are any topics you’d like us to cover on future podcasts.
If I can do little else to help out during the lockdown, I can get out to my local bottle shop and pick up some local brews to review. Yes, I think I can handle that responsibility.
Spiteful Brewing had punched out beers in a number of styles, especially trendy IPAs and also dark beers, since 2012. They’ve put out at least two Chocolate Milk Stouts under the name “Mrs. O’Leary’s,” and you’d think Chicago brewers would have jumped at that name before this. Their web page is a little thin on details. Presumably the “milk” part is lactose sugar, which does not ferment, so it keeps the beer sweet. But is the “chocolate” part just chocolate roast malt, or has chocolate been added in the brew? Well, in this version I can at least be certain they’ve added raspberries. Has it only been two months since I sampled a Valentine’s Day flight of “Box of Chocolate” beers, including one with raspberry? Time for another. Unlike those brawny candy beers, this one carries a “mere” 7% alcohol by volume.
This pours with a nice Guinness-like cascade of brown bubbles down the side. A black beer body with some brown highlights.
The nose is pleasingly like a Dutch cocoa, with, indeed notes of raspberry. The taste does start out sweet and chocolatey, but there is a side of roasty malt coming in after the initial sip. There’s little alcohol in the nose, which makes it an easy drink to take down. Milk sugar gives me a milky aftertaste on top of the malt roastiness. The raspberries remain subdued, but easily accessible.
This is well worth seeking out. Its more of a fall/winter seasonal (my can was packaged on November 13). I found this 16 oz. can at Orange & Brew, and the regular Chocolate Milk Stout version in bottles at Prestige Tap Room in Westmont. So watch for it on your local shelf.
Fresh Beer Events, occasional bacon, but always spam free, opt out any time.
Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
As the Covid-19 crisis extends into the spring and possibly the summer, Chicago theaters and dance organizations are supplying a variety of online activities to stay connected to their audiences.
While some are saying “there’s no going back” — that the communal experience will never be the same — cultural arts organizations have faith that a new normal will emerge, one that’s perhaps not too unlike the live theater/dance experience we know.
“We so look forward to when we can open our doors and invite the public in to experience these projects as they were intended,” say Tara Mallen, artistic director at Rivendell Theatre, where the company continues to work on new plays.
So for now, online streaming is bringing theaters and audiences together in new ways. While many of the offerings listed below are free, please consider, if you can, a donation to your favorite company in this unprecedented time of extinguished footlights and darkened marquees.
THEATER
Victory Gardens Theater: Streaming its 2017 production of Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s acclaimed musical “Fun Home.” Based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir, the family drama unravels the many mysteries of her childhood from her coming out to her journey to acceptance. From May 12-24; tickets are $20. Visit victorygardens.org.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater: A variety of free streaming videos are offered in the digital platform Shakes@Home site, including education initiatives for teachers; a Living Room Sonnet Series; a look at recipes from the Bard’s plays and much more from artists and staff. Check it out at chicagoshakes.com.
The Goodman Theatre: While a stream “School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play” recently concluded, the Goodman continues its free stream of Robert Falls and Seth Bockley’s adaptation of Roberto Bolano’s novel “2666.” It’s a compelling five-hour marathon perfect for home viewing from the comfort of your couch. The theater also offers videos, art and articles to keep theatergoers connected while stages are dark. Visit goodmantheatre.org.
Steppenwolf Theatre: The company replaces it’s annual gala with a free online event, Pants Optional: A Steppenwolf Soiree, at 6:30 p.m. May 9. Making appearances are ensemble members Joan Allen, Gary Cole, John Malkovich, Sandra Marquez and Laurie Metcalf as well as other celebrity guests. The event concludes with a dance party with Grammy Award-winning DJ Tracy Young. Also on the Steppenwolf website is a podcast featuring ensemble members and teen and educator workshops. Visit steppenwolf.org.
Paramount Theatre: The Connection Social Media Concert has a new theme each week and features singers and dancers performing original works created while sheltering in place. All ages and experience levels are welcome to submit songs. For more information, visit paramountaurora.com. Also at 5 p.m. Mondays, the Paramount School of the Arts has launched a free series of live, virtual Master Classes Mondays taught by the theater’s artists and staff and covering a variety of topics. Visit, facebook.cm/paramountschoolofthearts.
