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The best part about the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game Thursday night (Feb. 21) at the United Center? Well, for your humble correspondent, it was being able to make it home before the snow hit the Chicago area. For the Bulls, it likely was being able to dress quickly after their 86-67 loss, go to the airport, get out of town and land safely in Charlotte, N.C., for Friday night’s game against the Bobcats.
Ariel Meredith looks good in a bikini — even if it is painted on.
Yes, sometimes we set the bar fairly low.
And if all that doesn’t work for you, there is the simple fact that the game was of secondary concern to Bulls fans. Of greater significance was a remark by Reggie Rose, older brother of Bulls guard Derrick Rose.
Reggie told ESPNChicago.com of the Bulls’ failure to make any deals at Thursday’s trade deadline:
“What have you pieced together? Have you made any moves? Have you made any trades to get better? You know all roads to the championship lead through Miami. What pieces have you put together for the physical playoffs?
“Joakim Noah is a great player. Luol Deng is a great player. But you need more than that. You have to put together pieces to your main piece. The players can only do so much. It’s up to the organization to make them better.”
Derrick issue issued a statement through the team before Thursday’s game:
“I have always felt that the Bulls organization’s goals have been the same as mine and that is to bring another championship to this city.”
“It’s frustrating to see my brother play his heart and soul out for the team and them not put anything around him,” Reggie Rose said.
“Obviously, Reggie and Derrick are very close,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We share the same concerns about Derrick’s health, so that’s not anything new. So it’s not a big deal. And Reggie’s entitled to his own opinion.”
Thousands of words will be written and/or spoken to tell you what this all means. Whether D-Rose is unhappy and ultimately will play for another franchise. What the motive for Regie was to make such a declaration. And so on.
The reality — from the Bulls’ perspective — is this: Miami is a better ballcub. And that is with Rose healed from surgery on his left knee and returning to the team as good as he was when he exited during the playoffs last season. Whether that means Rose returns this season or next is almost immaterial.
LeBron James is playing better than he ever has (11-of-15 from the field vs. the Bulls in scoring a game-high 26 points). The reigning MVP is well on his way to earning another such trophy.
“LeBron is a great player, and the game is very easy for him,” Thibodeau said. “With a guy like that, you try to make him work for his points. … If you do that, you’re going to be in position to challenge him. We gifted him too many points.”
And Miami can play defense. The Bulls had 26 turnovers — 17 in the first half. And, yes, some of those turnovers were more self-inflicted than a result of determined defense. But the Bulls still made them. At times, the Bulls were making one pass too many rather than take a shot.
“We clogged up the paint, and that was one of the things we wanted to do,” said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who had 17 points.
“When you turn the ball over like that, you put [James] in the open, and you’re asking for trouble,” Thibodeau said. “You are not going to be successful against a team like that.”
“Having [guard Kirk] Hinrich out of the lineup [sore right elbow] helped our defense out,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They are not as efficient with him missing.”
One of the few times that the crowd had something to cheer about was when guard Nate Robinson’s hard foul left James limping momentarily.
That’s what you cheer for? A player to be injured? Really?
Imagine something like that happening to Michael Jordan during his Bulls career and Detroit Pistons fans — or any team’s — doing that. Imagine the outrage from Bulls fans at such boorish behavior.
Anyone who roots for injuries needs to re-examine his/her priorities. Sure you paid your money to go to the game, and you can act pretty much any way you want. But since when does buying a ticket entitle you to leaving common decency at home?
That kind of behavior is a worse reflection on the Bulls than any failure to add talent to the roster. Something says even Reggie Rose would have to agree with that.
OK, how about some more 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue video? Well, it certainly beats looking at all the fallen snow or just about anything else:
Christina Clausen, Staci Boyer and Caryn Paolini will be at the Arnold Sports Festival.
The latest edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris is available on podcast. The Feb. 21 show features Pro Football Hall of Famer John Randle and a pair of lovely ladies who will be participating in the Arnold Sports Festival. Christina Clausen is going to Columbus, Ohio for the annual event and compete in the open figure category. Caryn Paolini is scheduled to be in the Bikini A event. The Arnold runs Feb. 28-March 3. Caryn also is among the 12 finalists in the Rock Star Bikini Contest to be held Feb. 28 in Columbus. Both women are members of Team F.A.B., which has Staci Boyer and Sandy Rowe Wiedmeyer running the show quite nicely. For those who missed the Feb. 21 show (and/or for those who would like to enjoy an encore), you can click here.
OK, here is where we go for some video. And, once again, the video research department at elliottharris.com is not about to let you down.
This site’s good friend April Rose is back — finally — with another episode of “Maximum Exposure.”
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