Yeah, good call on Carmelo Anthony. I thought the Bulls should trade the #1 pick on draft night for Carmelo. Another guy to watch is Amaré Stoudemire. The Suns have a high potential to come out and not be very good, and his contract expires in 2010, so he is a little more urgent to address, since I doubt they will want to lose him for nothing. Another, if this team comes out and is one of the best teams in the East while the Pistons falter, we might be able to do something like Drew Gooden for Rasheed Wallace. It would give us a true center for the next few years.
There isn't a whole lot on this team that fits Rose's style. I think Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni are the only two players that obviously are compatible with Rose, and it seems like Vinny is using the old tired mantra of bring Gordon off the bench, which will just push Gordon to signing with Miami in the summer. I think Paxson made a big mistake in giving the big contract to Deng and not Gordon. Deng clearly has no place in Vinny's offense. A trade for Carmelo or Amaré that is centered around Deng would be alright by me.
Andrew Wamboldt
Sam: Yes, Stoudemire can opt out after next season when LeBron, Bosh and Wade will be out there and you never say never in the NBA. But I can't see it with Shaq and Nash at the end. It's Stoudemire's team then, and that seems most to be what he wants. I don't like the pieces they have around him, and, yes, a point guard like Rose would be much better for him. So let's keep that one in reserve between us. And, sorry, life is too short to spend it with Rasheed Wallace, or guys like that. 'Sheed's on the fast downhill, which is why they're starting Amir Johnson in Detroit, and an aging 'Sheed is not going to be a happy 'Sheed. You know, ball don't lie. As for Deng/Gordon, that's an interesting risk. I have some questions about keeping Deng at that number, and Gordon does spread the court better. I think Deng has the ability to do more, like play out of the post and extend his range, so I'll give him a chance to try. He had a nice opener, though in preseason looked a bit selfish for playing with Rose. Let's keep Deng for awhile and see what he becomes. He does have more upside than Gordon, other than with instant offense.
What's the real story on Ben Gordon? How about shipping him to Washington?
Jim Cordova
Sam: I have to step between people and Ben and make some peace. Here's the issue: No one on the team can produce and be an instant scoring run like Ben. He is a valuable player. I think, basically, his character is good and he's been misled by bad advice. Technically, I don't see a trade since he's on a one-year deal, which means he'd have to agree to any deal because it would cancel out his Bird rights viable in a sign-and-trade. I believe he'll rise about the pettiness and pout he could have this season over the contract. We all know he made a mistake turning down $50 million in 2007 and slightly more, though over six years instead of five, this fall. The talk around the NBA is the Bulls gave Ben a deadline and said either sign—which I thought was a maybe too generous offer, like with Deng—or forget it. Ben's agent came back the next day and said forget it. The Bulls did. Then Ben apparently changed his mind, but an agent told me the offer was off the table and that was it, sending Ben into a funk. He appears to be the same as he always was. The question will be whether he is able to avoid any more debilitating toe injuries this season. Playing with Rose and the way Del Negro appears to want to play, Ben should have a good season, which is the best way to sell yourself. I think he's smart enough to see that.
"OK, Thomas wasn't a winning coach or general manager in New York. But he wasn't a criminal. He did charity work in the city. He never personally embarrassed the organization."
If I remember correctly Thomas did personally embarrass the team in the most heinous fashion. He was convicted of sexual harassment. Did you forget the Anuca Brown Sanders incident? I don't really know what happened at his house the other day, but I think Isiah is the last guy to deserve a free pass from the media.
