Jordan and Co. re-live that first championship season — 1991Crew reunites for 1 night in celebration of the 1st of Bulls' 6 NBA titles
The 1991 Bulls championship team poses with their NBA Championship trophy. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune / March 12, 2011)
Phil Jackson By K.C. Johnson, Tribune reporter
9:28 p.m. CST, March 12, 2011
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The roars still resonated. The trophy still glistened.
But when the 20th anniversary celebration of the Bulls' first championship ended Saturday night and the players and coaches assembled in a small hallway off the court, Michael Jordan stirred the senses yet again as he shifted the focus from the past to the present.
"I was just talking to Pax and those guys upstairs and said, 'You guys can be the best team in the East if you play the type of basketball you guys have been playing,'" Jordan said. "I don't think it will take them seven years to win one. I hope not. They have a good balanced team.
"I think they have the MVP of the league. That kid (Derrick Rose) has come into his own. He has matured quite a bit. … He has very few flaws.
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"Everybody is talking about Boston and Miami and Orlando. But people tend to forget about Chicago. You can have a lot of work on your hands."
The league learned that as well 20 years ago when Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxson and company stormed past the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals and downed the Lakers 4-1 for a raucous celebration. Though the homecourt then was the old Chicago Stadium, the United Center rocked to life like the old barn.
"Thanks to the organization for bringing back a memory we wanted to live one more time," Pippen said. "Thanks for sticking with us back in the '90s. It was a great journey."
Former broadcaster Jim Durham navigated the trip down memory lane, introducing the entire coaching staff and 12 players to thunderous applause. Assistant coach Johnny Bach represented the coaches. Busy with the Lakers, Phil Jackson offered his remembrances via videotape.
All players but Bill Cartwright and B.J. Armstrong attended. Pippen and Jordan were introduced last, though Durham's words were drowned out. In a classy move, coach Tom Thibodeau brought the current team back on the court.
In a classier move, Jordan wished broadcaster Johnny "Red" Kerr, who passed away two years ago, could have been there.
"He was just as much a part of this team as anyone else," Jordan said.
In his remarks to the crowd, Jordan acknowledged the night's blowout of the Jazz.
"You look at this team tonight; you guys are in store for a lot more championships," he said.
In the hallway, Jordan grew nostalgic.
"Some guys I haven't seen in awhile," he said. "Dennis Hopson, I hadn't seen since 1991. For us to reunite and tell old stories brings back a lot of great memories. I wish we could turn the clock back. That's how I feel. Father Time is coming, touches everybody. I miss it.
"I saw parts of the old Stadium floor which brought back a lot of great memories. … I could sit here and reminisce all day long. I'm glad I had the opportunity to make my career here. The fans appreciated the hard work and effort we put on the floor. I played for them."
Grant, too, acknowledged the fans, and his teammates.
"We knew we had a bunch of special guys but learning how to play together and trusting each other, that was the biggest thing," he said.
As he walked away, Jordan donned his Charlotte Bobcats' executive hat and smiled about Rose.
"If you guys don't want him, we'll take him," he said.
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