Chicago Bulls To Honor Scottie Pippen With Statue
The Chicago Bulls announced plans to unveil a bronze statue of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen that will be displayed permanently in the United Center by the end of the 2010-11 season.
The statue will be crafted by Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany of Highland Park, Ill., who also sculpted the famous Michael Jordan statue which was unveiled in January 1994 in conjunction with Jordan’s No. 23 jersey retirement.
Shadows
In July, the Bulls named Pippen as an ambassador for the organization. In this capacity, he will attend a majority of Bulls home games and spend time with fans and sponsors. Additionally, Pippen will also participate in a variety of team related events throughout the year, write a monthly column on Bulls.com and make appearances on BullsTV via Bulls.com.
Pippen was a seven-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1992-97) and a member of six NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls. He was a three-time All-NBA first team honoree and was voted to the NBA All-Defensive first team from 1992-99. Pippen won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team” and returned to help lead the USA to gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also won NBA All-Star MVP honors in 1994.
Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose Gets His Own Skittles Machine
Jealous
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is known for having a sweet tooth. A college teammate once revealed he ate Gummy Bears for breakfast and Honey Buns for dinner. Now that he’s an NBA All-Star, the candy makers come to him.
When the Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company got word that Rose’s diet included handfuls of Skittles, they delivered to his house a customized vending machine and a promise to keep it fully stocked with the tangy treats for three years.
Rose can even record a message on the machine to remind him to eat more Skittles.
Michael Jordan Keeps Getting Asked Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James Question
What was it like to win 72 games in an NBA season? Do you feel players need to match your 6 championships to be on your level are just a few questions I think Michael Jordan would be answering. Instead it seems like he’s just ask to answering the question of who’s better Kobe Bryant or LeBron James these days
NBA 2K11 Allows Gamers To Play 10 Different Versions Of Michael Jordan
Did You Even See Him Play?
The makers of NBA2K11 have released details the game has a game mode entitled “The Jordan Challenge” which allows you to play 10 different versions of the NBA great.Fans can play whatever game they want in whatever order.
In each game, gamers are charged with different goals, including matching Jordan’s point totals and shooting percentage. Here are the 10 different versions of Jordan that can played, however two of the 10 challenges don’t have specific dates tied to it.
April 20, 1986: Jordan scores 63 vs. the Boston Celtics
March 28, 1990: Jordan scores 69 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers
May 26, 1990: Jordan’s Game 3 Eastern Conference Finals vs. Detroit Pistons
Any date in 1990: Jordan’s battles that season against Dominique Wilkins and Atlanta Hawks
June 2 thru June 12: Jordan’s performance in the 1991 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
June 3, 1992: Jordan scores 35 in the first half vs. Portland Trail Blazers
March 18, 1995: Jordan scores 55 vs. the New York Knicks
June 16, 1996: Father Day Game in 1996 NBA Finals vs. Seattle SuperSonics
June 11, 1997: The Flu Game
June 14,1998: Jordan’s last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform
If you hit six three pointers in a row like Jordan did against the Trail Blazers in 1992, the virtual Jordan will shrug just like he did in real life on that night.
WTF: Joakim Noah
Midnight Toker
As Rudy J likes to say that camera phones will be the downfall of us all, here comes a photo of Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah aka Stitch shopping at a local bodega. Can we end the speculation now whether Stitch smokes or not now?
Benny The Bull Attacked
Scottie Pippen Always Hated Your Guts
Chicago Bulls Mascot Benny the Bull was attacked as he escorted a group of kids through Odyssey Fun World, an amusement park when a man and woman approached from the opposite direction making threatening remarks to Benny and then pushing him to the ground.
The man in the Benny the Bull costume injured his wrist in the incident and management of Odyssey Fun Center told police they want to issue a criminal trespass warning if the suspect is found.
First Look At Michael Jordan On Cover Of NBA 2K11
Did You Even See Him Play?
So do you feel about the image used for the cover or the fact that Michael Jordan is on the cover to begin with? I personally don’t have a problem with the image used as it’s one of the more memorable poses of Jordan’s but I still not open armed about him gracing the cover. In my opinion I just feel that for the NBA to go forward it’s time to cash in on what the league has to offer now like their stars in Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant, Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose or even Milwaukee Bucks Brandon Jennings.
