MVN - Most Valuable Network

Subplots to get you ready for the season: Joakim Noah

I left off my last post discussing the possibility of Joakim Noah wrestling the starting power forward position from Tyrus Thomas. While that may or may not be a good thing for the Bulls team, it will definitely take some adjusts for me, because I couldn’t stand Noah at Florida.

From the reaction that I heard from many Bulls fans as soon as he held up the peace sign, while shaking hands with the Commissioner David Stern, I don’t think that I am the only one.

The moans, groans, and “Aww, man, I can’t stand that guy” from the guys surrounding me at Wrigley Field during the draft, were as disappointing as Noah’s goofy smile and bowtie was clown-like.

Saying that, I think that all Bulls fans are willing to give him a chance, and most of us will probably end up loving the rookie from Florida.

My opinion of Noah slightly shifted after an interview with WSCR 670 the Score’s Boers and Bernstein on July, 2. He held his own, even after co-host Terry Boers told Noah, “I probably fall closer to the hater category.”

Boers told Noah that “I’m willing to try to learn to like you better,” and I agree. I’m excited to watch him this season and see if he can change my mind.

It seems like Noah is the type of player that people hate to play against, and his exuberant personality makes it easy for opposing fans to hate, but when he is on your side his toughness and effort may make him impossible to dislike.

I don’t know if all the dancing and talking Noah does during post-game interviews will ever rub off on me, but I’ll look past his goofiness if he is helping the Bulls win.

A lot of reports coming from the Berto Center say that Noah will do just that, and may significant time away from Thomas.

Drafting Noah was a downside to the Bulls off-season to me, but I can’t wait to give him the chance to change my mind.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2007 at 1:39 pm and is filed under David Stern, Boers and Bernstein, Joakim Noah, University of Florida, Kobe Bryant, Tyrus Thomas, Chicago Bulls. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.