The year 1999 saw the NBA season cut in half due to player and owner negotiations breaking down, but the season was over before it even started for Bulls fans. Despite coming off their sixth NBA title and second NBA 3 peat, the Bulls were beyond destroyed from within. Head coach Phil Jackson was on the way out the door due to not receiving a contract extension, despite leading the team to all six of its NBA titles. The teams core shipped out one by one; Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley, and Steve Kerr were all leaving in sign and trade deals. Dennis Rodman and Jud Buechler had left the team via free agency after the Bulls failed to make an offer to either of the two. Then the move that cut the hearts out of every Bulls fans hearts across America. Perhaps the greatest player ever, Michael Jordan, retired for the second time in the last decade. As quickly as they came the roster that had sold out every game at the United Center throughout the last six years was gone, and Bulls fans where left with a void, an empty feeling, a feeling of anger, betrayal, and depression. Bulls fans looked for answers wherever they could find them. They looked to any possible resource for an answer (ESPN, Bulls management, Dr. Phil). However, they were left with more questions than ever after hearing the explanation that they were being given. A team who had been once bound for greatness was broken up due to greed, ego, and a sense of disrespect amidst the Bulls front office. The general manager had started the breakup at the time, Jerry Krause, who felt he had not gotten the credit they deserved for building the Bulls championship rosters. Krause, blinded by his own animosity and ego, fed his desire for respect by not offering contracts to the people who were truly responsible for the success, namely Phil Jackson. Who had he been resigned (Jackson) the rest would have stayed. In the lockout-shortened season the Bulls finished with a record of 13-37, very different from their 62-20 record less than a year ago. Out of the ashes came hope as the Bulls came into the 99-00' season with a rookie sensation named Elton Brand. Brand, labeled a rookie of the year candidate from the moment his name was first called in the draft, did not fail to deliver as he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds. However, Bulls fans suffered through another disappointing season as their beloved team finished with a record of 17-65. In the 00-01 season, it became painfully clear that Krause's plan to rebuild the Bulls, and in the process gain the respect he always dreamed of, was a failure. The Bulls endured their worst season in franchise history. However, Krause would not relinquish his position for yet one more season. What harm could one more season do? That is probably what Bulls fans thought at the time. Well, Krause in a last ditch effort to turn the franchise around would make a move that would haunt Bulls fans until this very day. Jerry Krause would trade former rookie of the year, Elton Brand, to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future first round pick, a young big man out of high school named Tyson Chandler. Krause would also take local big man Eddy Curry, and with that establish what many at the time saw as the future twin towers that would lead the Bulls back to glory. Sounded like a good plan, but let us flash forward a little. Five years later Jerry Krause is gone, as is any player he ever brought to the franchise. After Paxson took over for Jerry Krause, he managed in two seasons to turn the Bulls into a playoff team, something Krause struggled to do the previous three years. Eddy Curry is now a Knickerbocker, traded for a future first round pick (Tyrus Thomas), Tim Thomas, and Michael Sweetney. Tyson Chandler would stay a season longer than Curry, but leave in the same matter, shipped to New Orleans for exchange for PJ Brown and swingman JR Smith. That brings us to the present. The Bulls now mentioned as contenders again, after nearly seven years of being cellar dwellers having landed the prize free agent of the 06' free agent class and four-time defensive player of the year, Ben Wallace. The Bulls are widely considered a preseason favorite to contend for a spot in the NBA finals. Throughout all of it, Bulls fans never lost faith. Enduring losing season after losing season the Bulls fans still showed up and sold out the United Center night in and night out, and now their loyalty rewarded. A young team whom unlike many these days still believe in playing defense and working on the fundamentals, a young coach who has molded this team into his very persona. The Bulls fans have witnessed it all through the last decade overwhelming joy, pain, and betrayal. Now we hope to feel that overwhelming joy one more time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Did you write that BKS? </div> Yeah, it was my tryout article for the writing team...
How old are you again BKS? 30? Anyways, great article and a terrific read. I feel great for all of the Bulls fans who have stuck through the tough times. Considering the relative young age of this team, we can very well see a birth of another Dynasty.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">How old are you again BKS? 30? </div> I ask myself that same question sometimes.
Great work BKS. I think that we have great fans here in Chicago because we stick with our teams when they are going through rough times and also when they are winning. I can't wait for this upcoming season to see what we can do.
