Groucho with a good look back at the incredible journey of Scottie Pippen. And I’m not even talking about the time he got busted on the Edens with the gun in his car. We kid, Scottie because we care. He could be grumpy at times, careless with his ejaculate and didn’t like Jerry Reinsdorf much (that’s actually a bonus), but Scottie was a great player who was very nearly as big a part of six Chicago championships as Michael Jordan, and that’s saying something.
I always got the feeling that I wasn’t alone in finding myself pulling harder for Scottie than even Michael. It always seemed to me that real Bulls’ fans shared a strange kind of devotion to Scottie. Michael was great and everytime you watched him play you pinched yourself that he somehow ended up in Chicago. But Michael was so good that you didn’t root for him as much as you just watched him in awe. Scottie was flawed, but still great and fun to watch. Your friends who rooted for other NBA teams didn’t have much to say about Michael, but they did their best to rip on Scottie. So you backed him up, you defended him, and when he became better than you ever dreamed you felt like you’d accomplished something along the way.
Scottie came back a couple years ago to try to finish out his career as a Bull. He had his moments. You saw glimpses, when his back felt just right and he could slip back into his familiar form. It was a reminder of just how great things had been. Just how great we had it for a decade. It gave you goosebumps. If only for a moment.
It’s funny when you think about it. The most overstated thing about Michael Jordan’s life is how rough he had it when he didn’t make his high school varsity team as a sophomore. Big whup. That was just Nike and David Falk trying to pretend Michael had to overcome adversity. Scottie was the one with all the roadblocks. Scottie got through them all. The only challenge he never overcame was playing the shadow of the greatest player ever, and he didn’t mind a bit. And we had courtside seats (well, on TV anyway) for all of it.
So the next time you’re in the United Center, take a second to look up at the big 33 hanging from the rafters, and think about just how unlikely it is that any of that ever happened.
Brent Musberger said it, so it has to be true. With the win last night over Georgetown, Illinois has won 83 of its last 86 games at Assembly Hall. Holy crap.
Rex says he’s not injury prone. Sure. Whatever. See you in the second half on Sunday. Bring the forward pass with you. The Bears might just need it.
More than you ever needed to know about Robbie Gould.
The Cubs still have work to do. Gee, ya think?
Chris DeLuca is so dumb, it’s incredible. He’s the guy who insisted the White Sox were getting Juan Pierre, when in fact, they never even tried to get him because it didn’t make any sense to have him and Scotty Fantastic in the same lineup. Now the bone he’s latched on to that he won’t give up is Wily Taveraes to the Cubs. How does that make any sense? Unless you get Tejada, you can hardly afford to have punchless players at short (Cedeno), second (Neifi), center (Pierre) and right (Wily). Does DeLuca have any idea what a lineup looks like? What is his obsession with always having two powerless outfielders on Chicago’s baseball teams?
Mike Kiley on the gaping hole in right field, and we don’t mean where the new bleachers are going. I’m surprised he didn’t slip his Sammy knee pads back on and try to make a case for a return of the Gladiator.
What does it cost to hit a guy in the head with a dumb-bell and have him break your jaw, too? Apparently, $50,000. I’ll pass, thanks.
Time to step up and get Miggy with it. Yes, that was lame.
Gordon Edes thinks the Sawx could get Tejada.
I find this interesting, but this isn’t the only column that thinks the Rangers could very well turn around and trade Brad Wilkerson.
Toronto will offer Orlando Hudson to the Rangers.
Until I hear Alfonso Soriano (in broken English) say he will go to the outfield, I won’t believe it. Apparently, Jose Vidro’s knees are so bad that second base is wide open in Washington.
Mouthbreathin’ Matty Morris is headed to San Francisco.
This headline is excellent.
How big is the Mets’ friggin’ roster?
Jayson Stark does the “winners/losers” thing about the winter meetings. The Cubs aren’t on either list.
The Tigers just took a pile of money and in good Detroit tradition, burned it.
America’s finest news source on how the rest of U2 is pretty much fine with starving Africans.
New low for Desipio…picture of the plane that killed an 8 year old boy……brilliant. Suggestion…..find a new picture.
It was a 6 year old boy, and I had him in the Desipio dead pool. So that’s where the connection is. Plus it was from Baltimore, which is where Hendry better pack his fat ass off to.
Honesty compels me to say that there have been many more lows than this. Like whenever they pick on me!
Hey #1, if you think that’s bad, wait until I sue you for using an in-joke for your moniker from a movie that Eddie Murphy stole from me.
New low for Desipio? I knew I came here for a reason.
6, 8 whats the difference………Desipio is great, but not this time.
I love ripping on the Cubs. Or ignoring them. Because I’m a limp-wristed show tunes lover.
If thou removeth that picture of the plane, I will giveth life back to that six year old and grant thine Cubbies a World’s Championship!
Not. Cool.
Amigos! Let me just say before I come to Chicago that I’m built like a linebacker and enjoy Vitamin B-12! That doesn’t mean I’m on the juice though, so throw caution to the wind! I will remind you of Sammy.
