It's the things you remember

Back in the dark ages of the 1980s, when mullets were fashionable and the world was transfixed by the budding love between Joanie and Chachi, my grandfather took me to see the Celtics play the Bulls. 'Pay attention,' he told me. 'Larry Bird is the only player worth paying to see.'

Two decades later, there I am, with Sonny Boy. 'Pay attention,' I say, 'that's the only guy on the floor that was ever worth paying to see.'

The game was junk, but I knew it would be. The highlights of the game were Jalen and Trenton combining for something like 1-15 in the first half, Brendan Haywood OWNING Tyson Chandler in the 3rd (it didn't really make any difference in the game, but it was interesting to watch him poke an elbow and smile as Tyson had that pained expression on his face). But if you were going as I was because I didn't try too hard to go, and didn't expect too much, it was nice. Jordan made a nice move in the third, loosing the ball, getting it back, scooping it up with the left.

All of the memories came flooding back. 63 against Boston. The days when he had hair and the word 'Chicago' was written in cursive across his chest. Slam-dunk championships. Craig Ehlo. Scottie Pippen's migraine. Playing point guard. 'Give the ball to Michael and get the

i love this team, despite everything the bloody management tries to do it! and jordan, in my small experiences, is still the best player i've ever seen, and i don't really expect to see any better...

brad.

'Granville Waiters' Ghost' < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > wrote in message

Agree with all of that.

For me, the Boston playoff game, the slam dunk championship, the 37 point scoring average... It was just sort of freakish. It was when he hit The Shot against Cleveland that I realized I was watching a legend. The old fogies in this town had Butkus and Sayers. I count myself lucky to watch this legend coming up. With the Bad Boys, I think the allure is mostly nostalgic. For the things that happened during the Bulls dynasty, all I can think of to express it is 'awe.'

Anyway, it's a part of our history now. Just like you can't look at a Celtics uniform without remembering Bird (or Russell, if you're a fogie). It's something our guys now should aspire to, not try to 'escape' from. Kobe and Shaq don't complain about the oh-so-heavy burden of playing in Magic and Kareem's shadow. They made their own game and made the town theirs. As much as I enjoy watching them suffer (probably like all non-Bulls fans have gotten their kicks on us), I give them respect for that. Jalen, too, for that matter.