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A 21-foot jump shot in the second quarter Tuesday night (Dec. 18) against the Boston Celtics at the United Center. Under normal circumstances, Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah would have celebrated making that field-goal attempt with a gun-themed pantomime.
Loop Rock Girl 2013 Shannon will be on Thursday’s “Sports & Torts” on talkzone.com — though, sadly, not in this outfit. Perhaps next time.
But these are not normal circumstances. Not since Friday when a gunman killed 26 people — including 20 children — at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. So there was no taking two imaginary six-shooters out of an imaginary holster. There was no pretending to shoot the pretend pistols and then put them back in the holster.
A gun-control advocate, Noah — who posted the second triple-double of his career (11 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) in a 100-89 Bulls victory — said he began the celebration during the 2010-11 season.
“I started doing it in practice,” he said. “I hit a jump shot in Keith Bogans’ face, and I started doing [it] and kept doing it. It was kind of a funny, comical thing, but I guess we’re in a situation right now where it’s not funny.
“You can’t joke around with things like that. Too many people are dying because of guns. We have a problem here with guns, so just trying to be a little bit compassionate about what’s going on. You can’t joke around; it’s not a laughing matter anymore.
“I think it’s what happened in Connecticut that was really shocking to a lot of people, but things like that have been going on. We have a serious problem with that in Chicago. It’s crazy, man. … This gun thing in this country is no joke.
“I think after the thing happened in Connecticut, somebody said something. I had never really thought about it like that. Then when somebody said it, it made me a little bit conscious about it. Just try to be compassionate to those who were affected.”
One would have to think that those affected — directly and indirectly — should include most caring people. And even some non-caring types as well.
For those less interested in the basketball and more interested in the entertainment portion of the program at Bulls games, we have the lovely Luvabulls dance team and the Swingin’ Seniors in action Tuesday:
If it’s Wednesday (and chances are pretty good that it is — based on the fact that yesterday was Tuesday and tomorrow is Thursday, provided that you actually are reading this today or a subsequent Wednesday), then we are ever so close to another edition of “Sports & Torts.” The interview program, co-hosted by David Spada and Elliott Harris, is available live on Thursdays at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com.
The Dec. 20 show will be the last new “Sports & Torts” of 2012; it will feature 2013 Loop Rock Girl Shannon, plus Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Dierdorf and Steve Largent.
As good as the Dierdorf and Largent interviews might be, something says the interview with Shannon is the one that will be worth the price of admission — which, come to think of it, is free. A bargain at twice the price.
Here is some video of Shannon (not from “Sports & Torts” but still worth a look):
OK, there’s always rom for some gratuitous (although the editorial staff at elliottharris.com does not view these as such) video:
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