You have a truly infectious writing style. I also enjoy how you do so good at capturing the moment from years ago. I'm truly fascinated by how you developed your craft.
Do you have a post of most recommended books? If not, I'm definitely very curious to know at least part of your library. I'd imagine there are some Michael Jordan Bulls Books you have read, that I have not even heard of.
Beyond those, I think the best MJ book is David Halberstam's Playing For Keeps, and the best other 90s Bulls book is Blood on the Horns by Roland Lazenby. That's what I wish The Last Dance had been.
Have you ever done a side by side comparison of Lazenby's "Blood on the horns" and "The Last Dance"? Or even just a deep dive on the Bulls Documentary series, sharing its highlights and flaws?
One thing I wish the Bulls Docuseries had, was a list of books and periodicals to go along with it. Even Jason Hehir showing the research he did prior to making that Doc, would be cool.
That would have been very cool of Hehir for sure. I suspect that most of his research was based on newspapers and then interviews, and maybe a few books. Or if he used more books he perhaps ignored them. There are items reported in Blood on the Horns that were not in TLD.
Totally unprecedented in sports. When Krause was looking at possibly trading Pippen to Boston for the #3 and #6 picks in the '97 draft, he worked out Tracy McGrady at the Berto Center. The L.A. Times reported that Krause assumed that if he traded Pippen, Phil would not re-sign as HC (his contract was up), and so Krause locked Phil and his staff out of the Berto Center for that workout, and anyone else they worked out for those potential high picks. Phil and staff were in the workouts for players who we might pick at 28, but Krause locked them out of the facility for the workouts for #3 or #6. MJ reportedly had to call Reinsdorf furiously (as he was also unsigned) to get Krause to back down and keep Pippen.
You have a truly infectious writing style. I also enjoy how you do so good at capturing the moment from years ago. I'm truly fascinated by how you developed your craft.
Thank you Joshua! Craft development to me is about reading and writing, and doing a lot of both over a long period of time.
Do you have a post of most recommended books? If not, I'm definitely very curious to know at least part of your library. I'd imagine there are some Michael Jordan Bulls Books you have read, that I have not even heard of.
Definitely! I wrote up three great ones here, especially The Jordan Rules:
https://readjack.substack.com/p/win-a-classic-bulls-book-during-game
Beyond those, I think the best MJ book is David Halberstam's Playing For Keeps, and the best other 90s Bulls book is Blood on the Horns by Roland Lazenby. That's what I wish The Last Dance had been.
Have you ever done a side by side comparison of Lazenby's "Blood on the horns" and "The Last Dance"? Or even just a deep dive on the Bulls Documentary series, sharing its highlights and flaws?
One thing I wish the Bulls Docuseries had, was a list of books and periodicals to go along with it. Even Jason Hehir showing the research he did prior to making that Doc, would be cool.
That would have been very cool of Hehir for sure. I suspect that most of his research was based on newspapers and then interviews, and maybe a few books. Or if he used more books he perhaps ignored them. There are items reported in Blood on the Horns that were not in TLD.
I dropped some Blood on the Horns stuff here:
https://readjack.substack.com/p/were-talking-about-practice-why-dennis
And some from Telander's excellent book here:
https://readjack.substack.com/p/they-would-have-hurt-michael-bad
"We’re entitled to defend what we have until we lose it" is a great line. still makes me feel things
I love that line! Also love MJ popping bottles with Pip after the 6th title, drunkenly crooning:
“Six of ‘em. Six of ‘em. SIIIIIIX OF THEM. Y’all can say whatever you want. They can’t win until we quit.”
https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/June-2018/The-Last-Day-of-the-Chicago-Bulls-Dynasty-NBA-Finals-Game-6-1998/
YES!
Those franchise valuations are so quaint. The White Sox are the worst team in baseball history and are worth $2 billion.
Absolutely. Here's an update from 2013:
Bears - $1.2 billion
Cubs - $1 billion
Bulls - $800 million
Sox - $692 million
Hawks - $350 million
That's crazy Jordan knew after the 5th championship Reinsdorf was itching to tear the team apart. Crazy.
Totally unprecedented in sports. When Krause was looking at possibly trading Pippen to Boston for the #3 and #6 picks in the '97 draft, he worked out Tracy McGrady at the Berto Center. The L.A. Times reported that Krause assumed that if he traded Pippen, Phil would not re-sign as HC (his contract was up), and so Krause locked Phil and his staff out of the Berto Center for that workout, and anyone else they worked out for those potential high picks. Phil and staff were in the workouts for players who we might pick at 28, but Krause locked them out of the facility for the workouts for #3 or #6. MJ reportedly had to call Reinsdorf furiously (as he was also unsigned) to get Krause to back down and keep Pippen.
Holy cow