J. Krinsky
Sam: The last guy you ever could say got a free pass from the media is Thomas, who has had more media harassment than anyone I can recall. I've come down on Thomas' side more than most because of the seeming mob coverage he received in New York. Of course, I am aware of the sexual harassment case, but as I recall, it was Madison Square Garden which was ordered to pay and nothing from Thomas. I recall the jury's decision being the Garden created this environment for sexual harassment, and Isiah was the biggest and easiest name to connect. Thomas wasn't convicted of sexual harassment. He was held liable, which is a distinction. The plaintiff also mentioned Garden president Steven Mills among others. Juries don't always get it right, though O.J. isn't quite sure now. I thought Thomas got caught up in the New York media mob in that case. There was a settlement in the end, though I also know Thomas' wife and cannot imagine the depth of her objections to the verdict if she believed for a moment he was guilty of those accusations. My point in my Monday NBA notes this time was just that the guy is suffering some severe personal problems, and here is a policeman fighting him in the tabloids, and did you notice how the cop made the point of how his officers could tell between a "black" teenager and 47-year-old "black" man. I just felt whatever Thomas had done in running a bad basketball team, didn't he and his family deserve a bit of privacy and dignity in times of personal crisis?
Welcome back. Now that I've given up baseball for good, I can readily get excited for the Bullies 25 win season. And if Rose doesn't trip over a supporting cast member who doesn't understand how to get out of the way, he could be ROY, and I don't mean the guy they should have drafted 2 years ago.
Larry Taren
Sam: I was out of town quite a bit this summer, but I read something about that Cubs thing. Whatever happened? Anyway, I think you're in for a surprise, of sorts anyway. The Bulls shape up as more or less a .500 team, within the margin of error, that being those year's qualifier for getting everything wrong. So perhaps 37 wins? Maybe 42 if nothing goes wrong. They're better than the 20's or low 30's. Look, they still do have most of the guys who were a 50-win team a few years back, and a real point guard, albeit a rookie. If they play seriously, and I think they will in trying to impress the new coach, and avoid the selfish distractions of last season when money and contracts and personal agenda occupied most of the players, they should be interestingly competitive. I believe they can be, and my preseason pick of ninth was as much to demonstrate my independence as the Bulls are not telling me what to do. Actually, in my new position here on Bulls.com, I think I'll have to worry more about not going too far the other way and being critical to prove the Bulls are serious about giving me independence.
WOW! Great to have you back. The Tribune is losing a ton of talent. What happened (to you), tired fingers? As for Mr. Reinsdorf...didn't he blow up the best team Chicago ever had?
John Bridges
Sam: I don't have to defend Jerry Reinsdorf, but I will here (not that he needs it with seven titles) because I know this story and it is the basketball version of the World War II Big Lie—Tell a lie often enough and people believe it. Yes, Jerry Krause wanted to break up that team, but he also wanted to trade Scottie Pippen in 1997. Reinsdorf never went along then and was ready to bring everyone back in 1998. But Michael Jordan had enough. It was like 1993. He was burned out. He was done. I experienced the same thing with The Tribune, though by not playing 48 minutes often, it took me almost 30 years to get there. I recall friends of Michael telling me he believed Pippen had quit in that last Finals game in 1998 when Pippen didn't play much. He said he was done playing with him. Same with Rodman, whom Jordan feared in a sense for Rodman's bizarre behavior. He didn't want to spend another season with him. Krause had made clear he didn't want Phil back, but Phil wasn't coming back because he was burned out as well. Phil always said seven years was the length of time to stay as a coach and he was leaving after 1996. And then the Bulls won 72 games and that first of three more championships. And players came and literally begged him to stay. So what could he do? The chief doesn't leave like that. But as great as the job was, he began to hate doing it where he was. I could relate. I love being around the NBA and sports and the Bulls and always have, but the atmosphere for me had changed badly at the Tribune. You have Krause-like people everywhere who don't want you around for whatever reason and though the boss likes you, like Reinsdorf liked Phil, you have to work with those people every day. I had a great boss at the tribune in Dan McGrath, but day to day it became awful. It could be yourself as well, there so long, feeling you are owed things people don't want to give or do for you no matter your accomplishments, or what you believe they are. You saw Phil out barely a season and anxious to return to coaching. When I left the Tribune, he wrote me something I quote often: "They'll mourn you the rest of the season and then they'll forget you." Phil experienced it himself and wanted to go back to work. Like me, Phil's a lifer. We like the work. He's got loads of money; I could use the money. But it's irrelevant. It's the work and the challenge and the personal engagement. Retirement is much overrated, particularly if you love your work. Phil admits to this day Reinsdorf offered him a deal to stay and rebuild the team when Jordan left. I know Reinsdorf offered extravagant contracts to everyone on the team to stay for the length of time Jordan would stay. He offered Jordan the chance to pick his own coach and maybe even be a player coach if he'd return. The truth is that team was done, I'm convinced, and wouldn't have won again. It was the time to go. That season was difficult and tiring and the team wasn't enjoying it that much, even winning 62 games. You had guys all over counting the days. And then next season was the lockout and shortened season. Perhaps in that time frame the Bulls could have eked out another one, but Jordan had that cigar cutter accident and probably wouldn't have even been ready to open the season. And when he finally did return in Washington, he was nowhere the same player. Still, Reinsdorf had standing offers for all to return, and especially worked on Jackson over and over to stay no matter Krause's feelings. Change is good and necessary in all businesses, I personally discovered. It was necessary for those Bulls, though don't get me started on Tim Floyd.
