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Scottie Pippen Was “Happiest Man Alive” When Michael Jordan Retired

By
Matt Peck
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scottie pippen happiest man alive michael jordan retired
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 15: Former players Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls share a laugh before a game between the Bulls and the Charlotte Bobcats at the United Center on February 15, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Nobody in the world of sports knows more about playing in another person’s shadow quite like Scottie Pippen. For a decade, he was the Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman. A Hall of Famer in his own right when all was said and done, Scottie often felt he deserved to be “the guy” on an NBA team. He got that chance in 1993 when Jordan shocked the basketball world and announced he was retiring to pursue a career in baseball.

My Turn

Earlier this week, Pippen joined Rachel Nichols on ESPN’s The Jump to talk about the extra workload Russell Westbrook has this season after Kevin Durant’s departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder. If anyone can understand what Westbrook is going through, it’s Scottie. When Nichols asked the six time champion what it was like dealing with Jordan’s exit, Pippen gave an unexpected yet honest answer:

“I was the happiest man alive. I got a chance to be the man for a change.” – Scottie Pippen

Scottie expanded on that sentiment:

“It’s something that you embrace as a player, especially when you’re in a position where you’re probably not going to get that spotlight. Like myself playing with Michael. So when he retired I was very happy.” – Scottie Pippen

New Alpha

In the 1993-94 season, the Bulls remained an Eastern Conference power despite Jordan’s absence. Scottie took on a larger role in the offense and led the team to a 55-27 record and the #3 seed. Check out his numbers from that season compared to the previous year when he still played second fiddle to Michael:

Per Game Table
Season Tm G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% eFG% FTA FT% TRB AST STL PTS
1992-93 CHI 81 38.6 16.4 .473 1.1 .237 .482 4.3 .663 7.7 6.3 2.1 18.6
1993-94 CHI 72 38.3 17.8 .491 2.7 .320 .515 5.7 .660 8.7 5.6 2.9 22.0
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/9/2017.

 

Scottie increased his field goal attempts, shooting percentage, three-point percentage and free throw attempts while raising his scoring average by 3.4 points per game. His player efficiency rating increased from 19.2 to 23.2 and his usage percentage jumped from 23.9 to 27.1. Both his PER and USG% in ’93-94 would be career highs for Pippen.

scottie pippen happiest man alive michael jordan retired
With Michael Jordan out of the picture, Scottie Pippen became Phil Jackson’s go-to guy for almost two full seasons in the 1990s.

Pippen and the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1994, where they lost to Patrick Ewing’s Knicks in 7 games. The following season, Scottie again led the charge without Michael, but Chicago struggled to keep up with the improving competition in the East. Through 65 games, the Bulls were just 34-31. Then, on March 19, 1995, Jordan returned in a #45 jersey and reclaimed his position as the team’s top dog. Reunited with his wingman but still rusty, Michael would fail to get the Bulls past the Orlando Magic in the second round. Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway and former teammate Horace Grant knocked off Chicago in six games. But as all Bulls fans know, that was just the beginning of the dynasty’s second chapter.

Pippen admitted on The Jump that after enjoying the spotlight for a while, he was ready to get his Batman back.

“Going through those two years, I started to get a little bit sad. He saw it and decided to come back.” – Scottie Pippen

I guess being your team’s Batman comes with certain drawbacks. To quote a different comic book character, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The Obvious Left Tackle Solution That’s Staring the Chicago Bears In The Face

By
✶ SM Chris ✶
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ryan pace

The answer to the left tackle problem for the Bears is obvious, why aren’t they pursuing it? 

The Chicago Bears desperately need a quality left tackle, among other things. Anyone with a football brain can see that Charles Leno Jr. isn’t the long term answer especially if the team is going to deploy a young quarterback to take the helm in 2017. Ironically enough, right tackle is also a glaring weakness on the Bears.

So how does Ryan Pace fix this?

It’s actually pretty simple.

The Left Tackle Spot

Notably the most expensive position in the NFL, and definitely one of the most important, the left tackle spot is crucial for any team to have long term success… especially a team that doesn’t have an elite quarterback. Proof of this lies in the tackle grades from last season, is it really a surprise that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers both have their tackles graded out in the top 5? Of course not. Everybody knows a quarterback needs to be protected to be successful and the left tackle is responsible for the defenders the right-handers can’t see coming.  Chicago’s duo of Leno and Bobby Massie graded out a 41st and 43rd, respectively, at BARELY “average.”