Porchlight Music Theatre: Artistic director Michael Weber celebrates a legendary icon’s birthday with the free online series Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable. Saturdays at 7 pm, Weber and a panel of guests discuss a work by Stephen Sondheim and his impact on the performing arts. Upcoming works featured (including performance clips) are “Sunday in the Park with George” (May 2) and “Follies” (May 9). Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.
Verboten, the teen band, plays their grown-up gig at the Cubby Bear in a scene from the musical “Verboten.”Michael Brosilow
The House Theatre of Chicago: Streaming its recent production of Jason Narducy and Brett Neveu’s musical “Verboten.” Based on Narducy’s own experiences, it’s the story of how punk rock saved the lives of four Evanston kids in 1983. Available through May 4; tickets are pay-what-you-can beginning at $15. On May 2, a special live streaming event features Tony Award-winning actor-musician Michael Cerveris joining artistic director Nathan Allen and the play’s creators to talk about blending rock ‘n’ roll and theatre. Tickets are $99 and include access to the “Verboten” stream. Visit thehousetheatre.com.
Chicago Children’s Theatre: Streaming a variety of classes designed to teach the art of theater while building new skills like creativity, resourcefulness, confidence and collaboration. Ongoing, prices vary. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
The Neo-Futurists: The company takes its signature show online with “The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral,” a blast of 30 plays in 60 minutes. There are five price points ranging from $3-$100; the higher you go the more you get culminating in an original play written about your subject of choice. Ongoing. Visit neofuturists.org.
The Second City: The comedy outlet has adapted its shows and classes to create online experiences. The free weekly shows include “Improv House Party,” “The Last Show Left on Earth” and the family-friendly “Really Awesome Improv Show.” Visit secondcity.com.
Lookingglass Theatre: New digital content includes a weekly podcast featuring conversations with company artists about the creative process and how it intersects with life today. Other content features a yoga class and exclusive performances. Ongoing, free. Visit lookingglass.org.
Theater Wit: Streaming its staging of “Teenage Dick,” Mike Lew’s comedy about perception, disability and the lengths we’re willing to go to rise above our station in life. Through May 17, $25-$50 (a Wednesday matinee is pay-what-you-can). Visit theaterwit.org.
Northlight Theatre: The discussion series “At Home with BJ” features artistic director BJ Jones in conversation with artists from the company’s upcoming season. “Finish the Line,” play along and attempt to complete the lines from a selection of Northlight’s favorite productions. Visit northlight.org.
Collaboraction: The company has launched the Together Network a platform focused on bringing people together to explore important issues and stay connected. The ongoing weekly streams feature a variety of topics and special guests. Visit collaboraction.org.
Rivendell Theatre: Digital content features at the development process look at four new one-woman plays: “The Inside” by Lydia A. Diamond, “When Given the Choice, Bleed” by Kimberly Dixon-Mays, “Tidy” by Kristin Idaszak and “Aping Jane” by Aurora Real de Asua. Ongoing from April 29, free. Visit rivendelltheatre.org/solo-voices.
Theatre Y: “My Body’s Image, Delayed” is a retrospective of the work of Romanian playwright Andras Visky in 15 episodes streaming weekly. Ensemble members create a new video each week of a Visky excerpt focusing on introspection, self-interrogation and refracted identity. Visit theatre-y.com.
The Passage Theatre: A staged reading of “All-One! The Dr. Bronner’s Play,” a world premiere commission by Beth Hyland originally scheduled to open in April that tells the story of Dr. Emanuel Bronner, a man famous for his pure-castile liquid soap. From May 1-10, pay-what-you-can. Visit thepassagetheatre.com.
Philip Dawkins in Sideshow Theatre Company and Greenhouse Theater Center’s 2016 world premiere of “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Michael Brosilow
Sideshow Theatre: Streaming its production of “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Philip Dawkins’ play that retraces and explores the story of the women in his family. Through May 31, pay-what-you-can. Visit sideshowtheatre.org.
