Trip to the United Center

The last time I went to a Bulls game was when Michael Jordan was on the team. I remember going to dozens of games in those years but barely recall the games in detail. Before I was ten years old, the Bulls had won six championships. Watching the games from the luxury of a skybox was amazing; I just wish I was old enough to appreciate the dominance that Jordan and the Bulls had over the NBA. Going to games with my dad and brother was a ritual until my dads company sold the skybox seats. When Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, Dennis Rodman and all those other great players left the team, I felt like Chicago was never the same; when people thought of Chicago in those years, they thought of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I miss that team a whole lot.

This past month, my dad, brother and I went to a Bulls game just like the old days. When we pulled up to the United Center, I felt the warmth of some great childhood memories there. I was really excited to see the new heroes on the Bulls in person. We had great seats, about eight rows behind the visiting bench, who were the Portland Trail Blazers.

Before the game, I looked around at all the festivity around me, when all of the sudden a little mini basketball landed right in front of me. Surprised, I looked up to the court to see a dude with a basketball hoop at the end of a pole going up his back. I remember I had always wanted to take a shot on one of those since I was a kid. So I grabbed the ball and threw up a shot. It was a perfect shot. Swoosh! My dad, brother and some people sitting around us give me a cheer even though I was the most impressed with my shot. I didn’t expect to make a perfect 20-foot shot.
When the lights went out, the crowd roared and the Bulls intro song began playing. That familiar feeling of excitement before Bulls games came upon me. When the starting lineup was announced I imagined Jordan running out to the court. I don’t think a team will compare to the ’98 Bulls any time soon, but nonetheless basketball makes for great entertainment. Going to Bulls games, or any sports event, really gives me a sense of unity among the hometown. In the final seconds the Bulls were down by three. The crowd was almost silent when Ben Gordon tried to tie the game with a three. Instead it bounced off the rim and other team made the rebound. Where’s Jordan when you need him?