There’s a reason why Massie was available in free agency and Leno was a seventh round pick, and it’s because they are both backups. Elite left tackles almost never hit the free agent market, the Bears learned that with Jermon Bushrod. After signing a five-year deal with Chicago worth a ridiculous $35 milliion he was released due to multiple injuries with two years remaining. The Bears thought they found a diamond in the rough but Bushrod turned out to be damaged goods. (let’s hope Pernell McPhee doesn’t turn out the same way) Again, finding elite left tackles in free agency is incredibly rare.

So, how about the draft? Well you can start by saying this year is very weak for offensive tackles. Most of the top prospects are predicted to play right, rather than left, because they all seemingly have physical attributes that are expected to restrict them at the next level. Cam Robinson, from Alabama, is widely considered the best football prospect coming out but he has a few concerns off the field that will likely restrict him from landing in the top 10. Point being there is no left tackle to draft, even at number three, that isn’t going to fix the Bears’ problem.

Why This Seemingly Insane Chicago Bears Move Should Get Fans Excited

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan pace

Ask any Chicago Bears fan their opinion of the upper management of this franchise and safe to say the language would get pretty crude and colorful in a hurry. The McCaskey family, along with their perceived lapdog in team president Ted Phillips have become the central villains for why this franchise hasn’t been able to win a Super Bowl going on 32 years now. Meanwhile they’ve had to watch the Patriots win five just since 2001.

That’s not right, and yet there is nothing anybody can do. It’s a helpless feeling. George McCaskey has gone on record stating he has zero plans to sell the team. Now, in the future or ever if he can help it. Yet in the face of this growing resentment from fans, not to mention plummeting attendance, the Bears chose to do something incredible.

Despite coming off a 3-13 season, the worst the Bears have ever had in a 16-game schedule, they somehow convinced themselves raising ticket prices was a good idea. As if angering fans even more sounded smart. Then again, one might want to take a look at the deeper implications of what that could mean.

Five Cubs Players You Need To Watch This Spring Training

By
Sean Sears
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The Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in only six days, while the entire team is due three days later, as the 2017 Cubs look defend their title for the first time since 1908.

The 2017 squad looks set, and while the Cubs core players are for the most part still intact, the roster has a few new faces that plan on filling major roles and some familiar faces that look to make a larger impact this season.

So, I put together a list of some key players Cubs fans should be checking box scores and keeping their eyes on during this spring.

Is Jimmy Butler Courting Carmelo Anthony To The Bulls?

By
Matt Peck
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jimmy butler courting carmelo anthony bulls

Chicago Sun-Times troublemaker Joe Cowley is at it again. The Bulls reporter just released a column claiming that Bulls star Jimmy Butler is on board if the front office wants his help orchestrating a trade to land Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

Melo To Chicago, Part II

The quotes Cowley takes from his conversation with Butler earlier today seem to suggest Butler doesn’t want to participate in those front office duties. Jimmy did admit to speaking with Carmelo a few days ago, but that’s about it. Here’s what Butler had to say about hypothetically making Melo feel welcome in Chicago:

““That is half the battle, And I could still do that. I think everybody knows what Carmelo can bring to a team. The dude is a helluva player. But I think that we have some things that we’ve got to worry about here first in the next few weeks [leading into the trade deadline], before we go down that road.’’ – Jimmy Butler

Sounds like Jimmy is open to the idea of playing with Anthony, but not exactly going out of his way to recruit him to Chicago. He reaffirmed that the front office should be handling those decisions.

“You can talk to [Anthony] and tell him all this, all that, but as far as a trade and all that stuff goes, that’s for the front office because there’s only so much say [the players] can have in a deal like that. There’s not too much I can do in that aspect.” – Jimmy Butler

Butler did praise Carmelo for his leadership with Team USA, an experience that meant a great deal to Jimmy last summer.

“But I will say I learned a lot about [Anthony] over the whole Olympic experience and we’ve kept in touch. I’m very grateful for the friendship we’ve built, and it will continue to grow.’’ – Jimmy Butler

Trouble In The Apple

There’s plenty of smoke around the Melo situation in New York right now. The new-look Knicks are the definition of dysfunction. The additions of former Bulls Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah did not create the “superteam” that Rose suggested upon his arrival. Anthony and team president Phil Jackson are publicly feuding, and whispers have grown to shouts about Melo waiving his no-trade clause.

There are reports that have Anthony heading to Cleveland to team up with his pal LeBron James, but it sounds like the Cavaliers aren’t willing to part with Kevin Love. The Clippers are also involved in various Anthony trade rumors.

Near Miss

But it was the Bulls who almost successfully wooed Carmelo in the summer of 2014. Anthony even said after his decision to stay in New York that he thought his mind was made up in favor of Chicago.

