How large is Jordan's Shadow in Chicago?

[Rush]

How Large is Jordan’s Shadow? |

Article by Crystallas

 

[Glide2keva]

It was a cool post, but the title and content didn't match at all.

 

[Crystallas]

After talking to an old friend of mine from the army for a few hours, it just hit me how different being a Bulls fan is, in comparison to so many teams. He's from Dallas, a Mavs fan, Stars fan, and Cowboys fan. We started talking about sports, and we went through the list. For football, I didnt bust his chops for the Cowboys and he didn't do the same back, after losing to the pack. The Blackhawks were impressive, and not just a lucky team to him, in his respecting tone. But when it came to basketball.... the Bulls fans have it made, we are just so damn lucky to have had Jordan(hence the shadow).
Now, I made friends from all over the world. My profession allowed me to meet and get to know so many diverse sports fans. I wasn't sure if it was just me, but in my perception, Bulls fans deserve more 1999-2003, and less of what we have now. The past success is under peoples skin in more cases than I would have ever expected.
Like I said, it was just my perception. Not that it helps to change such a perception, or that it's a bad thing. I mainly just felt like writing about it.

In all seriousness, other than the trolls that post in these message boards, it would be nice to hear Bulls fans describe how they feel the rest of the league sees the Bulls and it's fans. I haven't heard too many people share the same view.

 

[houheffna]

I don't quite understand the premise...what burden? And Jordan casts a shadow over who exactly? The fans? Other players? I was a bit confused by the posting...

 

[Crystallas]

Well, I never used the word burden. So maybe I'm lost at where you're lost.

Perhaps you can open up and share some of your experiences.

 

[Glide2keva]

A better title would've been "The Bulls fan experience"

Saying Jordan casts a large shadow, and then mentioning nothing about it in the post is where the confusion comes in.

 

[houheffna]

Well, when I think of a shadow being cast, especially of a legend. I think of a burden or sorts. I would think that is synonymous. However, I would expect that shadow to affect players like Rose and possible acquisitions like Lebron James. That would explain the package the Bulls sent to Lebron asking him was he up to the challenge, facing the quandary head on and not avoiding it. I never considered in mythical specter of Jordan affecting the fans. And that is where the confusion for me came in.

I can relate to some of the arguments that occur, but Jordan was globally loved, with the exception of Cleveland. Jordan became so big, he belonged to the world, not just Chicago. So are you equating being a Bulls fan to being a Yankees fan perhaps?

 

[Crystallas]

When I think of some words, like shadow, I look at how many usages the word has and not at the single way I can use it. I am sorry for the confusion, but the title still fits if you try to understand it and not nit pick its meaning(why some sports fans have to argue every detail is beyond me.)

I guess I just don't see things as cut and dry. When I collected basketball cards, in the later years, Jordan's cards were easy to trade for within the younger demographic. But the older guys cherished and loved Jordan. Kids wanted Shaqs, Hills, and Rodmans, adults wanted the Jordans. Mind you, a trade is a trade, you dont discriminate, and you don't want to take advantage of some kids, but when they know exactly what they want, you can see it in them, that they just dont understand the Jordan love, because they weren't smart enough to understand his early career.

I don't see any NBA team being close to the Yankees, team or fan in any perception.

 

[houheffna]

When I think of some words, like shadow, I look at how many usages the word has and not at the single way I can use it. I am sorry for the confusion, but the title still fits if you try to understand it and not nit pick its meaning(why some sports fans have to argue every detail is beyond me.)

I guess I just don't see things as cut and dry. When I collected basketball cards, in the later years, Jordan's cards were easy to trade for within the younger demographic. But the older guys cherished and loved Jordan. Kids wanted Shaqs, Hills, and Rodmans, adults wanted the Jordans. Mind you, a trade is a trade, you dont discriminate, and you don't want to take advantage of some kids, but when they know exactly what they want, you can see it in them, that they just dont understand the Jordan love, because they weren't smart enough to understand his early career.

I don't see any NBA team being close to the Yankees, team or fan in any perception.

This is where I am confused. Why would the kids want Shaq, Hill, and Rodman cards when Jordan is playing at the same time, and was the best player in the league? They were all playing in the same era.

I brought up the Yankees because is this shadow unique to the Bulls or is it the same thing Celtics, Lakers, Yankees, Cowboys, Steelers, hell Montreal Canadians fans deal with? I am not criticizing (though nit picking and criticism happens when you write), I am trying to get an understanding...

 

[Crystallas]

This is where I am confused. Why would the kids want Shaq, Hill, and Rodman cards when Jordan is playing at the same time, and was the best player in the league? They were all playing in the same era.

I can't speak for those kids. I was dumbfounded when I could easily trade a 3rd year Rodman common for Jordan inserts. My collection speaks for itself, I have every main Jordan card, with plenty of multiples. I wouldn't have been able to get some of these cards, without the huge amount of teenagers who were sick of Jordan at the time LOL.
The only card that I had come across only once, was when I bought packs of Star cards, because they were the only basketball trading cards that I could find at the time, only to luck out with both Jordans of the main set. I think I was able to get a fleer rookie for next to nothing, and that was thanks to some kid who could careless about the Bulls. 93 UD hologram triple double insert was one of my favorite cards. I bought 3 boxes of that series, opened each pack and didn't get ONE TD hologram Jordan! LOL, but in time, I was able to trade all kinds of BS for it. I now have 5, and it remains my favorite card to date.

While it's not really valuable, it's just my personal favorite because of the experience to finally get it.

 

[sicko]

For a big name free agent (someone like LeBron or Kobe) the Shadow would be their for them...but for Rose...NONE!

the fact that we sucked for so long after Jordan Era kind allowed that Shadow to Fade Away, most Bulls Fans...At Least the ones I know...rarely bring up Michael Jordan unless a conversation/debate about Kobe comes ups and a few stupid Lakers fans that like to start a Kobe vs Jordan debate:smh:

it got to a point with the Bulls fans that we stopped looking for the next Jordan and we just wanted a WINNING TEAM, watching guys like Rusty LaRue, Corey Benjamin, Kornel David "Hungarian Michael Jordan My A$$" lol, Eddie Robinson, Marcus Fizer...DAMN!!! come to think of it I don't even know how I remained patient with this Organization especially after watching all those HORRIBLE teams for all those years since good ole Jerry Krause 3 YEAR PLAN...FAILED MISERABLY! UGH lol

Well at least we are better now! BUT Imagine if we didn't get Derrick Rose:nervous: we would still have Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon...which wasn't BAD (we did get to the playoffs a few times with them and eliminated the World Champion Miami Heat in the 1st Round) but having Rose is so much better

I don't even think about Jordan anymore though, his Legacy is safe and he set his bar so high that nobody will even try to chase down that legacy and I don't blame them

 

[Glide2keva]

I dare say though, if the Bulls do win one, it'll be bigger than any of the first 6.

To some fans, it'll mean more.