MVN - Most Valuable Network

Scoop Jackson Interview: Bulls 2008-09 season

I was 18, I had realized college was an option. I had no direction as to what I wanted to do, but I had a deep passion for fashion, shoes and of course the game of basketball. I had always been considered a good writer but never considered it because I never seen anything that let me know I could be as creative as I want, still tell the story and be able to make a career of those passions. Making it to the NBA straight out of high school was out the question for me and I needed to find that SOMETHING that would give me a push.

I had been reading the words of Scoop Jackson since Inside Stuff magazine. For some reason, I would always save his articles for last. Maybe it was a connection, but I truly loved his work.

SLAM issue #69 came to my house, I gazed at the cover as Steve Francis and Yao Ming stared back at me in retro Houston Rockets jerseys. I than began to flip through the pages to see who had written what article. I arrives at page 64, to find a piece on Ricky Davis who was than the lone man on a Cleveland Cavaliers team B.L. (Before LeBron.) I won’t even try to explain it in words, what his words did to me, I’ll just say, all he was missing was a smooth beat over them.

Scoop had lit the way for me and I would be going towards the world of Journalism.

To be able to interview him was a pleasure for me as he is truly an inspiration for me. I am forever grateful that he took the time to answer my questions and I’m glad I could bring it to Bull Riding. Without further delay, ESPN columnist, Scoop Jackson:

What will the Bulls need to do to get back into the postseason?

Scoop: Play better! (Laugh). Naw, seriously, I’m of the belief that what the Bulls needed to do to make themselves better, they didn’t do. Yes, Derrick Rose is special and he probably will by himself win them 10 more games, but the Bulls were the worst shooting team in the NBA last season with no inside scoring. That hasn’t changed and they didn’t do anything over the summer to make that change.
So to answer your question… I don’t think they will make the playoffs.

Will the inexperience of first time coach, Vinny Del Negro work for or against the team?

Scoop: Neither. I don’t think there’s anything Vinny Del Negro can do that will make a great difference in the Bulls last year and what he’ll have to deal with this year. Hopefully with Luol (Deng) signed and with Ben (Gordon) probably gone through trade, Del Negro won’t have to deal with some of the drama that comes with a team when big-time players play without contract security. The only thing that might be something that becomes a problem for Vinnie is whether or not the young players listen to him. The Bulls in theory are still a young team. I’ve learned it’s easier for veterans to listen to what young coaches are trying to instill. Let’s just hope for Vinnie, that doesn’t apply to his team.

How much will they miss Ben Gordon?

Scoop: It all depends on who they get in return. Good trades work both ways for both teams (or three ways if there’s a third team involved). If the right trade (like to Utah for AK47 or if they had beaten Philly to the punch and gotten Elton Brand from the Clippers) comes along they, won’t miss him as much. Now, keep in mind, the Bulls will REALLY  miss Ben Gordon if they don’t make a move and wind up losing him and getting nothing in return. which might still happen.
How important was the summer of Derrick Rose (The struggles during summer league and playing against the Redeem Team) and how should that help him this season?

Scoop:I don’t put too much weight on the impact this summer will have on Pooh. Pooh is a ball player though and through. The summer is what it is going to be: the off-season. When the ball gets tossed up and the season begins, he’ll be fine, mentally and physically. Will he have the same rookie issues that Kevin Durant had? Yes. And that has nothing to do with the struggles he went through during the summer.
Is this the year that Tyrus Thomas finally breaks out?

Scoop:I want to say yes, but I’m not sure. All I know is that — and I’ve heard this from people affiliated with the Bulls — he has to dedicate himself to the game before anything great happens to and for him. I don’t know how much he worked on improving his game over the off-season and I don’t know (because I haven’t personally talked to him) how great he wants to be in the League. But one thing I can say, I watched Michael Beasley take Tyrus and Joakim (Noah) for 28 points and 9 rebounds in 23 minutes in his first NBA game during the summer League. That right there shows and tells me that he might get broke off instead of breaking out.
 
Once again Mr. Jackson thank you for all your help. This means a great deal to me.

Scoop:Anytime, my man. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Where is the Love?

The first time I seen Kobe Bryant in action was in 1997 during a Saturday morning on Inside Stuff. They were showing his exploits from that years Dunk Contest, in which he won. I was astounded, but it wasn’t until the next season, December 17 to be exact, when the Los Angeles Lakers came to the United Center and I watched the above performance that I became an admirer, student and fan of Kobe.

To go toe-to-toe with Michael Jordan was one thing, being 19 and WANTING to go toe-to-toe with Jordan was something completely different. Kobe would finish that game with 33 points and Jordan with 36.

When I was 19, I was working a cafeteria job at Northern Illinois University, trying to maintain good grades, surviving off Ramen noodles and somehow managing to have money for shoes and bills.

As I write this, it is early morning in Beijing. The Olympics have come and gone. Names like Phelps and Bolt are now sitting atop the record books.

My main focus of the Olympics was the quest of the Men’s basketball team to reclaim the gold medal. I was amazed with the popularity of basketball in China and how the athletes were accepted.

Yes, the Gold medal medal is back in the United States because of teamwork and a dedication that was instilled by director Jerry Colangelo and overseen by coach Mike Krzyzewski. But, you couldn’t help notice how one player still stood out amongst all of the players.