Black Button Eyes Productions: Streaming the world premiere of Ed Rutherford’s “Masque of the Red Coronavirus,” inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Masque of Red Death” and current newspaper stories. Ongoing, free. Visit blackbuttoneyes.com.
Hell in a Handbag Productions: Streaming its 2012 production of “Sexy Baby,” a docu-musical that goes behind the scenes of child beauty pageants. Ongoing, free. Visit https://bit.ly/2KCKdow
Prop Thtr: A free stream of its latest show, “…And I Am Not Afraid,” a work devised by the ensemble about resilience and tenacity in the face of violence. Ongoing. Visit propthtr.org.
Otherworld Theatre Company: The company focused on science fiction and fantasy streams a variety of shows including “Super Richard World III,” “Medusa Undone” and “Improvised Dungeons and Dragons.” Ongoing, free-$5. Visit otherworldtheatre.org.
Victoria Jaiani and Alberto Velazquez are photographed at the Driehaus Museum for the Joffrey Ballet’s production of “Anna Karenina.” Cheryl Mann
DANCE
The Joffrey Ballet presents weekly additions to its online presence (this week it’s all about the company’s 2019 production of Ilya Demutsky’s “Anna Karenina”) featuring interviews with dancers, performance excerpts and workouts that will make you appreciate a dancer’s training and ability. Visit www.youtube.com/thejoffreyballet.Also, every Thursday at 2 p.m.,Joffrey rehearsal director Adam Blyde hosts “On Cue,” a weekly video chat (via @joffreyballet Instagram LIVE) with a Joffrey company member about fitness tips, what they’re doing to stay sane and favorite quarantine recipes.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Fans can keep up with what the dancers are doing as they shelter at home (www.facebook.com/hubbardstreetdance), take a class and find educational resources for teachers. Plus coming soon, a resource for dance activities for families. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com.
Lucky Plush Productions: The organization has launched a Virtual Dance Lab in collaboration with the University of Chicago’s dance program for beginners to veteran dance artists. Included are all styles of dance, yoga, improvisation, kids’ classes, physical theater and a wake-up dance jam and more. Classes are free to students with a $5-$15 suggested donation for others. Visit luckyplush.com.
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater has launched Beyond Dance, a free online initiative with a variety of classes for children and adults, plus The Continuum Process, a series of discussions about creativity and the artistic process. Free. Visit deeplyrooteddancetheater.org.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Always a Chicago favorite during its winter run at the Auditorium Theatre, the New York-based company is offering free streams of its work: Ailey’s “Night Creature” (through April 30) and Jamar Roberts’ “Ode” (April 30-May 7). Visit alvinailey.org.
MUSIC
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: During this period, personal messages from musicians are being shared regularly on the CSO’s social media channels, with additional audio and video content available online at CSO Sounds & Stories and YouTube. Visit cso.org.
Like every ChicagoBulls fan, I’ve been enjoying ESPN’s documentary about the 1997-1998 team, called The Last Dance, at least in the early going.
But there are a few things this deep dive into Chicago Bulls history has left out.
Most of those things are true facts that paint Michael Jordan, a key subject in the documentary, the Bulls on-court leader, and, of course, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, in a less than flattering light.
I’m talking about the gambling, the cheating on his ex-wife, the over competitiveness (Jordan may have ruined Kwame Brown‘s career). None of these things are secret, but so far, the first two have gone unmentioned in The Last Dance, while the third has been positioned as a positive attribute – Jordan was so good not because he was blessed with unusual ability, but because he just wanted it (it being success) more than everyone else. As writer for The Root and VerySmartBrothas Damon Young points out, this is a problematic idea.
Vice even points out that the documentary’s suggestion that Jordan was deemed too short to be a dominant NBA player when he was coming out of college isn’t true.
On top of that, the late Jerry Krause is positioned as the villainous GM who broke up the Bulls for no good reason, at least in the first two episodes. The documentary seems to paint the players and head coach Phil Jackson as the good guys, and owner Jerry Reinsdorf as some benevolent mediator. As 670 AM WSCR’s Dan Bernstein writes, this is a bit unfair, and not just because Krause isn’t alive to give his side of the story.