WTF: Chicago Bulls
Scared?
In a big ballsy move in their efforts to lure free agent LeBron James to play in the city of Chicago, the Bulls asked the “King With No Rings” if he had what it takes to fill the shoes of NBA legend Michael Jordan. I believe James can fill those shoes, along the lines in market sales, but find it hard to believe that he will ever fill the boxes that hold Jordan’s six championship rings.
Does he only time will tell?
WTF: ESPN
Sickening
The clock finally hit 0:00:00 on the opening of NBA free agency but according to ESPN there’s only one player involved and he has no rings to go with the hype. See ESPN created a whole page to following LeBron James and his suitors entitled the “LeBron Tracker”.
The LeBron Tracker page is an exercise in excessive exposure as the page features an “Inside the Brain of LeBron,” and a free agent slot machine of images of James in both Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks jerseys.
So where’s Dwyane Wade’s page? You know, the only player out of the “top free agents” who actually won an NBA title? Tom Brady’s contract is up next year. Will he be getting a page too?
LeBronSucks.com For 10K
Queen LBJ
An ad on Craiglist for the domain name LeBronSucks.com is up for sale and can be yours for the chump change of $10,000 or best offer. The domain name is registered through 1/15/2011. It receives hits daily without search engine optimization or paid placement.
The poster even lets you the buyer know he has a sample site up with the domain name having a strong potential as people grow more frustrated with his antics related to the pending free agency period beginning on July 1st and his signing with the Chicago Bulls.
2010 NBA Finals Most Viewed Since 2001
Est. 1946
ABC averaged a 10.6 rating and 18.1 million viewers for the 2010 NBA Finals, up 26% in ratings and viewership from Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic last year (8.4, 14.3 mil, five games), up 14% and 21% from Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 (9.3, 14.9 mil, six games), and up 71% and 95% from San Antonio Spurs/Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 (6.2, 9.3 mil, four games).
This marks the most-viewed NBA Finals since Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers on NBC in 2001 (19.0 mil), and the second most-viewed since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz in 1998 (29.0 mil), Michael Jordan’s last NBA Finals.
This is only the second time since 1998 that the NBA Finals has averaged at least 18 million viewers. This only the second time in the past eight years that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating.
Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics outdrew the last two seven-game NBA Finals San Antonio Spurs/Detroit Pistons in 2005 (12.5 mil) and Houston Rockets/New York Knicks in 1994 (17.3 mil).
Of the 15 NBA Finals since 1990 that did not involve Jordan and the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics is the third-most viewed, behind the Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers series in 2001 (19.0 mil) and Houston Rockets/Orlando Magic in 1995 (20.1 mil).
However the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics ranks as the fifth-lowest rated NBA Finals to involve the Los Angeles Lakers in the past thirty years (15 series). It’s ahead of only Los Angeles Lakers/New Jersey Nets in 2002 (10.2), Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics in 2008 (9.3), Los Angeles Lakers/Orlando Magic in 2009 (8.4) and Los Angeles Lakers/Philadelphia 76ers in 1980 (8.0).
For perspective, the 2010 NBA Finals finished behind the 2009 World Series, which averaged an 14.7 rating and 23.4 million viewers for six games.
The final game of the 2010 NBA Finals saw its largest audience and it was its largest for an NBA game since the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 win over the Celtics drew a 15.6/27 final rating and 28.2 million viewers on ABC.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game on any network since Chicago Bulls/Utah Jazz Game 6 in 1998, topping the previous highs of 14.7 Indiana Pacers/Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 in 2000 and 23.8 million viewers Los Angeles Lakers/Sacramento Kings Game 7 in 2002.
Additionally, this is easily the highest rated, most-viewed NBA game ever on ABC, topping the previous high of 13.8 and 21.8 million viewers for Los Angeles Lakers/Detroit Pistons Game 5 in 2004. This is the first time since that 2004 series that any NBA game has surpassed 20 million viewers.