Its the same picture on the front of the Tribune. Go into the bathroom and close the door.
Fine, forget I said anything. My dad hates you guys anyway.
So what’s it gonna be?
Hank White, Jack Pete… Mike Tiled?
Let’s see…. Miggy Smalls? The Notorious M.I.G.?
This Little Miggy Had Roast Beef?
Mig-10?
Miggie May?
Had The Two-ForTe-jada Have The Puddin’? (Anyone who picks up on that reference is a king among men.)
Speaking of Sosa, has anyone heard if he will even be playing next year. Thats a name I have not heard this winter. It would be funny if he was forced to retire without all the fanfare he thinks he deserves.
Sammy says he’s going to sign with a “surprise” team. Right now even that team would be surprised.
Here I is dawgz.
How about Sammy signing with Satan’s Minions? They’re down an outfielder or two (no Walker or Sanders) and they’re looking at an OF of Taguchi, Lassie, and someone else.
At this point, Sammy couldn’t even ride the bench in me.
I’d love to have Sammy Sosa on my team! I managed him in Texas, you know. Oh, by the way, we’d beat the White Sox in a Best of Seven Series.
I’m a douchebag.
Stark’s a hack. When you write that column, several teams should be on both the Winners list and the Losers list.
If you knew the winter meetings ended when Hendry’s mini-bar was empty, the meetings would have ended on me, the first day.
What’s with the plane?
Apparently, a intersection filled with cars.
Gold, Robby and Matt. Comedy Gold!!
Helicopters crash faster…and better.
I don’t mind seeing the picture of the plane and don’t really look at it as being low, but making fun of Jesus giving life back to that poor kid is! I hope none of you bastards that laughed at that ever have kids. I mean come on, making fun of the situation just comes from a person who is sackless! Speaking of sackless I thought Sammy was suppose to sign with the Mets, Toronto, A’s, Cubs ground crew…. anyway I feel sorry for that family and pray that they don’t go nuts. Thing about the situation that mom was going through, probably in the car, kids are screaming and crying because they have been stuck in it for 6 hours trying to get home through that gridlock and then all of a sudden a plane starts coming towards you and you have nowhere to run. My heart goes out to them.
The only way the Cubs get me is this:
1) I don’t get traded this winter for Manny or Abreu or Zito, then
2) Cubs get in line with everyone else offering prospects once the O’s are 15 out in July.
Number 26 just cried me.
#28… I did…. cause I have my own kids. Idiots like you will only reproduce on accident. You know kind of like your parents told you when you were little.
I think Dolan cracked today. He wants the Cubs to trade away Cedeno for Tejada. Cedeno has massive amounts of upside from what we have seen of him. You say that the Cubs are shortsighted. What about yourself? You pretty much proposed trading away half of the cubs future for Tejada. Tejada is valuable, but I don’t think he is Cedeno, Pie, and Williams valuable.
Wow, way to be a hypocrite there 29. Don’t act like you are full of my love if you aren’t. Oh, by the way, little boy says hi.
Hey “Number 26” just pretend that Sosa was in the car since you obviously have a firm grasp of the humor around here.If it makes you feel any better little Timmy could really use that heart you’re giving out to them,and would spare us from reading anymore of your high-horse posts.Afterall,the internet is serious business.
Do you seriously consider Jerome Williams….Valuable?
I do have a question regarding whether or not tejada has a no trade clause in his contract, but am hesitant to ask this group sixth graders.
Not one of you has even engaged the question that the article poses…for six hours! It is truly boring that this site has digressed into a pissing-contest chat room. Between the burps of morality and the uncontrollable wit displayed in yet another ‘hilarious’ Hendry joke, one has to question the quality of the fan as much as the quality of the team.
thank you #33. a question having to do with the cubs? williams is valuable, but like most cubs, his value comes with a fair amount of risk. if he can settle into a rotation on a team with a good pitching coach he has really good stuff. i believe he was starting to do that with the cubs. Like so many before him, he was a young kid who was highly touted and who reached a modicum of success. then he went 0-6 to start the year. i think he is of value in that he is smart guy who had his bell rung in a bad situation and now wants to prove that his $#@t stinks. i like the guy and believe that there are gm’s out there that would consider him a valuable part of a package.
number 28: YOUUUUUU SUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!
A quick google search turned up a site with current Orioles contracts no trade clauses were listed for those who had them.Tejada doesn’t have anything listed.
http://www.mlb4u.com/bal.html
By the way,any sixth grader could look this stuff up on their own.
Apparently, I like the letter u.
I agree, this site, lately, has turned into a night at the improv. Unfortunately most of it is not funny. Anyway, Tejada is demanding a trade because his team sucks, Sorriano gets traded but says he refuses to play in the outfield. Ramirez wants traded, again, out of Boston, Patterson refuses to play winter ball for the Cubs after another dismal season. Whats happened to todays athletes? Its a shame they have guaranteed contracts, baseball is only a few years away from looking like the NBA with players refusing trades altogether that dont have no trade clauses. I guess you can do that when your a millionaire. Oh and Jim Hendry ate a doughnut….hahahahahahahaha…..sorry, I couldnt resist
(If that is your real name.)