As Bernstein notes, a lot the criticism of Krause is true – but the ravages of time may have also broken up the Bulls. Jordan was 35 and had logged heavy minutes over the years. Dennis Rodman was going on 37. Scottie Pippen would soon undergo shoulder fusion surgery the summer following the last championship and never again play at the same level. There was no guarantee that the Bulls of 1998-1999 would’ve been able to compete at a championship level, and the odds were likely against it.
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The biggest disappointment in the early going, however, is that all the footage that hasn’t been seen before hasn’t really shown much about Jordan or the Bulls that we didn’t already know. The Last Dance was so hyped, in part, because we expected to see footage that might paint the Bulls and their best player in a new light. Instead, we get visual confirmation of already known facts – that MJ and others were harsh towards Krause, and that Jordan wasn’t shy about ripping teammates at practice.
We do get a bunch of highlights – both well-known and less so – which is cool. But I didn’t sign up just to relive the glory days of my favorite NBA team. I wanted to learn more about what really happened behind the scenes, and see it presented in a visual way. Certainly, previous reporting has laid bare some facts that both Jordan and the organization would rather not be acknowledged, but it’s one thing to read about it in a book or a newspaper article, or to rely on someone’s fallible memory. Seeing it, in footage shot at the time, before history and faulty memories could warp the truth (however inadvertently), would’ve been great.
The lack of coverage of topics unflattering to Jordan (at least to this point – we have plenty of episodes to go), the oversimplification of Krause’s role in the breakup of the Bulls, and the narrative of Jordan simply wanting “it” more than anyone else – all of this comes about because ESPN sought, and was granted, permission to interview Jordan as part of the show.
This is because, in general, documentaries are different from works of journalism. Documentaries are often driven by an agenda, with the documentarian seeking to produce a work that backs said agenda. Furthermore, agenda-driven or not, documentarians are far more likely to agree to terms that kneecap them in terms of being able to cover all relevant facts.
Generally speaking, journalists would approach a profile of a person or event with an open mind, letting the facts guide the direction of the piece. Even when a journalist goes into the process with pre-conceived notions, he or she will adjust course as needed when new information comes to light. There are exceptions – some journalists are better at the job than others, and sometimes a journalist doesn’t respond appropriately to information that challenges the preconceived notions, and you get a piece that seems driven to fit a forethought narrative.
That’s not necessarily unethical, but it is intellectually lazy, and it tends to lead to weak stories that don’t give the full picture. Thankfully, most successful journalists avoid this most of the time. It’s also a net positive that today’s media-consumption environment makes it easy for critics to call out journalists and outlets when it does happen.
That’s not the case with documentaries, though. Sometimes the director has an agenda in mind and presents the story accordingly.
Similarly, the director of a documentary is more likely to approve of terms and conditions on how the story is presented. If a journalist was writing a long feature story on the ’97-’98 Bulls and wanted to interview Jordan, and Jordan said he’d only do it if certain unflattering facts were omitted, the journalist would almost certainly say no. He or she would instead work around Jordan’s non-participation, interviewing other people and using previously reported on-record Jordan quotes when necessary and appropriate. Jordan’s declining to participate would be noted in the story. This happens all the time in journalism.
But as the Vice piece notes, former Chicago Tribune reporter Sam Smith (also the author of The Jordan Rules) wrote a piece for NBA.com suggesting that one of Jordan’s two media gatekeepers likely approved his participation. He implies that it might be the work of Estee Portnoy, someone who often tells people requesting to interview Jordan that he won’t say yes.
All of this matters because if you’re raptly watching The Last Dance, as many of us are, you’re not getting the full story. You’re getting a story that paints Jordan in a flattering light, that paints Krause as a villain without context, and that also burnishes the ESPN brand – the company can hype the heck out of this thing, especially during a time when the world’s sporting events are shut down. Not to mention that many of the pundits who pop up either are currently employed by the so-called Worldwide Leader or were at one time. SportsCenter has been all about The Last Dance after each showing, as well.
