chicago bulls beat writer
It's hard for me to visualize that this was the Chicago Bulls," an aggravated Motta said afterward. Longtime beat writer K.C. The first contest took place in Sarasota, Florida, where Porter grew up and played high school basketball. However, the Bulls stormed back to lead 29-28 after the opening quarter, and later overcame another double-digit deficit late in the game to take a 100-98 lead with just 1:30 left on the clock. That’s why everyone has memories, even longtime beat writers. But, from 1966-67 to 1975-76, the ABA revolutionized professional basketball in America by giving fans loads of thrills, the three-point shot, the Slam Dunk Contest and ultimately four present-day NBA franchises. This site is operated jointly by NBA and WarnerMedia. ", Likewise, Bulls beat writer Bob Logan of the Chicago Tribune at the time wasn't all that enamored with the idea of playing the ABA, and clearly wasn't mellowed by a trip to the beach, describing the ABA ball as "funny-looking," and questioning whether or not it was "borrowed or stolen from a circus seal. Horace Grant Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. No Joel Embiid. 1. But, once the contract became public, I figured all bets were off, and so I was open to the idea of going to the NBA instead.". CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago Bulls 118-112 on Monday night.The three-time All-Star scored 17 in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets come away with the win after blowing a 15-point lead.Jokic also finished with nine assists, just missing his 50th career triple-double.Jamal Murray scored 24. Steve "Snapper" Jones tallied 30 points, and Donnie Freeman chipped in 29 for the Chaps. While many collegiate stars inked ABA contracts prior to the NBA Draft, no other player had ever signed a deal while still playing for his college team. If you make a request through the WarnerMedia Privacy Center, Basketball back in the 1970s was fast and loose, especially when the ABA came to play. [NOTE: The Condors folded after the 1971-72 season; thus, the second exhibition between the two franchises was never played. The Bulls played in 10 such exhibitions, going 4-6 overall. "Still, even though I'd already played my first year for the [NBA's] Cincinnati Royals, I was looking for a better opportunity with the Bucs. Ironically, Thurmond would appear in only a handful more games for the Bulls before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Gilmore would end up attending his next preseason training camp in Chicago where he would man the center position for the Bulls at the start of the 1976-77 season. And, if you were alive and a Bulls fan back then, you really can't be blamed for drawing a blank when it comes to remembering the particulars of the Bulls vs. the ABA. The Bulls suffered a humiliating defeat just last night, and it’s somewhat telling to see how they ‘respond’ to such games. This is like the Vietnam War, where your friends are your enemies. The Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Bulls ‘ beat writer took to Twitter on Saturday to unload his take on Zach LaVine and what Cowley sees as his unfitness for … All rights reserved. the NBA Privacy Center, it will apply to data controlled independently by the NBA. What players/coaches/FO were more problematic? Johnny Bach The Game 7 Loss to the Pistons in 1990 11:30, You were the only Beat Writer to cover all six championship teams. Do Not Sell My Personal Information | The Chicago Bullseye Podcasts – Chicago Bullseye. Later that year, the Bulls filed a law suit against the Squires for failure to pay $13,000, which Virginia had guaranteed Chicago for playing the game on the Squires' home floor. This particular contest turned into an eye-opener for Thurmond, who was playing his third game in a Bulls uniform: "Before the Kentucky game, I thought Artis Gilmore couldn't match up with me, but I learned quickly he could hold his own against anybody. But did you know that while the two leagues repeatedly battled each other for talent and media attention, they also met on the hardwood for more than 150 interleague preseason games between 1971 and 1975 — and that the ABA won the all-time series, 79-76? Bulls Talk Podcast podcast on demand - The Bulls Talk Podcast presented by Coors Light takes you inside the Bulls and around the NBA. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. Despite the Virginia Squires entering the game with only one preseason victory under their belt, Virginia's Luther "Ticky" Burden hit for 28 points on the night to lead all scorers in the ABA's final triumph over the Bulls. At first I didn't give them any respect — that is, until we played against them.". Beforehand, Motta made the claim, "Our main job down there [in Cincinnati] will be to get out alive. Thankfully, NBA … Logan concluded his coverage saying that, by winning, the Bulls "upheld the greater glory of the National Basketball Association.". The Bulls again were minus Sloan and Boerwinkle, as well as veteran forward John Block, due to injuries. Ron Boone drilled the Bulls for 43 points, matching Pittsburgh's George Thompson's brilliant effort in Chicago's first-ever interleague game for the most points scored in interleague play. The Bulls had an extra second-round draft pick in 1971 and used it on Porter, triggering the first and only trade between the NBA and the ABA as Chicago agreed to send journeyman center Paul Ruffner to the Condors for the rights to Porter. Chicago Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan's starting line-up change speaks volumes, players responded with a team first mentality. He was a man in the pivot. The Colonels took the floor as the defending