Talk about extremes, we're going from Chuck the Swirsk to the tell it like it is Cosellian sports icon (and despite your ultra frankness that comparison is probably bogus, but I'm just kidding with you ok). Anyway, last time I wrote you on Sporting News.com with a real repetitive drivel rant about the quitter Bulls, I was going to ask you about Zach Randolph. However since you mentioned the Bulls’ low post quandary without a mention of him, I'll take that as a nada on you thinking the Bulls should pursue him (say with Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden's expiring contracts). I know this would also probably take us out of the 2010 LeBron/Wade derby.
Mark Norman (Springfield, IL)
Sam: It's interesting you mention Cosell, and I do appreciate the comparison. I grew up in Brooklyn not far from where Cosell lived and recall every day running back to the house at 5:25 p.m. to listen to his five-minute Speaking of Sports radio report on WABC-AM, the top 40 station in New York City. Though I didn't see a future in broadcasting as I still harbored great athletic ambitions and had a dees and dose Brooklyn accent, Cosell was a model for me. I even wrote him once urging him to run for Senate and said I'd work for his candidacy. What, like Congress was so good? He carried around this big tape recorder and butted in and asked the questions no one wanted to ask. I was something of an athletic stud at 10 and 11. When everyone else grew, I didn't, and that was it. I still blame my 4-11 mom. But in watching guys like Cosell and Dick Young in the New York tabloids, and later Larry Merchant, who wrote in Philadelphia and for the New York Post and NBA models for me like Peter Vecsey and Bob Ryan, I realized nothing happens to you if you ask a question. It's difficult for people to speak in public or ask a question and worry if everyone thinks they're dumb. I was speechless in high school, as I recall. But I watched these guys ask questions and pursue subjects and it was OK. It was a great lesson and I take with pride any comparison to Cosell. As for Randolph, again, life is too short to take one of those type of guys on. That mantra the Bulls have had about good people isn't just about morality, but not exposing your good players to bad acts and habits. Now in Rose that they have someone who could be a star, you have to keep poisonous players away from them. Once you get enough good guys around with talent, then you can take on a Wallace like the Pistons did or a Rodman like the Bulls did. It's too soon for the Bulls. It's the quick fix that leads to the fast breakdown.
Great to have you back in Chicago! The state of the economy has given this corporate lawyer ample time to ponder deeper meanings of the Bulls; as we are about to embark on a new Bulls season with a new Bulls team, I have a few questions/thoughts, etc.:
1. If the rumored trade with the Wiz falls through, the Bulls should buy out Larry Hughes? I have an irrational hatred of him.
2. Start Ben Gordon alongside DRose. The Bulls don't stop anyone on the D end anyway b/c they're too disorganized (which I hope will improve with time under VDN), so they might as well just say the hell with it and try to outscore everybody a la the pre-Shaq Suns with Nash & Co. On a side note, funny that with the "glut of guards" the Bulls still don't have a legit 2-guard.
