Salt Lake City, Utah
1998 NBA Finals- Game 1: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
Game 3 finished with the Chicago Bulls heating up their lead of 2-1. The day after the game 3, Dennis Rodman was not present in their practice instead, he chose to be present in wrestling. Dennis faced punishments from the Chicago Bulls for missing during their practice. Off the court, he’s doing everything that he wanted to do. On the court, he brings tremendous energy just to win the game. This game is Michael Jordan’s last dance as a professional basketball player. When Michael knows that this game is going to be his last, he knows how to end it well.
Game 5 came when Scottie Pippen felt something stiff on his back. The game started and Pippen started his score by doing a dunk and that triggered his back more. He told Michael Jordan that he could not do it anymore and he was done, he could not tolerate the pain on his back. He was running back and forth on the court like he was in labor. The Bulls were led by 9 in their first quarter when Scottie left the bench and was accompanied by their trainer Chip Schaefer. He was in such pain, so disabled to play more. The Bulls held on tightly when Scottie was not in the game. Dennis Rodman was defensively battling like crazy but he could not hold on always. Michael did his best to score more without Scottie by his side. Scottie decided to play in the 3rd quarter and his role was to be just a decoy, Michael brought all the energy and did everything he can do to cover up for Scottie. Michael shouldered the weight for his team and this resulted in fatigue, he could not get a nice shot during the game. He was really tired and exhausted but he has a job to finish.
“I’m collecting my thoughts, but I’m tired. I’m trying to muster up the energy… to finish this off.” –Michael Jordan
The Chicago Bulls won their 6th NBA Championship despite all the trials they’ve experienced on the court. Michael Jordan once again became the 1998 NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
“He’s a hero. He’s the guy that delivered every time he was asked during these types of situations.” – Coach Phil Jackson
Michael Jordan became popular because of his great performance on court and for having a larger-than-life persona. The Chicago Bulls had their celebrations in Grant Park as being part of their tradition to celebrate all their championships. A lot of people would really come to Grant Park to celebrate the victory of the Chicago Bulls. It’s heartwarming for the Chicago Bulls to be welcomed with this kind of atmosphere.
In the year 1992, the NBA was in 80 countries and during the generation of 2000’s, the NBA was in 215 countries.
“Anyone who understands that phenomenon of that historical arc will understand that Michael Jordan and his era played an incredibly important part in it.” –David Stern, NBA Commissioner
As Barack Obama said to the interview, there are great players who don’t have an impact beyond their sport but there are certain sports figures who became a larger cultural force. Michael Jordan was really unbelievable to create a different way of becoming an extraordinary ambassador not just for basketball but also for youth.
The night after the celebration at the Grant Park, Jerry Reinsdorf called Coach Phil Jackson asking him to come back after all that Coach Phil did to the team.
“You’ve earned the chance, the opportunity to come back, regardless of what was said before now.”-Jerry Reinsdorf
But Coach Phil decided to take a break thinking that it would be unfair for the position of Jerry Krause. He knew that this was going to be the end and it should be ended. The Chicago Bulls had a meeting and Steve Kerr knew that it would be their last meeting. Coach Phil decided to have a ritual to officially send off his career and team in where they’re going to write something about the team and tell them to everybody and burn it. Michael wrote a poem, the atmosphere was a depth of emotion.