ESPN has always struggled more than most mainstream media outlets with the tug of war between doing excellent journalism and bowing to corporate mandates. This is because the network has relationships (mostly revolving around broadcast rights) with sports leagues that complicate matters. Remember the show Playmakers, which ESPN killed after one season under rumors that the NFL, unhappy with a fictional show that painted the league in a bad light at times, pressured the network to do so? How about the frequent (but unproven) claims that ESPN gave less time to hockey highlights when it wasn’t carrying game broadcasts?
This isn’t to say that ESPN doesn’t do excellent, independent journalism or that ESPN can’t be trusted. However, it’s no surprise that ESPN and director Jason Hehir would possible be willing to abide by terms of coverage set by Jordan.
None of this is to stay The Last Dance is bad. It’s still pretty great, especially for Bulls fans, as flawed as it is. Jordan may be an imperfect person off the court, but he was never credibly accused of cheating or using PEDs, and seeing highlights of him in action during his prime is a reminder of just how talented he was. It’s certainly possible to believe Jordan was the greatest player of all time and to have rooted for him as a Bulls fan or basketball fan, while still acknowledging his faults.
As a Bulls fan, I’ve been paying rapt attention, reliving moments from my childhood and getting to see new footage or footage that’s new to me, at least. I’m enjoying the documentary series so far, and I think it’s well done through four episodes, despite mostly omitting Jordan’s blemishes to this point. It also needs to be acknowledged that The Last Dance hasn’t been shy about dredging up other parts of Bulls’ history that aren’t exactly glamourous.
Besides that, the behind-the-scenes clips are still interesting, even if they are less revelatory than expected.
All I’m saying is that the picture the documentary paints is incomplete, at least to this point. Perhaps the gambling and the infidelity and the competitiveness to the point of possible sociopathy will be addressed and addressed properly. But for now, the picture highlights the Jordan that has been marketed to us for decades, as opposed to the totality of the man – who is far more flawed than a Nike ad will admit.
This is a bit of a shame, in part because one of those flaws – the hyper-competitiveness – is often portrayed as one of Jordan’s best assets. It would be awesome to explore this dynamic further – did one of the most talented basketball players of all time need to be so damn driven? Could he have still been a success if he wasn’t? What’s the line between being hyper-focused on success and taking that desire to win too far? At what point does it become counterproductive?
The same goes for Krause’s involvement. The doc assumes his philosophies were wrong – but seeing more of a counterpoint would’ve been nice, even if the ultimate conclusions still showed Krause was incorrect.
Finally, I was certainly hoping that all this old, never-before-seen footage would show more than just a few pointed barbs from Jordan towards Krause or teammates like Scott Burrell. Jordan on a training table isn’t all that interesting. Jordan riffing on teammates at practice is more interesting, but the snippets we’ve seen so far have been tame.
None of the found footage really tells us anything we didn’t already know.
If The Last Dance piques your interest, that’s great. But if you want to delve deeper into the full picture of those Bulls teams, and especially Jordan himself, you’ll have to look elsewhere to fully complete the puzzle.
The 1990s ChicagoBulls are a hot topic lately. Thanks to ESPN’s “The Last Dance”, we get new footage of one of the greatest teams ever. Sunday’s episode had a rare angle of “The Shot” that deserves credit.
In a time of unprecedented crisis, where there are no live sports to escape to, people are desperate for anything to watch and connect with as fans. Enter ESPN and their documentary series “The Last Dance” covering the final season of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
Sunday’s episodes of the series highlighted the rise to the team’s first championship in 1991 and took a look at the complicated life and career of Hall of Fame forward Dennis Rodman. The Bulls truly had a tough road to finally earn the title.
Like the Bulls teams of that era, the series has a fixation on Michael Jordan even when discussing or highlighting other players. It’s no secret why, and Sunday’s episode showed how Jordan evolved to best his competition.
One of the first moments where Jordan’s greatness was on display to the world is simply known as “The Shot”. It’s a breathtaking moment from Jordan, and it instantly made him stand out even more than he already had in his young NBA career.
The third episode of “The Last Dance” features the broadcast version of the legendary shot over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Ehlo. But it also features clips of a rarely-shown angle that was shot by a Chicago broadcast team.