Despite the big numbers Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers finished behind previous Game 7s in the NBA Finals. New York Knicks/Houston Rockets Game 7 drew a 17.9 on NBC in 1994, Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 drew a 21.2 on CBS in 1988, and Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics Game 7 drew a 19.3 rating on CBS in 1984.
Dr. Phil Analyzes LeBron James
Jimmy Kimmel and Dr. Phil team up in looking out for LeBron James best interests with his upcoming free agency drama. Frankly till Dr. Phil mentioned it I never would have thought about the reality that a dog can’t piss on a moving car.
Does James listen and sign with slutty Chicago or keep the city of Cleveland dangling all summer long?
Former NBA Player Kendall Gill Returns To Boxing Ring
Who Wrestles In Tims?
Very few people outside of Illinois ties will find this news interesting but former Charlotte Hornets,Seattle SuperSonics,New Jersey Nets,Miami Heat,Minnesota Timberwolves,Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks Kendall Gill will be making a return to the boxing ring tonight.
Gill, 41, who’s currently a Comcast Sportsnet basketball analyst will look to improve upon his prefect 3-0 record when he fights at the Chicago’s UIC Pavilion against Miles Kelly, 1-1-0 in a scheduled four round heavyweight bout.
He also has a video crew following him around as he trains for the fight for an upcoming show entitled “Inside the Ropes.” Gill has two knockouts in his boxing career but hasn’t fought since 2005.
Jose Canseco is impressed.
A Game Winner & It’s Not Kobe
The theme for the NBA 2009-2010 regular season was game winners by Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, I mean he did have 6 of them. However we are now on the verge of the NBA Playoffs second round and last night former Finals MVP Boston Celtics Paul Pierce help Miami Heat start packing with this game winner.
No the series isn’t over just yet but Dwyane Wades tenure in south beach is, see you in Chicago next year.
James Johnson Forever Linked To LeBron James
The NBA Playoffs are when the stars come to the stage to accept their awards and so sad that Chicago Bulls James Johnson just got in the way of Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James of accepting his. It’s OK Johnson at least whenever the NBA shows an edited collection of LeBron’s million dollar moments you’ll be near the top of the list, living on forever.
BLOCK CITY: Your Victim-Chicago Bulls
LeBron James, you have been charged with the crime of Representin.
And the verdict is Guilty.
Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah Has Special Message For Dan Shanoff
When Disney’s Stitch lays out open invitation for all bloggers to come to Chicago in June except for former ESPN writer Dan Shanoff . Getting a diss from a Disney character is pretty sad.
Chicago Bulls Jerome James Doesn’t Like To Play Or Pay
Look How Proud He Is In His Garbage Bag
Chicago Bulls center Jerome James, who once was cut by the Sacramento Kings and given a trash bag to clean out his locker, has decided paying his bills does not apply to him.
James, who is in the final year of $30 million, is skipping out on paying off a 6.91 carat diamond engagement ring and the jeweler has filed a civil suit against the NBA player. Lemmerman’s Inc. claims James bought a $70,000 engagement ring in 2008. The jeweler claims Jerome paid $40,000 up front and promised to pay the balance. However James who hasn’t played one single minute for the Bulls this season also hasn’t made a payment since January 2009.
And there’s more according to the docs, Lemmerman’s maintained a credit account for James who racked up a grand total of $96,000 in bling-related purchases.
Someone should have reminded Lemmerman’s that James once wore a garbage bag as a Superman cape in front of 25,000 fans. I mean who trusts a man that sports a garbage bag as a fashion statement?
Milwaukee Bucks Playoff Chances Blown
The Milwaukee Bucks season has come together very nicely with outstanding play from former number one overall pick Andrew Bogut, the stellar play of rookie Brandon Jennings and received a little luck when the Chicago Bulls, a divisional opponent, traded one of their best guards in John Salmons to the Bucks.
The Bucks have quietly put 42-34 season together up to this point and far different from last season when they finished 34-48. Just when things where looking on the up and up for the Bucks they suffered devasting injury when Bogut landed on his right elbow after dunking against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.
Early reports had it listed as a slightly dislocated elbow, after watching I ask what is slightly? That doesn’t look like slightly in pain and that didn’t look like the Bucks where just slightly concerned.