3. Rose has proven that he will start and probably contribute as a rookie, so why not shop Hinrich? And Nocioni? Those two contracts are putrefying into Larry Hughes territory...are there two more bizarre contract negotiations when comparing Nocioni and Gordon? Nocioni: Pax flies to Chapu's home and negotiates a deal without letting the market set the price for his services only to find that he's not worth what he's paid.
Gordon: Pax starts with a below-market initial offer and lets Gordon try to find a better one, refusing to budge upwards for the team's best scorer...if/when they lose Gordon next offseason his scoring will be hard to replace.
4. Tyrus Thomas must start. But why can no one convince him to stop jacking 17 foot jumpers? He looked like he was really trying for the first time.
Daniel R. Hodgman
Sam: 1. No, that would be irrational. Guys get hurt, there are always trade possibilities and it's time to stop paying guys eight figures to not play. That's irrational.
2. Not so funny, but true. Hughes is probably closest and he can't make threes. Ben does fit some with Rose because of his ability to spread the court and get shots up so quickly. But you just can't quit trying to defend, and you don't want Rose having to take the bigger guards. Ben's an ideal sixth man, and if he'd embrace that role he's be one of the best ever in that role after the likes of Havlicek and McHale. And what's so bad if those guys did it?
3. Let's say no one is safe not named Rose. I think you could do something with Hinrich, but you don't want to push him out the door quite yet without an actual backup. Forget no twos. Who's the one other than Hinrich? Noce, really, should be the odd man out given his contract size and the fact he has no position. I think they made Ben offers more than fair. If that was below market, how come even Ben's reps couldn't find a deal for him?
4. He thinks he's Bob Love. I don't think anyone ever convinces him he's not. But if he keeps working, it won't matter and he might find it fun to get by the basket and pick up more Bailey Howell stuff. It will be one of the stories of the season.
Now, go sue someone. Seems there's so much phony financial institution behavior going on out there that there should be plenty of crooks to pursue.
I really like your new gig and will be reading and interacting regularly. Anyway, my question has to do with, "Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose" at the start of your prediction for the Bulls season. Any chance that was a nod to blogabull.com? I'm asking because that's on their masthead and, if your new role plays out the way it's described in your press release, you will very much be in competition with that website. I think it will be very interesting to follow. Blogabull already has this type of interactive community/following going while you have the experience as well as access to the team and it's resources. I'm not a big fan of Blogabull so I'll clearly be focusing on Bulls.com now. I have long been hoping the Bulls would grant someone access to do this kind of work, much like the Portland Trail Blazers have.
Cameron Watkins
Sam: As my longtime readers know, I have been slow to adapt to the internet culture. But here I come. I always considered myself more a conversational writer, and it was one big philosophical sticking point I always had with the Tribune. I still see it today and fought with them the last few years about it. I've long felt the game story outdated and the need to have a more direct, conversational writing relationship with readers. But too many newspapers continue to play by the rules of 50 years ago. Having a college-aged son helped. He is well read and a sports fan, but never reads newspapers. He is a big baseball fan and said he'd get the game coverage after the game on MLB.com and then seek out information and discussion. So if your newspaper product the next day is a game recap, what are you doing? Clearly, I lost the argument. My pitch to the Bulls was given my experience and history with the league and the team, let's see if we can make the Bulls site the destination for readers. Given the flexibility of a web site, I can concentrate on columns, conversation, observations and opinion, which is more difficult with a newspaper with deadlines due to circulation, which I understand and sympathize with. Being on the web, that disappears. I love the newspaper product and will always read newspapers. I cannot go out to breakfast or lunch without a newspaper. Perhaps if I had some friends, but… I am apparently in the last generation of people who will read newspaper. The newspapers seem headed in the wrong direction because my era has 40 years left of reading. So newspapers aren't going anywhere. Why they are trying to gear the papers for people under 30 or 40 who are not going to read them doesn't make any sense. Again, I lost all the arguments, so I left. My expertise is knowledge, connections and relationships. There's no competition with other fan sites and other sites because there are a variety of opinions, and as it's said, everyone has one. I expect to be interactive in my "Ask Sam" and other devices like live chats. At least as soon as I learn to work a computer.