A little over seven years ago, this video (also shown above) was posted to YouTube by the user “Sayhibob59”. It was posted on Jordan’s 50th birthday, and the user said he wanted to celebrate by sharing this rare, unseen footage with the world.
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The YouTube account belongs to Bob Vasilopoulos, a long-time television producer and reporter in Chicago who worked for CBS Chicago in 1989. Filming the video was cameraman Chuck Davidson, who was alongside reporter Rich King.
Vasilopoulos is the one you hear losing it at the end of the game and shouting, “Michael! Michael! You stuck it, baby!” His emotional, frenetic reaction showed just how fast everything happened at that moment.
One clip the ESPN documentary features is of Jordan saying he was keeping tabs on Chicago media’s predictions for the playoff series. Vasilopoulos recounted his pregame chat with Jordan that led to that postgame answer:
I went to the Bulls locker room, to find him sitting by himself. He asked me to see the Sunday papers I had with me, and asked what the buzz was back home. I told him most media folks gave the Bulls credit for a well played series, but it would be tough to win game 5 on the road, against a good Cavs team. He said, “we’re not going to lose, come see me after the game”.
And when they did see each other after the game, it was clear that Jordan didn’t forget their conversation. It epitomizes Jordan’s ethos; if you doubt him, he’ll hold it against you while it fuels him to be great.
In our world where information and content are so easily shared, it’s a wonder that footage like this can stay relatively obscure. I remember stumbling upon it about five years ago and thinking it was cool but not giving it much more thought.
In reality, it’s actually an incredible, raw glimpse at a historic moment in sports from a totally different perspective. The broadcast angle of this moment is great, but Vasilopoulos’ video shows the extent of Jordan’s freakish athleticism.
While “The Last Dance” cut footage of this video into the broadcast footage, the original video adds depth to just how difficult “The Shot” was. Ehlo actually played great defense, and Jordan hung in the air for what seems like forever.
This angle shows exactly how Jordan had to quickly adjust and stay in midair to get the shot off. It’s truly one of the best shots in NBA history. What once may have been a fun clip to show hardcore Bulls fans could now see a jump in views.
With the nation watching (the first two episodes drew record ratings), fans got a small glimpse of some great work by three Chicago sports media guys in the 80s. The result was a timeless recording that will go down in history as part of this series.
Maybe Bob, Rich, and Chuck will now get some credit for capturing one of the most incredible moments of Jordan’s career. Even if they don’t, they’re three of the select few who had the best seats in the house.
The ChicagoBulls had a big impact made on them by Phil Jackson. He did something that was pivotal in them getting over the hump.
Anybody can be a superstar in the regular season if they have the talent. That is what it looked like what happening with Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan in the 1980s. He was winning scoring titles and individual accolades but the success wasn’t really coming in the postseason. In order to mold himself into a guy who can get it done in the playoffs, he needed some help.
Of course, help came along the way down the road in the form of players like Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Horace Grant, etc, but it wasn’t until Phil Jackson showed up that Michael really clicked in the playoffs. Phil had philosophies that helped Jordan do what he needs to do in order to move along in the playoffs. Championships are how basketball players are remembered and the Jackson/Jordan duo combined to win six of them.
In order for superstars to reach their true potential, they need to be able to make others around them better. They can be great on their own by doing things for themselves but making their teammates better is something that is very difficult. “The Last Dance” showed that Phil Jackson’s goal upon his arrival in Chicago was he wanted to make Michael learn to make others better.
Instead of trying to score the most points, they worked on ways that Jordan can help setting up his teammates as well. Phil Jackson made it clear to his team that defense follows the ball. If Jordan didn’t have the ball for the entire possession, something like “The Jordan Rules” wouldn’t be an effective defensive strategy for a team like the Detroit Pistons.
Jackson implemented the strategy known as “The triangle”. It is an offensive way of attacking that allows the five men on the court to make passes to one another. Instead of everything ultimately leading to Jordan taking the shot, the triangle allowed Jordan to still get his shots while also allowing his teammates to be more involved. It allowed Scottie Pippen to develop into a top-five player. It also allowed guys like Paxson to hit shots that Jordan set him up for. Phil’s impact on the team’s depth is what led to them being such a great team for a long time.
