Sam Smith will sign the "The Jordan Rules" for you

[Fred]

We had Sam Smith on the Bullseye over a year ago. (Episode 22) He's a great guy, and he's offered to sign my copy. He also offered to do it for any of the bullspodcasters.com listeners. Just send your copy to:

Adam Fluck
Attn: Sam Smith
United Center
1901 W.Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60612

I would suggest including a self-addressed envelope or package for him to return the book in. He said he would be happy to personalize and sign it...just include your name, and tell him you're from the bullspodcasters.com.

It's a great read, an insightful and realistic look at my hero, Michael Jordan. It's also relevant today because it gives you some insight on how the organization and Reisdorf have handled contract negotiations before. It also gives you some great stories about Paxson.

You can read the first chapter here:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Jordan-Rules/Sam-Smith/9780671796662/excerpt_with_id/2314

 

[Fred]

I remember this game like it was yesterday. Game 7, Eastern Conference Finals. Pippen's migraine headache game...I think Rose will feel a lot like this over the next few years after Ben leaves this summer.

"But the Bulls would go no farther. As Jordan feared, even suspected, his teammates disappeared. Paxson tried, but couldn't go. His ankle was too sore and swollen, and he would need surgery in a week. Hodges, rusty from months of virtual inactivity, couldn't sustain his effort for two games and shot 3 for 13, 2 for 12 on three-pointers. His big, toothy smile was gone and he'd soon be contemplating his feet.

It wasn't much of a game. The Pistons hit 9 straight shots in the second quarter while the Bulls went 2 of 12. The score was 48-33 at halftime and the game was over. The score was 61-39 in the third quarter, and even though the Bulls closed the gap to 10 after three quarters, they never had a chance.

Scottie Pippen was 1 of 10 for 2 points. Stricken by a migraine headache, he was blinking his eyes madly before the game and putting an ice pack on his head during time-outs. He played forty-two minutes, but could barely distinguish his teammates from the Pistons. He broke down and drowned himself in tears in the locker room afterward. Grant was ferocious on the boards, pulling down morerebounds than the entire Detroit team and grabbing a game-high 14 overall, but he shot 3 of 17. Cartwright had worn down and would need knee surgery, and Hodge also would go under the knife. The rookies were deadly -- B. J. Armstrong flew out of control in front of the crowd and was 1 of 8. The Pistons' bench outscored the Bulls 33-21, as Mark Aguirre had 15 points and 10 rebounds and John Salley had 14 points. Thomas was brilliant in orchestrating the Pistons' break with 21 points and 11 assists. "They may have the best player, but we have the better team," noted Laimbeer, the mockery in his voice scratching at Chicagoans like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Jordan was left to consider the 93-74 loss. He agreed Detroit was better. The Bulls had to get better. He wasn't general manager, but if he were...It was obvious the team needed veterans. But he wasn't just slapping at the rookies. Where was Pippen? This was the second straight year he'd vanished in the last game against the Pistons; he'd received a concussion in the first minute of the final conference playoff game in 1989. Were he and his buddy, Grant, serious enough? Paxson had broken down and the other guys hadn't done much. Jordan had scored 31 points, 21 more than anyone else, but he'd also attempted 27 shots. And many were wondering how the Bulls were ever going to win if he was to continue to shoot at that pace."

 

[Morten Jensen]

Re:Sam Smith will sign the

Sam would probably sign mine 'Dear son of a *****. Thank you for buying my book'.

I've been hard on Sam over the years. I think he had a tendency to be way too negative and make some absolutely bone-headed trades to quick-fix the team.

That said, kudos to Sam for that gesture. That's very nice of him. He's also improved since switching to Bulls.com

Fred, thank you for posting that address. I've been meaning to contact Adam Fluck.

 

[J-Mart]

Re:Sam Smith will sign the "The Jordan Rules" for

That is a nice gesture of him. I'm not his biggest fan but I am debating whether or not I am willing to pay postage there and back for him to sign my copy haha.


Also if anyone is looking for a cheap copy to get signed, check out half.com. Can get a copy for under $5 including shipping.

 

[dougthonus]

Re:Sam Smith will sign the

Morten Jensen wrote:

Sam would probably sign mine 'Dear son of a *****. Thank you for buying my book'.

I've been hard on Sam over the years. I think he had a tendency to be way too negative and make some absolutely bone-headed trades to quick-fix the team.

That said, kudos to Sam for that gesture. That's very nice of him. He's also improved since switching to Bulls.com

Fred, thank you for posting that address. I've been meaning to contact Adam Fluck.

Sam used to write things just to get a response while at the tribune. You had to differentiate between Sam the reporter and Sam the trade wizard. Sam the reporter was always a good read. Sam the trade wizard needed to go away.

He isn't Sam the trade wizard so much on bulls.com, and I'd imagine a certain amount of that was built into his job description. He would purposefully overvalue or undervalue different players just to gauge a reaction.

 

[Morten Jensen]

Re:Sam Smith will sign the

That seems like a fair description of him. I would have to agree. The big notice Bulls.com put on top of his articles also suggests he's free to do his work, but only to a certain level.