“Me and LeBron were joking about this,” teammate Carmelo Anthony said. “We thought we had popularity over here until Kobe came. I think they are just excited to see him, being a part of Team USA Basketball and not being affiliated.”

I saw it, the media saw it and even his Olympic teammates. It got me to thinking, why isn’t Kobe as accepted in the United States as he is abroad?

For maybe the first time in his career, Kobe Bryant was generally accepted by everyone. He wasn’t giving your home team 40, he wasn’t drilling turn around jumpers, reverse dunking or breaking down your favorite player. He was playing stingy defense on the opposing teams best player, hitting spot-up jump shots and breaking zone defenses for OUR country.

The Gold medal game against Spain was a very competitive one. Everytime Team USA looked like they were about to runaway with the game, Spain made smart plays and either found their way to the rim or wide open from the three.

This continued into the 4th quarter, where Spain would cut a 13 point deficit to two, with about six minutes to go. Coach K would take a time out and give Kobe these words;

“He told me to let that mamba loose, and that’s what I was able to do,” Bryant said. He would be involved in almost every play afterwards.

Bryant returned to hit a short jumper, find an open Deron Williams for a three-pointer, assist to Dwight Howard, for a 98-89 lead.

Bryant went on to make a three-point shot for a 101-92 lead and then hit another contested three with Rudy Fernandez fouling him and out of the game. After the shot, Kobe stood facing the Spanish fans, quieting them and in the process crushing Spain’s spirit.

Bryant drove the lane hard for a one-hander that gave the U.S. a 113-105 cushion with 71 seconds to go and sank a pair of free throws after Spain was assessed two technical fouls with 26 seconds left.

Redemption complete.

For the Kobe haters, as you found yourself cheering in that fourth quarter, did you ask yourself Why haven’t I been appreciating this? That 6 minutes that you found yourself sitting on the edge of your seat hoping that 3-4 years of preparations were for nothing, when you felt pressure so tight, you felt you had to go to the washroom, Kobe stepped up and did what he has been doing for 12 years. Never on that stage mind you, but in front of our eyes for the longest.

Still the question will remain in my head, How can the greatest player in today’s game be more loved in China, when he has given us so much more?

Challenge vs. Obstacle

Challenge: something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort.

Obstacle: something that obstructs or hinders progress.

In life, we are faced with a variety of challenges. It could be waking up on time to get to work, or completing a difficult homework assignment. All challenges are met with some form of obstacle. This could be fatigue, physical or mental, or simply due to lack of preparation.

I have found out that in most of these situations, I am my own obstacle as well as in the cases of many that I know. I have always dedicated myself from learning from past mistakes and being patient with decision making.

You may wonder what this has to do with Chicago Bulls basketball; all but the last sentence has everything to do with this video. The video is of someone faced with a great challenge and dealing with a even bigger obstacle. It also happens to be my favorite Bulls performance EVER.

Keep in mind that when most of us have an illness, we call off or use it as an excuse as to why we aren’t performing at a higher level, or performing at all. This is a performance that never can be duplicated. I have heard of players playing with a common cold or food sickness, but the STORY behind the game is even more telling.

I think about this game if there is ever a moment when I feel like making an excuse for anything I’m supposed to be doing.

A Dream Deferred

He was quick, had a ridiculous handle, maybe even Chris Paul before he became CP3. Money, fame, endorsements were on their way faster than he could break through a 2-3 zone, than it all left.

I first heard his name during my junior year at Charles P. Steinmetz Academic Centre, (you see fellow STREAKS, I can make it sound good.) The name Jason Williams was in everyone’s mind when discussing NCAA basketball.

I rarely watched college basketball when it came on television, but I always turned in during tournament time. During that 2001 season as he led the Duke Blue Devils to a national championship, it seemed he could do no wrong. Feats like THIS were just part of the allure of Jason Williams.

Adding to that, he would earn a degree in sociology in 3 years and forgo another year of eligibility to enter 2002 NBA Draft.

With all that he accomplished in 3 years at Duke, ACC Rookie of the Year, National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News, 2001 NCAA National Championship, NABC Player of the Year honors, winner of the Naismith and Wooden Award as College Basketball’s Player of the Year in 2002, his presence would be overshadowed by a 7′6 center from China.

After being passed over by the Houston Rockets with the first pick, Williams (now known as Jay to prevent confusion with Jason and Jayson) was selected by the Chicago Bulls.

He did go on to compete in the 2002 FIBA games and after a disappointing sixth place, he would return to the Bulls where he would be in a head-to-head competition with Jamal Crawford. He would win the battle starting most of the games, but like all rookie point guards, he would have some inconsistencies.

 He would have his struggles, he couldn’t knock down his three-pointer with the same regularity he did in college, his free-throw shooting wasn’t what you wanted from a starting point guard, he did show glimpses of being a star as well. He posted a triple double against Jason Kidd in a home game win over the New Jersey Nets with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. On top of that he was selected to the Schick Rookie vs. Sophomore Game, his rivalry with Gilbert Arenas is also worth mentioning.

As the season progressed, Williams got better and with a young core of him, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler and Crawford, the Bulls were one of the best teams to watch. With a year under his belt, Williams would only be better during his second year, but after one crucial mistake, he would almost have his love and his life taken away from him.

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