I guess you had a decent hitting line, but your pitching career consists of 1.1 innings, 6 ER for a 40.50 ERA. Are you the smart little guy who got his bell rung?
I’ll take my answer off the air. Thank you.
why does everyone make lineups without me in them? is it a forgone conclusion that i’m gone?
if you think the cubs outlook is grim now. think about having to put me in the game to pitch after Rueschel, D. Lamp and the mighty Lynn McGlothlen were punched around inning after inning. Those were the grim years for the cubs. i say this with all feeling respect for the venerable Tim Blackwell though.
It’s Biitner.
2 “i”‘s, one “t”.
Weird, I know.
I love calling people sixth-graders then resorting to random capitalization methods. Not to mention my posts are about as readable as your general sixth-grade fodder.
One has to question the quality of the fan as much as the quality of the team.Therefore I will put on my robe and wizards hat and take it upon myself to judge you all as a bunch of adolescent hooligans who do nothing more than make fart jokes and engage in daily acts of tomfoolery.I spent six hours refreshing this page to discuss the finer points of Jerome Williams,and I get this. *SIGH* eighty-five percent of the world is workin’,the other fifteen come here to make Hendry jokes.A playground indeed.
Did anyone else see a Brokeback Mountain ad in that link? Hopefully someday Jimmy will join me in San Fran and we can find happiness.
BTW, I vote for Tits Miggee….I miss your musk.
Todd Walker is the most under-rated player on the Cubs. He can hit and would be a great #2 hitter behind JP. He isn’t a great fielder, but he isn’t horrible. Even if we got Miggee, I can’t see how you would play Cedeno at 2nd when you have Walker.
Thanks for the props, but how does that answer the question that was asked?
“why does everyone make lineups without me in them? is it a forgone conclusion that i’m gone?”
I’m being overrun by NSBB people. Can we be like Montana with their bison and set a bag limit. I mean, “Jim Hendry ate a doughnut…sorry I couldn’t resist” is just absurd. You don’t get Desipio, now go away. Go back to Hoops and your “premium” membership. Here, we fucking rip on people, deal with it. Any joke, bad or good, has its place within the walls of the best damn site around.
First of all, Jim Hendry never fell down the stairs. He obviously got in a fistfight with Todd Walker. I don’t see why everyone complains about the Cubs leaving money on the table. Signing Furcal for $2 million a year less than Vladimir Guerrero would be a horrible, horrible idea from a business and baseball standpoint. I would rather sit on the money until the All-Star break and wait for a gamebreaker. The White Sox won because they were efficient. The Angels won because they were efficient. The Red Sox won because… you get the point.
Any chance you guys can organize your comments more better? Plus I don’t like the airplane/runway jokes and I saw one guy drop the “f bomb”.
Let’s schedule a meeting to discuss how to run a more friendly site.
Half the comments for this Dose sound like they were written by one of me.
Lighten up, Francis.
Perhaps you should go back to NSBB until you learn to put together “more better”sentences.Or at least spend the money you’re using for premium nsbb for some english lessons.
Shit. Did I miss a fart joke?
Dang it! I wish I was 6 again.
As I stated yesterday, the wit displayed on this page is just top notch. Funny, funny stuff…
It’s Larry Biittner, people. B-i-i-t-t-n-e-r. Two Is, two Ts. Click the link in #40 to verify.
That’s a lot of crossing of Ts and dotting of Is, I know. Just be grateful you’re not the poor son of a bitch who has to sign his personal checks.
Honesty compels me to say that this “Larry Bittner?” is a real loser folks. Makes me look cool, and that is not easy. Maybe he would be more suited to NSBB. I know my imaginary family is, it’s G-rated. What’s that? Sorry, my lovely wife is calling me. Go Bravos!
Lawrence Craig Bittner , born 4/12/72 evanston memorial hospital… no relation to the cub of that name…ironic?
“Improbably coincidental.”
And that’s one less I to dot. It adds up over a lifetime. Lucky man.
Nice resume, Larry. You might add “Roving Website Instructor.”
Now do people see that we suck?
Nope
#64 is certainly me. Thanks for the laugh.
I don’t suck… did you see my game yesterday? I told people I was going to have the game of my life and I did. Sure I didn’t throw a touchdown but I didn’t throw an INT either, plus I passed for over 200 yards. I ROCK!!! Do you really want Grossman over me?
Kyle,
While Chicago likes to root for any guy who drinks me straigh tfrom the bottle, completing only 9 of your first 20 passes, and then finishing with 17 for 35 on the day, is just, how should we put this…Rusty Lisch Bad.
So wait… I didn’t have a good game. Well I guess it’s time to crack open the bottle of JD. I show you all next week that I can pass for 220 with 1 TD…. HA!
I like that, Todd Walker- Not Horrible.
… or in the case of Scott Eyre, $11 million worth.
(Cf, #13 above)