ABA Champions, and after the final buzzer few would've argued they couldn't have beaten the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors if ever an interleague title would take place. Initially Chicago came out uninspired, going four minutes without scoring a point to start the game, eventually digging themselves into a 13-0 hole. Some may only remember the ABA as the Santa Claus who gifted the Bulls with one of the all-time greatest centers in basketball history — Artis Gilmore. Sam was born on January 24, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York City. The ABA long had to fight the notion that it was somehow "bush" league. What team represented the best competition? Ditto for newly acquired guard Matt Goukas. And losing him in 2007 at age 46 is something that none of us who were privileged to call him a friend will ever fully get over. CHICAGO -- Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago Bulls 118-112 on Monday night. Likewise, Bulls beat writer Bob Logan of the Chicago Tribune at the time wasn't all that enamored with the idea of playing the ABA, and clearly wasn't mellowed by … But he represented so much more than that to me. As with Virginia, the wobbly Utah Stars later reneged on payment for hosting the game in Salt Lake City, inviting a $17,000 law suit which was never settled. CHICAGO -- Tobias Harris scored 24 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls 127-105 Thursday night even though they were missing stars … Which one of those teams did you feel was the best? it will apply to data controlled jointly by the NBA and WarnerMedia as well as other data controlled by WarnerMedia. Plus, stick around for some… Terry served as the Bulls beat writer for the Tribune during the second three-peat. It centered on 3-time All-American Howard Porter, who had secretly (and improperly) signed a contract to play for the ABA's Pittsburgh Condors in December 1970, halfway through his final college season at Villanova. Chicago Bulls tweets from players, media, beat-writers, bloggers and other personalities on Twitter. Jokic … Chicago is only 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at the United Center against Miami. | "I just hated it. It wasn't bad enough that Chicago was blown out right from the start, as Erving tallied 14 points in the first quarter, or that New York cruised to a very comfortable 57-38 lead by halftime. The Kentucky Colonels pretty much had their way with the Bulls in both exhibition meetings between the teams. LaVine scored nine points in the closing minutes of the third to help send Chicago to the fourth quarter with a 93-86 lead. A rare exhibition played in the host team's actual home arena, the Bulls evened their interleague record at 1-1 behind 24 points from Love and 19 from Chet Walker. ", Motta needn't have worried, as his veteran squad was grossly overmatched from the opening tip. 16:30, Do you feel the unfair coverage and speculation from the national media in 93 spurred MJ’s retirement? All opinions expressed by Sam Smith are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Chicago Bulls or their Basketball Operations staff, parent company, partners, or sponsors. The game was at the United Center. WarnerMedia Privacy Center | We discuss LaVine's future with the franchise, Thaddeus Young trade rumors, Billy Donovan's influence on this team and the status of the missing Bulls (Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr., Chandler Hutchison). While Thurmond won the battle of the boards over Gilmore, 14-7, he struggled from the floor, shooting just two-of nine. ", Logan also termed the game a "hate-in," commenting that the ABA had an "inferiority complex," and claimed the ABA referees "awarded their league five free trips to the foul line." "I was just a kid who wanted to make a living," Porter recalled back in 2006. The game was played in front of 3,992 fans at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. "My dream was to always play in the NBA, against the best," says Love. T. The Chicago Bullseye Podcasts – Chicago Bullseye. Terms of Use | Norm Van Lier scored 20 to lead Chicago, as the Bulls took command of the game early and never trailed. The tale being spun here covers the somewhat forgotten account involving the ABA and the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls in fact dominated Kentucky on the glass, 59-40, with Mickey Johnson backing up Thurmond at center due to an injury to Tom Boerwinkle. Everybody was rested and … So it is Indiana and not Chicago who might have been excused for taking this preseason get together lightly. Featuring guests and reporters who cover the Bulls and the NBA. He is the author of multiple articles and books, including The New York Times bestseller, The Jordan Rules Career. Furthering the circuslike atmosphere was the fact that it was usually the host team that provided the referees, a notion that often annoyed Bulls Head Coach Dick Motta. "It was our first preseason game, and Coach Motta didn't want to risk me getting hurt anymore.". Johnson, Bulls insider for NBC Sports Chicago after helping with Bulls coverage for the Chicago Tribune during their last three-peat (1995-98) before becoming the lead beat writer (2000-19) Select a time that works best for your busy schedule and we will remind you via email. NBA Privacy Center | Interestingly enough, none of the Bulls' 10 interleague exhibitions was played in Chicago, and none were ever broadcast locally to fans. A good number of NBA players during that time period also weren't in tune with what the ABA had to offer. Let's either get them in our league, play a championship series at the end of the season or forget it all together. Long-time