The ChicagoBulls continued their front office overhaul on Monday when they decided to make a history-making move hiring Marc Eversley to be their new GM.
The NBA season may be in flux, but the Chicago Bulls have continued to make moves. In effort to continue moving into a new era, the Bulls have been in process of completely retooling their front office.
There was no bigger hire in that process than new Vice President of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, who joined the Bulls after most recently spending time with the Denver Nuggets.
Karnisovas has a history of knowing the ins and outs of roster development, specifically with a strong background in international scouting. His next moves originally included filling the general manager role and figuring out what to do with head coach Jim Boylen, and whether or not to replace him.
The first of those moves has been made, with the Bulls hiring former Philadelphia 76ers assistant general manager Marc Eversley as Chicago’s new GM.
What makes this such a significant hire? The Bulls had recently been under fire by some outlets for not bringing in an African American in their search for Karnisovas’ role. Although, contrary to some accusations outside the organization, the Bulls did indeed have diversity in mind during their front office retool.
The hiring of J.J. Polk to be an assistant general manager is proof that ownership, along with Karnisovas, had no problem hiring an African American for such a prominent role. Now, with the Eversley hiring, the Bulls have made history, bringing on the first ever African American general manager in team history.
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Eversley comes to the Bulls having previously worked for the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors before the Philadelphia 76ers. Interestingly enough, Eversley worked for Nike for 10 years prior to coming to the NBA, per The Chicago Sun-Times.
Knowing what the Sixers have done to turn around their franchise within just a few short years, Eversley is a slam-dunk hire — pun intended. The Bulls are in great hands with a few brand-new hires who all have plenty of modern day basketball knowledge. Karnisovas appears to have a strong plan in place and Bulls fans should be thrilled.
Now, the only question is, what will they do with Jim Boylen? I’m sure I speak on behalf of most fans when I say the team needs to get rid of Boylen as soon as possible. One can only hope, right?
The ChicagoBlackhawks made a very unexpected firing on Monday afternoon when they let John McDonough go after a decade of success with the franchise.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made a huge decision. They randomly announced on Monday afternoon that they have fired John McDonough as the CEO and President of the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been with the team for a long time and had some success but it is long overdue for him to be gone now. There have been some really good times but it was time to move on.
Rocky Wirtz announced this news on Monday which came as a bit of a surprise. He made it known that McDonough, Stan Bowman, and head coach Jeremy Colliton would be back next season but now you can’t believe him. McDonough is gone so you have to wonder what that means for the future of this team’s front office.
Bowman has made some unforgivable mistakes under McDonough’s watch like trading Artemi Panarin, Teuvo Teravainen, and firing coach Joel Quenneville. This franchise seems to have had a few years left of dominance but some bad decisions have led to them falling off a bit early. Guys like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have never been better yet the team stinks.
This may or may not spark a big change in the rest of the front office. The randomness of the announcement makes it seem like that may be likely. The season is also not technically over yet as the league is currently on pause due to the coronavirus. They are the first team to make some sort of big announcement like this. It may spark other teams to start resuming business operations more as the league tries to come back, but one thing for sure is that John McDonough won’t be there when they do.
It has been bad lately in Chicago hockey but there were some good times under McDonough to. When he came in after some time with the Chicago Cubs, he rebuilt this Chicago. Blackhawks team from the front office out. They ended up winning the Stanley Cup three times over a decade of dominance. With that said, things weren’t great at the end and it was time to move on. Now, we wait to see if this was the first big move of many.
Few who lived in Chicago through the ’90s would describe the decade without mentioning the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Last Sunday, ESPN released the first two episodes of their new 10-part documentary: The Last Dance.
While it specifically focuses on the ‘97-98 season, the series also highlights the Bulls dynasty and Jordan’s career in the league. And if there’s anything The Last Dance has shown us so far, it’s that there is going to be plenty of drama in this final Bulls season. With episodes 3 and 4 set to air tonight, we’ve got you covered with our recap of the first two episodes of The Last Dance.
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What Happened So Far?
The first two episodes of The Last Dance are filled with plenty of drama, Michael Jordan highlights, and interviews from people close to the Bulls organization and the game of basketball.