“It came down to Chicago and New York. Chicago was the one from Day 1 [and] was something I was very impressed with. … There was one point in time I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going.’ ” – Carmelo anthony

But that didn’t happen. Instead, Anthony took the roughly $50 million extra to stay with the Knicks and the Bulls signed Pau Gasol as their latest free agency consolation prize.

Author’s Reaction

Here we are, nearly three years later and the Bulls are still trying to assemble a puzzle with pieces that compliment each other. Anthony’s isolation style of offense doesn’t fit into Fred Hoiberg’s scheme, and at first glance his marriage on the court with Butler makes little sense. They both need the ball and slow down the pace of the offense with their isolation possessions.

Then again, GarPax signed two aging and declining veterans after vowing to get younger and more athletic. Bringing Anthony on board fits right in with that thread of logic.

The Chicago Bears Prove They Don’t Give A Shit About The Fans

By
✶ SM Chris ✶
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The Bears are reportedly raising their ticket prices by an average of 2.6%, you gotta be kiddin’ me, right?

As a season ticket holder and a disgruntled fan, I feel the need to voice my opinion on this preposterous news making its way around Chicago today. The increase is obviously a response to the loss in revenue during the last couple seasons under John Fox. Kinda like when your dad loses his job then comes home and tries to charge you rent.

After keeping the prices flat for two straight years, the McCaskey’s selfish reputation and their total lack of compassion for the fans is in the spotlight once again.

Why Bears Fans Should Be Furious About This

First of all, the team absolutely sucks. There’s a reason why Chicago is drafting their highest since 1972 and it’s primarily because they are terrible. Not only were they laughed off the field in 2016, after many media outlets predicted just that, but they lack starting caliber players at crucial positions … like quarterback, left tackle and cornerback. This isn’t new either, the Bears have finished 4th in their division three years in a row now.

Secondly, Soldier Field blows too.

The tailgating options are dreadful. The only real places to tailgate are the official parking lots of the stadium and McCormick place. The official lots require a parking pass you normally have to buy off the black market because they’re never available anywhere else and McCormick place is constantly changing their rules recently banning “beer pong” from their lot. What is tailgating with no beer pong?

Third, the price is already ridiculous. In August of last year TiqIQ released data indicating Chicago already had the fourth highest ticket price in the league. Imagine how that news was received and it was before the Bears shit the bed on their way to three wins this past season. Did we mention there’s a 20+ year waiting list for season tickets and the fans’ only option for purchase is off the secondary market? No real need to elaborate, if you’re a Bears fan you already know.

The economics geek in the room is going to be the first one to say, “it’s simple supply and demand, can’t blame the Bears.” Oh yes I fucking can. Chicago has been the third largest sports market in the country for decades, yet Soldier Field is the third smallest stadium in the NFL. Think about that for a moment. The population in Green Bay is roughly 105,000, yet Lambeau Field seats 20,000 more fans that Soldier Field? That makes very little sense. What makes even less sense … the Bears don’t even own it. The City of Chicago owns it and they had their chance to drastically increase the size of Soldier Field with a 2002 renovation … instead they eliminated 5,000 seats! The stadium is also too small to host a Super Bowl because it only seats 61k and the NFL’s minimum requirement is 70k, so you can throw that out the window as well.

Did I mention the Bears’ franchise has the third most wins in NFL history? That’s proof alone that their popularity is through the roof. Why the hell is their stadium so small?

This is the part where I show the economics geek the definition of the phrase “rip off.”

Season Ticket Holder Experience

As a current season ticket holder, I support my team. All of us do. We show up bright and early every game to fly our flags and wear our colors. We normally park in McCormick place, when it’s open.

Lately though, the group has dwindled.

What used to be a group 10 cars that always parked close to the “DJ” and depended on each other for certain essentials no longer exists. Repeano is a restaurant owner. He was the guy who made unbelievable tacos every week for just a few dollar donation, allowed us to leave our food at home to save room in the car. Mike was the bar tender, he had the perfect solution for fans that showed up hungover at 6am and needed a Bloody Mary to get going. The group of doctors drive the Bears-themed U-Haul and always break out the 10 person beer bong after breakfast. What used to be a dedicate group of fans has now turned into a scarce group of acquaintances. Since the team has hit rock bottom the only real chance of getting everyone together all season is opening day. After that it’s a crap shoot.

For the last three season I haven’t been able to GIVE my tickets away. Late in November and December nobody in Chicago wants to go when the team is this bad, nobody. This forces season ticket holders to sit at home, knowing their seats are empty, and contemplate if they’re worth buying again next season or not. Fortunately for the Bears most do, and it’s primarily because most fear falling off that list which takes 20 years to get back on.