I haven't even read this column yet but just seeing you back brings a smile to my face! But what were the Bulls thinking putting their season opener on WGN Chicago land area only!! All of us loyal fans around the country can't even watch this game now unless we shell out for the NBA League pass. I recently moved in with my girlfriend and MADE her and her roommate switch from Mediacom to DirecTV just so we would have Comcast Sports Chicago so I could watch the Bulls. How dedicated is that! But then they go and put their first game on WGN Chicago! Well, now that the Bulls have brought you back I'm close to forgiving them for this move. Thanks for coming back man!
Billy Habibi
Sam: I feel your pain, though the $169 you pay for league pass (and it comes on your computer as well. Amazing!) is the best money I spend. Go for it! All the NBA games. Every night. What else is there. Oh, yeah. I have a smile on my face being back, but I'm not sure whether it's as good as yours with this Threes Company thing you have going. So let me get this straight: You get your girlfriend and her (female, I assume) roommate, who are paying your rent, to switch from cable to satellite so you could watch more Bulls basketball. I love the games, but give me some time to think about your priorities.
Thank god you are back. OK, enough sucking up, let's get back to playing GM. I am excited for the season but as we all know something has to change on this team (it has had to for years now). I have a few deals for you. Feel free to use them in your upcoming articles, no need to cite me, it is my welcome back gift to you (wow I have an NBA ego). Would Portland give up Aldridge and LaFrentz (for a salary throw in), for Hinrich and Gooden? Portland get a vet PG, and they need one, plus a solid PF. We get a big man that can score and free up the back court. I know Aldridge is a lot for them but now that they have Oden don't they need a PG more than they need Aldridge?
Kurt Anagnostopoulos
Sam: The suck up was pretty cool, though. I needed it as well after my own lost summer. We've got to get past the Aldridge draft. He was the pick and I'm sure the Bulls know that now. Tyrus has a chance to be better than he has been, but Aldridge still has some of the issues of non aggressive play that pushed the Bulls away from him then. Forget why they went so much toward Thomas. In any case, as we've seen from opening night, who knows how long they can count on Greg Oden and their plan depends on having both because even if healthy, Oden will never be a scorer. They do need a point guard and if I could wrestle Rudy Fernandez from them for Hinrich I'd look at that even with the guard overload.
It's great to have you back writing about the Bulls. This team played well last night (Tuesday). We seem to be only a piece or two away from glory again. A legit low post man and a guy we know will be consistently great every night. I like the Carmelo idea you stated yesterday. What do you think about the Bulls signing Andrew Bynum in the off season? It looks like a contract will not get done by the 31st deadline making him a restricted free agent, he could fill a huge need. Then you could have a line-up of Rose, Melo, Deng, Thomas, and Bynum in 2009.
Andrew Waterman
Sam: Geez, and Anthony, too. Sorry, good dream though. After opening night, I'd say the Lakers probably would want to keep Bynum over Oden. There's no way under no circumstances the Lakers let Bynum go. As a restricted free agent, he cannot go anywhere, so there's really no hurry. I never understand why teams insist on making these early offers to players. The player is going to be happy? You cannot make players happy. And especially in this economy with several teams, like Denver, already cutting expenses, you do not want to be on the hook for a five or six-year deal if a guy is hurt. Bynum hasn't played one full good season yet, but he's not going anywhere. Right now one of thos epieces away from glory would be Kobe or LeBron, so let's wait a bit. But there is promise.
Where will Tyrus Thomas end up position wise in the NBA? Can he play the PF effectively without a post game ala Tyson Chandler or is he more of a Sean Marion type SF?