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As far as the drama goes, with the focus of the documentary on the final season of the Bulls dynasty, all the problems center around their breakup. Right away it’s made pretty clear that the biggest conflict was between the players and the front office, and specifically, former Bulls general manager, Jerry Krause. Tensions begin early in the season when Krause says, “Players and coaches don’t win championships; organizations win championships,” which offends Michael Jordan and the rest of the team. As the season goes on, The Last Dance reveals more footage of the tension, and we don’t think it’ll go away anytime soon.
Outside of the drama of the final season, there is plenty of entertainment and flashbacks mixed into the series. In the first two episodes, you’ll learn the story of both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s journeys to the NBA, their careers, and some of their personal life. Former players, coaches, and fans make appearances to talk about their impact and dominance as players. Even Barack Obama makes an appearance as a “Former Chicago Resident.”
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Expectations For The Last Dance Series
After binging the first two episodes, we’re definitely excited to watch how the rest of the series plays out. Expect to see plenty more of the drama between players and upper management within the Bulls organization. We’d also expect an episode featured on Dennis Rodman, Michael’s first retirement to play in the MLB, and more on his career. Regardless of what happens, The Last Dance is definitely much needed right now.
New episodes of The Last Dance air Sundays on ESPN at 8 P.M. CST with replays on ESPN.com.
At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters. Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!
I’ve dug bowling since I was a little kid back in the early 60’s….before the Beatles!
I remember watching dudes like Don Carter, Dick Weber, Carmen Salvino on television in black and white. I think I was ten when I joined my first league. It was a thrill to score one hundred, but even if I didn’t, it was fun to hang out with my friends.
In the 1980’s, I was still watching bowling. I usually worked on Saturday mornings, so when I came home it was nap time with the PBA Tour on in the background. Chris Shrenkel and Bo Burton on the broadcast with stars like Mike Aulby, Marshall Holman and young Pete Weber. I liked the competition. If I fell asleep and missed who was the winner, no biggie. Win/Win!!
Fast forward to today. I’m still into bowling. Us media/journalist types have a local bowling league. It meets every Tuesday during the fall and winter. It’s as much about hanging out and drinking beer as it is the competition, but I’m down with that….almost everyone is! When I had rotator cuff issues and missed last season, it was disappointing.
Okay…okay..we get it…you really like bowling. Get to the point, already!
Here’s the point….in the state of Georgia, the lanes are open for you to bowl. Along with getting a haircut, a massage, a tattoo, you can now top it off with a couple of lines of bowling. WOW! That’s a full day of entertainment!
I’m not sure of the reasoning behind the opening of any of these things, but those are the enterprises that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp decided would be safe to open to the public. I always wonder what the thought process is behind any bizarre decision. Usually I can come up with something even stranger than the truth. Not in this case.
It’s easy to figure out why Kemp opened anything. His idol Donald Trump wants to get the economy moving again. The day after setting guidelines for any state to reopen, Trump chimed in with that “Liberate” bullshit. Kemp took him at that word. He wanted to be the first to liberate his state. Hence, tats, haircuts and bowling. The problem is Trump backed off after hearing from medical experts. He called out and threw Kemp under the bus publicly. That’s nothing new for anyone who gets involved with Trump. Brian Kemp should have known that, but in his fever to suck up to Donald, he got carried away. And now, Kemp isn’t backing down…even as the rates of infection and death in his state are rising.
In an age of social distancing, I don’t know how bowling in public is going to work. I suppose you can rent out every other lane to keep people six feet apart. That could work, but what about finding a bowling ball? Usually, people find a ball by putting their fingers inside the holes to see if the ball fits. Will they carry hand sanitizer spray with them and de-infect each ball? Is there even such a thing?
And don’t get me started on sharing bowling shoes!! YUCK…under the best of conditions…and people, these aren’t the best of conditions!
To Brian Kemp, I give you this infamous quote from the great Pete Weber,“Who do you think you are? I am!” I really have no idea what this means, but it sounds like it works under these circumstances.
To the people of Georgia, good luck with all of this. As another one of other states says, “Live free or die.” That choice is now up to you!
My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
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