Chicago's Sports Historian. Director, Content Studio, @WTWH_Media. Talking to strangers since 1981. "6 Rings" book coming. Avatar ๐ธ by @thought_poet77.
Magic was the #1 overall pick to a 47-win team bc of a now-obsolete free agent trade rule. He joined a 5x MVP who won MVP his rookie year. He won two titles & got the #1 pick again in a 1980 trade for a 3 PPG guy. By 1987, Magic was one of four #1 overall picks on the Lakers.
Magic Johnson on whether he ever wanted to team up w/ Michael Jordan:
"No. I wasnt like that. I never tried to get all the named dudes. Thats what makes sports special - competition. Go make it happen..if you the best"
Seems like every great player has this mentality except one
After the Bulls won the 1998 #NBAFinals, which Phil Jackson had nicknamed "The Last Dance" due to Phil + 10 players (including Jordan, Pippen and Rodman) on expiring contracts, Bob Costas delivered an astounding monologue that would predict the NBA's next 20+ years.
Stunning.
Mike Royko's column following MLK assassination:
"He wanted only that black Americans have their constitutional rights, that they get an equal shot at this country's benefits, the same thing we give to the last guy who jumped off the boat.
So we killed him."
25 years ago, for two weeks in May of 1994, the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks played a 7-game playoff series. Its highlights are legendary. Its controversy is iconic.
This is the true story of how seven games in the second round forever changed the NBA.
A thread.
If you need a pick-me-up today, never forget that Prince held a surprise press conference before #SuperBowlXLI, said he would take a few questions, let a reporter get through 7 words and then ripped into a 12-minute set, starting with Johnny B Goode, and then bounced. #legend
He earned a championship ring with the Bulls in 1997, gave MJ his chair in the Flu Game but played only 12 minutes all season.
This is the true story of Matt Steigenga, who turns 49 today and owns one of the most fortuitous places in Chicago sports history.
A thread.
The world feels grim. So if you need a pick-me-up, do what I do: watch Christopher Walken's @ConanOBrien appearances. Here he is in 2000 talking about the cooking show he wants to do in his kitchen on the internet and also it's an advice show and a psychic hotline and one-liners.
Better look at the late hit on Justin Fields. Iโm glad the broadcast showed this again. Blatant late hit that was also toward his head and neck.
(And that ball hit the ground โ should not have been an interception.)
@WCGridiron