Cesar Diaz
Sam: I think we're looking more at a Marion type, which the Suns apparently felt they were looking to deal Marion to the Bulls for that pick, from what I heard. Now the Bulls are using Tyrus at four and I can't quarrel with that as he's been most effective around the basket. He has about 15 foot jumper range, which isn't good enough to be a classic small forward. It's one major issue with him. Plus he's lost on defense, though so is Amare Stoudemire, whom the Bulls hoped he'd be, which is why I think they picked him. He's somewhere between a three and four, and players have difficulty without having a true NBA position.
I'm glad to finally find you again after searching the Sporting News for a while. You're in a better position on Bulls.com, if for no other reason then they gave you a much better face shot then your last two employers. Now, are you ready to take back your words on Greg Oden now that you've seen him in action? Which of the first 13 minutes of the GO Era was your favorite? And does Mike D'Antoni automatically become the front-runner for Coach of the Year for not playing Eddy Curry? That medicine ball story is probably not true, but it's one of those tales that it's best not to investigate for veracity because it's so good.
Craig Berry
Sam: I cannot blame sportingnews.com or hoophype.com or msnbc.com, where I've been writing since leaving the Tribune in March. Making much of my looks takes more talent that usually exists. I can't recall exactly what I've written about Oden, but I've always felt he'd be a low scoring defensive guy. I thought he'd be a defensive intimidator, and I'm not quite ready to write him off after one game. Yao was scoreless in his first game and he was supposed to be an offensive player. And he is. Health clearly will be the issue with Oden, and I have made a few Tree Rollins mentions. But I'd still make the same pick again. You have to go with the big guy and take a shot. It is amazing, though, Portland's history with big guys with Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, LaRue Martin, Mychal Thomson and now Oden. And they passed on Jordan. And it rains all the time. I don't even know if you can get cheap Nikes there.
Rose plays fast. Does Carmelo Anthony play that fast? Don't you think that Sefalosha might be the ideal complement to Rose? He's not a consistent shooter yet, so he's going to benefit most from open floor layups that he can trigger with his own defense. I see they clubbed Bucks on fast break points. Understand contract issues, but isn't there someone that will take Larry Hughes? Vinnie is a very humble guy. How refreshing. I agree with you that Noah is one guy who might do really well with Rose. I'm seeing it already with Thomas. It's like he's a different guy.
Pete Zievers
Sam: We'll see with Tyrus. There's an old thought in the NBA and I've heard it used about Elton Brand. If you show up every day, you can be someone. It's like college, if you show up every day and show some interest, you'll pass. You don't have to be a genius. Same in sports. Guys don't show up every day. Most go through the motions occasionally. Elton never does, and some feel it's why such an undersized guy can be considered a star. Can you win behind Elton? No one has yet. The Bulls understood that, though we don't need to recount the Curry/Chandler disaster. Still, let me say I wished they'd kept Elton. If Tyrus were to show up every day, he'd have a heck of a career. But you could say that about a lot of guys. I don't have issues with Sefolosha in the backcourt, though I'd like to see someone who can get in the post, which is why I threw out Deng at two and having him post up on occasion. It's also why someone like Anthony could be OK. You cannot run all the time, and you cannot run without rebounding and the Bulls don't look to be a great rebounding team. The issue the Bulls will have is when Hughes returns. I don't think Del Negro is strong enough to sit him down and I believe Thabo will be the loser in minutes. For now, I don't see any reasonable deals for Hughes other than the slight Washington possibility I mentioned Monday.
I'd also like to see Deng in the shooting guard spot, but is it worth it to possibly see other shooting guards drop 30 against him? Maybe his defense will improve...
Eric Malitz
Sam: Yes, but who aren't they going to do that against on occasion. Milwaukee did move Michaal Redd to three at times on opening night to match him against Deng and get some more scoring. So, yes, Deng can be a defensive liability. His straight up posture makes defending difficult as well. Thabo is better, but you need some post action at times when you cannot use transition and steals. It's one game, but I haven't seen a real half court game yet.
I totally agree that the Bulls should go hard after Carmelo. Denver will likely be out of it in the west before the all-star break. We know that Carmelo can score from anywhere and would be a huge addition for the bulls. Let’s just hope Pax doesn’t refuse to include Deng in the deal again as we’ve all seen how well that move worked out for the Bulls & Lakers. Great to have you back writing about the Bulls!