Did I forget to mention the biggest factor this season for the Bucks has been Richard Jefferson is no longer on the roster?
Chicago Bulls Flip Murray’s Incredible Shot…Doesn’t Count
That’s that typical shot you see someone throw up at your local court when it’s game and everyone is walking over to get water but you never see made.
Still ridiculous to see it not only go in but on the hook too, sadly the Phoenix Suns ended up winning 111-105
WTF: Charles Barkley
Ole
You can’t take TNT’s Charles Barkley that serious but it was either funny as hell or seriously offended you when you saw him sporting a poncho and sombrero during the Miami Heat/Chicago Bulls game last night in honor of Latin Night in Chicago.
TNT knew it would be going head-to-head with NCAA’s March Madness so they decided to send their studio crew of Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Charles to broadcast the actual game. As you might have expected if you didn’t watch it was pure genius and entertaining.
Ernie Johnson To Call MLB Games For TBS & Peachtree TV
One Of The Best
TBS has tapped a rotation of three announcers to replace Chip Caray on MLB broadcasts.
Ernie Johnson (one of the best), Dick Stockton and Brian Anderson will call regular season baseball games for TBS during the 2010 season, replacing Caray, who was fired after last season. Stockton, who sucks and can’t get anyone’s name right these days and Anderson have previously called MLB postseason games for TBS.
This is just the latest foray for Johnson into play-by-play. In December, he called a Cleveland Cavaliers/Atlanta Hawks game for NBA TV, and he is scheduled to call the March 25 Miami Heat/Chicago Bulls game for TNT. In addition to his work on TBS, Johnson will also call 30 Braves games for Atlanta’s Peachtree TV.
Meanwhile, John Smoltz has joined Turner as an analyst for MLB coverage. He will join Buck Martinez, who sucks too, and Ron Darling, full of knowledge, as color commentators for TBS MLB telecasts. Like Johnson, Smoltz will also call select Braves games on Peachtree TV.
In addition to Smoltz, Martinez and Darling, studio analysts Dennis Eckersley and David Wells, who is funny but wonders at times, will call select games during the season.
LeBron James Files Paperwork For Number Change
Where's Bill Russell's Respect?
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is good to his word on changing his number out of respect for Michael Jordan. James has filed the paperwork on the same day the Cavaliers played the New York Knicks and ahead of Wednesday’s league deadline to switch numbers for next season to the No. 6. The number he sported as a member of the U.S. basketball team at the 2008 China and the day his first son was born.
Player do not directly benefit from merchandise sales, however. It goes into a league-wide pool that is distributed to teams and then players based on seniority.
Last fall, James said he wanted to surrender No. 23 out of respect to his hero, the number Jordan wore for nearly his entire Chicago Bulls career excluding the brief period he donned the No. 45.
But as James is changing his name out of respect for Jordan believing the number should be retired across the league I ask what about showing respect to the NBA’s greatest champion and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. This is the touchy subject you get into when you start to proclaim one athlete better than another from different eras and stating Jordan’s number should be league wide retired.
Russell donned the No. 6 through 11 championships in 13 years with the Celtics and on his way to lead him right to the Basketball Hall of Fame after being a 12 time All-Star and a 5 time NBA MVP. Let’s not forget our history.
The number change won’t make much a difference if James lands in a new city this off season.
NBA Announces All-Star Reserves
February 14, 2010
The NBA is set to announce the All-Star reserves during tonight’s TNT games but Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski got a hold of a leaked list of the 2010 NBA All-Star reserves
Eastern Conference Reserves:
Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
Chris Bosh – Toronto Raptors
Gerald Wallace – Charlotte Bobcats
Joe Johnson – Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford – Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference Reserves:
Deron Williams – Utah Jazz
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies
Brandon Roy – Portland Blazers
It will be the All-Star debuts for seven players: Williams of Utah, Chicago’s Rose, Boston’s Rondo, Charlotte’s Wallace, Memphis Randolph, Atlanta’s Horford and Oklahoma City’s Durant.
Among the notable candidates left off the team are the Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman, New York Knicks David Lee and Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups.