It’s Not Just The Tickets

Did you know that the Chicago Bears have one of the strictest media policies in the entire league? This basically means a large amount of information consumed by reporters all across the city isn’t allowed to be shared with the fans throughout the season. This is why it feels like you’ve been kept in the dark when it comes to information about the team. Primary examples include the extent of the Kevin White’s original injury and the cover-up of the Daniel Braverman injury earlier this year.

The members of the organization, and the team, may argue that this secretive way of operating gives them a competitive advantage, but the three consecutive finishes at the bottom of the division would suggest otherwise.

What it really does is forces a disconnect between the team and their fan base. They did it with Lovie Smith, nobody cared about Marc Trestman, and they’re doing it again with Fox. The Bears are notorious for keeping the secrets of their failure well hidden from the public and facilitating all their information through Brad Biggs when they’re finally forced to speak. If there was a poll taken right now the city would fire the owner without blinking twice.

A Big F-U To The Fans  

The part that hurts the most is you’re the one who suffers. Not Virginia McCaskey and her $10 million house or John Fox and his “try not to lose” mentality. It’s you.

You’re the one who won’t be able to ever afford a game to watch your favorite team play.

You’re the one who will finally have season tickets one day, and then not be able to give them away if you can’t make a game, after you spend a ridiculous amount of your hard earned money on them.

You’re the one who will show up on game day and realize it’s $50 more just to park your car.

You’re the one who just witnessed the worst season in your team’s franchise history only to turn around and pay 2.6% more for tickets.

I’m sure there will be some spin added to this to trick fans into thinking it’s justified in some way, but it’s not. It’s a headline that will spread through Chicago for a day and then be swept under the rug after you swipe your card at the ticket booth.

The Bears don’t care about you, they only care about targeting the small percentage of people in Chicago that can afford the ridiculous prices for seats in their tiny stadium.

Today is an embarrassing day to be a Bears season ticket holder.

This Hilarious Stat Comparison Proves The Bulls Are Hopeless

By
Matt Peck
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rajon rondo tony snell shooting percentage bulls

Just when we thought being a Bulls fan couldn’t get any more depressing, Tony Snell proves us wrong. Yes, the very same Tony Snell whom Chicago traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Michael Carter-Williams before this season started. No one could believe the Bulls managed to get anything more than a ham sandwich for the disappointing wing player drafted by Chicago in 2013. When critics cite Gar Forman and John Paxson’s underachieving draft picks, Snell is usually near the top of the list. Now making the most of his fresh start in Milwaukee, “Snelly Cat” has his name near the top of a very different kind of list. A good list.

The Kid Can Shoot

Earlier today, Jon Schumann of NBA.com updated his list of the most improved shooters in the league comparing last season to this season. Guess who sits at number two on the list?

Snell has raised his shooting percentages across the board this season. His overall field goal percentage (45.3%) is a huge leap from his final season with the Bulls (37.2%). Tony is also hitting three pointers at a higher clip (38.5% this season > 36.1% last season). In effective field goal percentage, which accounts for three-point field goals being worth more than two-point field goals, Snell’s +12.8% spike this season is massive. Across the NBA, only the Lakers’ Nick Young (+13.8%) has improved more than Snell in that category.

The Bulls flameout is finding success as a regular starter with the Bucks. That’s not to say GarPax made a mistake trading Tony. It’s just funny that after he was deemed a bust by everyone in Chicago, the former first round pick is finally blossoming elsewhere. Go figure.

Wrong Way

Now, here’s the really funny part: Schumann also gave us the bottom end of that same list, highlighting the NBA players with the steepest declines in their effective field goal percentage. Guess who checks in as the worst of the bunch?

Kudos to you if you guessed Bulls malcontent point guard Rajon Rondo. Compared to his one-season stint with Sacramento last year, Rondo’s shooting has fallen off a cliff. His overall field goal percentage (36.2%), three point percentage (31.4%) and effective field goal percentage (39.6%) all suffered major drops. His -9.7 decline in eFG% is the worst among qualified players in the NBA.

So there’s that. Snell and Rondo’s opposite-direction trends serve as a mirror for the Bulls and Bucks this season. Chicago’s 47.9 eFG% is good for dead last in the league. Milwaukee, on the other hand, currently has the 7th best eFG% at 52.6.

Snell is breaking out of his shell after three fruitless seasons with the Bulls. Rondo, meanwhile, is making $14 million this season to come off the bench and miss just about every shot he takes. Just in case we all needed another reason to laugh at the Bulls, Snelly Cat finally came through in the clutch.