Chicago Sun-Times writer Joe Cowley took to Twitter to throw a bit of a shot at King’s style in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack. Afterwards, he was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. No Ben Simmons. Specific game details are hard to track down — especially in contrast to today's extensive coverage via television, radio and newspaper write-ups. Indiana exacted revenge from the previous season's trouncing with its own runaway victory, as Pacers All-Star guard Billy Knight led all scorers with 20 points, and the awe-inspiring McGinnis powered his way to 19 points and 15 rebounds. Darnell Mayberry, Bulls beat writer: He was a two-time All-Star, the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year and, for nine seasons, the heart and soul of the Chicago Bulls. Johnson, and beat writer Rob Schaefer the crew breakdown the Bulls in an informed and entertaining way you won't get anywhere else. Bill Cartwright But it was ABA hit man John Brisker who came away with a pocket full of cash, claiming Binstein's $500 bounty after exacting a hard foul on the Bulls rookie that sent Porter to the bench for the rest of the night. 13:30, What players/coaches did you enjoy the best relationship with / who did you enjoy interviewing? Sam Smith is an NBA writer for the Chicago Bulls website bulls.com. Chicago was still reeling from its crushing Game 7 Western Conference Finals loss to the Warriors from five months earlier, and was playing without Walker, who later ended up deciding to retire rather than play one more season under Motta. Chicago's Bobby Weiss shot seven of 10 from the field, while McIntosh led Chicago in scoring with 16. Nick Friedell and Chris Forsberg break down the Bulls and Celtics at the quarter mark. First, Villanova came out of nowhere and went on an incredible run that season, making it all the way to the 1971 NCAA National Championship game against perennial power UCLA. Heading into Game 5 of their series with the Chicago Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets were coming off what could have been a dispiriting (and stamina-killing) triple-overtime loss in Game 4. With host Jason Goff, insider K.C. But it was the Bulls who literally looked unprofessional in their first and only game against the ABA's New York Nets and the amazing Julius "Dr. J" Erving. But this story isn't about the rich and wonderful history of the ABA. So Binstein told the team in the locker room before the game that whoever could knock Porter out of the game that night would get a $500 bonus. By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 33 points, and the Chicago Bulls overcame a strong effort by Victor Oladipo in his Houston debut, beating the Rockets 125-120. The American Basketball Association (ABA) didn't last any longer than former Bulls guard John "Crash" Mengelt's playing career. "We were just not all there. • K.C. Rookie Mickey Johnson sported an old Garfield Heard Bulls jersey on the night as well — Chicago had traded Heard two seasons earlier. All-Star Chet Walker also hadn't yet signed a new deal with the Bulls, so he wasn't there either. Both Van Lier and Love were no-shows as they were holding out in hopes of forcing the team to fork over more money and sign them to a multiyear contract extension. The very first Bulls vs. an ABA team — only the 10th interleague exhibition ever — boasted a sinister subplot. It was a little smaller than our ball and those spinning colors … there was a different feel to it, too.". Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Motta was a huge fan of Porter's, going so far as to equate the 6'8" forward with all-time great Elgin Baylor. He was a friend and one of many mentors, more personally than journalistically. Because the two leagues played under slightly different rules (the NBA had no 3-point shot; there was a personal foul limit of six in the NBA, but ABA players didn't foul out; and the NBA shot clock was 24 seconds, compared to the ABA's 30-second shot clock), the interleague exhibitions adhered to a guideline where one half was always played under NBA rules, and the other was governed under the ABA's. CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago Bulls 118-112 on Monday night. Love, seeing rich contracts awarded to Porter ($1.5 million) and Kennedy McIntosh ($375,000), considered holding out at the start of the 1972-73 season, which for Chicago opened at the Honolulu International Center Arena. Motta was never a fan of interleague games, often complaining, "If we're going to play ABA teams, we'd better merge. While the Bulls could lay claim to being one of the NBA's most feared teams, the Indiana Pacers packed a bigger boast as they were the ABA's only three-time titlists and back-to-back league Champions. However, back in the early-to-mid 1970s, oftentimes the preseason was ignored by the media, as it was fairly common for beat writers to stay home when the teams they covered hit the road prior to the start of the regular season. Again, indicating that any claim of casualness on the part of Chicago was pure bull, both Motta and Sloan were ejected during in the second quarter. Mike McGraw @McGrawDHBulls 4 Mar. There is no way they're going to let us win tonight with ABA referees and a home crowd rooting for Kentucky. Chicago Bullseye 449 – Interview with Bulls Dynasty Beat Writer Kent McDill May 22, 2020 See Red Fred interviews Kent McDill @KMcDill, the only Bulls Beat Writer to cover all 6 Bulls Title Teams. Late in the game, a grouchy Van Lier was forced to sit after fouling out, as the Bulls overcame a 10-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter, and eventually upended the host Utah Stars, 122-119, in overtime.