Nicely done and a good read my friend. Here are a few mistakes for professional purposes on writing articles. I thought you would really like to see some of these mistakes I found. Revise it and propose it; then you should be good to go for the writing team. Despite coming off their sixth NBA title<font color=""Red""> (no need for a comma here)</font> and second NBA 3 peat, the Bulls were beyond destroyed from within. The teams core shipped out one by one<font color=""Red"">; (use a semi-colin here)</font><font color=""red""> Pippen, Longley, and Kerr (try to use all surnames) </font><font color=""red""><font color=""Red"">were (not "where")</font></font> all leaving in sign and trade deals. As quickly as they came <font color=""Red"">(no need for a comma)</font> the roster that had sold out every game at the United Center throughout the last six years was gone, and Bulls fans where left with a void, <font color=""red"">an empty feeling of anger, betrayal, and depression.</font> <font color=""red"">(placing it together like this makes more sense)</font> <font color=""red"">Bulls (do not write as Bull's) </font>fans looked for answers wherever they could find them. Krause, blinded by his own animosity and ego, <font color=""red"">(use a comma here)</font> fed his desire for respect by not offering contracts to the people who were <font color=""red"">(not "where")</font> truly responsible for the success, namely Phil Jackson. In the lockout-shortened season <font color=""Red"">(no need for a comma)</font> the Bulls finished with a record of 13-37<font color=""red"">, (use a comma here instead)</font> very different from their 62-20 record less than a year ago. Brand, labeled a rookie of the year candidate from the moment his name was first called in the draft, did not fail to deliver as he averaged <font color=""Red"">20 and 10. (this is fine but also refer as to what you're writing of for those that don't understand in this way [points and rebounds])</font> However, Bulls fans suffered through another disappointing season as their beloved <font color=""red"">team (no need for "Bulls" twice in a sentance)</font> finished with a record of 17-65. Well<font color=""Red"">, (use a comma here) </font>Krause in a last ditch effort to turn the franchise around would make a move that would haunt Bulls fans until this very day. <font color=""red"">Jerry Krause would trade former rookie of the year, and at the time the best player on the Bulls team, Elton Brand, to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future first round pick, a young big man out of high school named Tyson Chandler. </font> <font color=""red"">(this sentance is too long and cluttered; consider revising it) </font> That brings <font color=""red"">the Bulls franchise (you don't want to present yourself as professional as a fan of the particular team) </font> to the present. A young team whom unlike many these days still believe in playing defense and working on the fundamentals<font color=""red"">, a</font> <font color=""red"">(be sure to check for spaces between periods and commas)</font> young coach who has molded this team into his very persona.
In France I did for a while. I'm also an admin at the Wiki. That's not to poke fun this article at all, we all make mistakes. This was a good read and a nice submission to the writing team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting M Two One:</div><div class="quote_post">Nicely done and a good read my friend. Here are a few mistakes for professional purposes on writing articles. I thought you would really like to see some of these mistakes I found. Revise it and propose it; then you should be good to go for the writing team. Despite coming off their sixth NBA title<font color=""Red""> (no need for a comma here)</font> and second NBA 3 peat, the Bulls were beyond destroyed from within. The teams core shipped out one by one<font color=""Red"">; (use a semi-colin here)</font><font color=""red""> Pippen, Longley, and Kerr (try to use all surnames) </font><font color=""red""><font color=""Red"">were (not "where")</font></font> all leaving in sign and trade deals. As quickly as they came <font color=""Red"">(no need for a comma)</font> the roster that had sold out every game at the United Center throughout the last six years was gone, and Bulls fans where left with a void, <font color=""red"">an empty feeling of anger, betrayal, and depression.</font> <font color=""red"">(placing it together like this makes more sense)</font> <font color=""red"">Bulls (do not write as Bull's) </font>fans looked for answers wherever they could find them. Krause, blinded by his own animosity and ego, <font color=""red"">(use a comma here)</font> fed his desire for respect by not offering contracts to the people who were <font color=""red"">(not "where")</font> truly responsible for the success, namely Phil Jackson. In the lockout-shortened season <font color=""Red"">(no need for a comma)</font> the Bulls finished with a record of 13-37<font color=""red"">, (use a comma here instead)</font> very different from their 62-20 record less than a year ago. Brand, labeled a rookie of the year candidate from the moment his name was first called in the draft, did not fail to deliver as he averaged <font color=""Red"">20 and 10. (this is fine but also refer as to what you're writing of for those that don't understand in this way [points and rebounds])</font> However, Bulls fans suffered through another disappointing season as their beloved <font color=""red"">team (no need for "Bulls" twice in a sentance)</font> finished with a record of 17-65. Well<font color=""Red"">, (use a comma here) </font>Krause in a last ditch effort to turn the franchise around would make a move that would haunt Bulls fans until this very day. <font color=""red"">Jerry Krause would trade former rookie of the year, and at the time the best player on the Bulls team, Elton Brand, to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future first round pick, a young big man out of high school named Tyson Chandler. </font> <font color=""red"">(this sentance is too long and cluttered; consider revising it) </font> That brings <font color=""red"">the Bulls franchise (you don't want to present yourself as professional as a fan of the particular team) </font> to the present. A young team whom unlike many these days still believe in playing defense and working on the fundamentals<font color=""red"">, a</font> <font color=""red"">(be sure to check for spaces between periods and commas)</font> young coach who has molded this team into his very persona.</div> Thanks for the tips M Two One always good to see what you did wrong only going to make you better. This was just a submission to get in not a front page worthy article. I apologize for some of the mistakes careless on my part expect better next time. Anyway, much thanks to everyone for the complements/feedback. BTW: Errors fixed thanks M Two One.
This was a good read It's interesting to read about how teams were destroyed then can come back and be a force in their respective division and conference and possibly even the entire league. Written well and it was very informative as I haven't been a Bulls fan for that long lol. Good stuff!
That was some good writing. Hat's off to you. A lot of good points there. The Fans patience will be re-paid. The Bulls of the 90's were incredible, not enough words to describe them. They really were InvinciBULLS! 6 titles in a decade, that will be difficult to top. The bulls had the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan. What more could the city of Chicago ask. Paxson has been making good moves and fans will be able to see it soon. The fans patience will pay off. The fans can think of the last 7 years as giving the other teams a chance.