Scottie Pippen & Larsa Back Together, She’s Got A HUGE New Diamond Ring

By
Matt Peck
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scottie pippen wife larsa back together diamond ring
Scottie Pippen and wife Larsa Younan party at the Nice Guy club together in West Hollywood. 07 Feb 2017 Pictured: Scottie Pippen And Larsa Younan. Photo credit: MEGA

Everybody loves a comeback story, right? No, I’m not talking about the stupid Patriots winning the stupid Super Bowl. That was days ago. Move on. I’m talking about the ever-changing love story between Bulls legend Scottie Pippen and his wife Larsa. There’s been a new development.

Yesterday, TMZ Sports reported that Scottie and Larsa were spotted leaving a night club in West Hollywood on Monday night. Their camera crew captured video:

According to People‘s source close to the Pippens, the pair are trying to reconcile and work on their relationship.

“I think they were always trying to find a common ground. For a while, they didn’t see eye to eye, but they’ve been married for 20 years, they have four kids.” – People Source

Scottie filed for divorce back in October after ongoing reports of domestic incidents at the couple’s Florida home. The public took great interest in the celebrity couple’s split. Rumors spread about Scottie cheating, Larsa cheating with rapper Future and Larsa’s relationship with the Kardashians being the downfall of their marriage.

It sounds like Scottie and Larsa are trying to put all of that behind them. The divorce never finalized. Now, Larsa is showing off a brand new rock on social media.

scottie pippen wife larsa back together diamond ring

Wow! That thing looks like it weighs several pounds. Larsa didn’t say plainly that Scottie gave her the ring, but it’s hard not to assume he did given their recent reconciliation.

Scottie is really raising the bar for Valentine’s Day gifts. Thanks a lot, Pip. Way to make the rest of us look bad.

Rob Gronkowski Trade To The Chicago Bears Is A Real Possibility

By
Sports Mockery
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The Chicago Bears have many holes to fill and one of the biggest is the tight end position. After trading Martellus Bennett to the Patriots, Bears fans watched Zach Miller limp through another injury-plagued season getting very little performance out of the position for Chicago. Heading into 2017, Miller remains the top tight end on the depth chart despite his ripe age of 32 and the fact that he’s never played a 16-game season in his NFL career.

Ryan Pace needs to address the tight end need, fast.

Starting at the top, Rob Gronkowski is widely considered the best tight end in the NFL and he might be on the trading block already. With their recent Super Bowl victory the Patriots proved they really don’t NEED Gronk to be successful. Not only that, but Bill Belichick and the Patriots have made a NFL-high 62 trades since Tom Brady became the starting quarterback. Those trades included players like six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins and Pro Bowl pass rusher Chandler Jones. It’s clear Belichick and the Patriots will trade ANYONE, except Tom Brady.

Most recently, after undergoing his third back surgery and sitting out most of the 2016 season, Gronk was photographed shirtless at the team championship parade pounding beers.

Image result for gronkowskiDoesn’t exactly mesh with the high level of respect people attach to the brand of New England. As many people know, this is one of many stunts by Gronk others include off-seasons filled with booze cruises and porn stars. The partying has contributed to Gronkowski’s popularity with the fans, but it’s also made him a bit of a black-eye to the reputation of the Patriots’ organization.

Taking all that into account, many analysts expect New England to pursue a trade for Gronk this offseason, and Chicago is arguably the most “tight-end needy” team on the market.

Next Gen Stats Reveal Something Truly Amazing About Jordan Howard

By
Sports Mockery
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jordan howard

The Chicago Bears, and their fans, are incredibly excited about the potential in former-rookie running back Jordan Howard. The fifth-round selection, out of Indiana, finished the season second in rushing and he only had 252 carries averaging 5.2 yard per. That total was better than Ezekiel Elliott, the NFL’s leading rusher, who carved defenses up for 5.1 yards per carry on 322 total attempts.

Originally expected to split carries with Jeremy Langford, Howard quickly rose to the top of Chicago’s depth chart and stayed there. On his way to breaking Matt Forte’s franchise rookie rushing record, Howard finished the season strong with two 100 yard games and had seven total.  He also chipped in seven touchdowns and only fumbled the ball twice.

During the 2016 draft, Howard was said to be just like Arian Foster who was his official profile comparison. Scouted to have great vision and the ability to run through arm tacklers, Howard was considered one of the “most pure running backs” in the entire draft class. One of the biggest differences between Howard, the 150th overall pick, and Elliott, the fourth overall pick, was speed. At the NFL combine Elliott turned in a 4.47 second 40 yard dash which was over a tenth of a second faster than Howard’s 4.59….

But, remember that whole pure running back thing we were talking about? NFL.com recently revealed something truly amazing about Howard’s performance last season.

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