Kevin Carlson
Sam: Like I've written, it's probably a longshot because Anthony would have to become publicly disgruntled and ask to leave. OK, more disgruntled than usual. Which isn't that far fetched to me. But Deng has a lot of money coming and I'm not sure that's what Denver would want. I think they'd want to clear cap space and perhaps do some rebuilding with prospects. The trade issue now is everyone is going to be asking the Bulls for Rose. Yes, they finally have a deserving untouchable.
My starting lineup...
C – Aaron Gray
PF – Drew Gooden
SF – Luol Deng
SG – Thabo Sefolosha
PG – Derrick Rose
Bench: Nocioni, Hinrich, Noah, Thomas. Bye bye to Gordon.
Doug Seidman
Sam: Is this Aaron Gray writing me again? Look, he's OK as a short minute backup, but hardly anymore, especially with a speedy, athletic Rose. If you were to look at that lineup, where would the scoring be? You can't have three non scorers in the starting lineup. That's a bit of an issue the way they set up now. And the issue with Gordon. He's a one-man scoring run, and as much as fans are down on him now, he is valuable.
So great to get to read you again! Sporting News wasn't much fun. Unfortunately, for your sake you're now even closer to the "Blogger" title. But at least I'm assuming your info doesn't come from Google in your parent's basement.
Noah
Sam: Yes, I had some fun bashing bloggers, and some did truly get upset. Some guy from the Washington Post went into a writing rage, though that happens in D.C. all the time. My definition of a blogger was someone not associated with a traditional organization. I've seen the effect of this in the presidential campaign and don't truly understand it all, but media has changed and I'm trying to adapt. I don't think newspapers are doing as well, so I sadly watch the decline. I always though of bloggers as guys (gals, too, of course, to be politically OK) in their basement in their underwear (nightgowns and washed, at least) raging against something. What has mystified me is the discussions that flow from this. I've always felt you needed experience and connections and relationships and established credibility to be a commentator. But what I also found out—and what I always believed—was people are smarter than what newspapers gave them credit for. The rule in newspapers always was to write as if someone had a sixth grade education, meaning write fort the masses so everyone could understand. What I discovered was that was so the people editing your copy could understand. But I digress. A friend, former Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Steve Aschburner, like me, took a buyout and writes for an online paper made up of former newspaper staffers there, the Minnesota Post. They just celebrated a year "publishing" and noted while trying to be a local alternative, most readers sought national and international commentary, news and analysis. It's another reason why newspapers are committing suicide. They are scaling down to be local products while readers want to know more and discuss more. That's why I was so happy to get a spot like this, where I can discuss (less important) issues pertaining to basketball both local and nationally. Being an old guy, I'm reluctant to change that much. Except for the early bird specials. But I am beginning to understand it's the internet debate, discussion and engagement that are just as important.
You are back , Mariotti is gone. I knew all that good karma I built up would pay off. All is right with the world again. I hope it’s more than Monday.
Jim Riorden
Sam: Everyday is now an NBA day at Bulls.com (shameless plug). Hey, it's the first full week back on the job. I better be enthusiastic. I really do love the start of the NBA season. Just think of all the goofy things guys will do and say. Ron Artest is with a new team, Rasheed Wallace has been quiet too long, Tracy McGrady says this really is the time to get out of the first round (I enjoy writing that every year), anyone seen LeBron James is calling a moving van, the Knicks, Michael Jordan was seen playing golf and working out a player at the same time, Gilbert Arenas isn't playing but wants a raise, Michael Beasley asks who's Pat Riley, Phil Jackson smirks, Shaq makes a free throw that actually matters, Kevin McHale asks for a Celtics championship ring, Mark Cuban trades the Mavs for a bar near Wrigley Field, Kobe walks on water and wonder why Jordan couldn't. I know, I know. I tried to get a life, but I got this one. So I'm enjoying it. Is this great, or what?
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. 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.
