"The Last Dance" open thread

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Like anyone is going to be doing anything else tomorrow at 8:00...

[🏀]

Pretty much the highlight of the spring.

Let's. Go.

[MU82]

What is the all-time, most-watched ESPN (non-live-sports) telecast?

Given the hype and the fact that there's nothing else sports-related for folks to watch, this has a chance to break all records.

I'm looking forward to it. I have a lot of memories of that season, and I am very curious to see how it's all presented.

[4everwarriors]

Alweys luved Donna Summer's voice, hey?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

What is the all-time, most-watched ESPN (non-live-sports) telecast?

Given the hype and the fact that there's nothing else sports-related for folks to watch, this has a chance to break all records.

I'm looking forward to it. I have a lot of memories of that season, and I am very curious to see how it's all presented.

Will we see a young MU82 patrolling the Bulls locker room for a quote?

[cheebs09]

What is the all-time, most-watched ESPN (non-live-sports) telecast?

Given the hype and the fact that there's nothing else sports-related for folks to watch, this has a chance to break all records.

I'm looking forward to it. I have a lot of memories of that season, and I am very curious to see how it's all presented.

The OJ doc has to be up there right?

[Warrior Code]

As a kid who grew up in Illinois and worshipped the Bulls, I can't wait for this

[Galway Eagle]

I wish Michael Jordan's restaurant (the OG one) was still open so I could order from there while I watch this.

[wadesworld]

Hearing Jordan may have been a fan of the booger sugar. We'll see what comes out.

[The Sultan]

Krause would be in the Hall of Fame if not for his ego. Should be there anyway.

[Lennys Tap]

Krause would be in the Hall of Fame if not for his ego. Should be there anyway.

Pippin was a stroke of genius. Lots of other solid moves along the way (Grant, Cartwright, Kukoc, Rodman, etc.,)

On the minus side, his rebuild efforts were a disaster.

But he still should be in the Hall.

[Dish]

My old boss at the Bulls Joe O'Neil makes an appearance!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Jordan = GOAT

[Pakuni]

Dibs on Traveling Cocaine Circus as the name for my fantasy football team.

[dgies9156]

Honestly, for most of the country, this may have been exciting. But for anyone who was an adult (or near adult) in Chicago from 1980 until the Last Dance, nothing is new.

The constant beating on Jerry Krause was a bit much. Krause was Reisdorf's bad cop and he wasn't a bad general manager. There's some truth to the "organizations win championships," comment because the organization has to put a team on the court worthy of the talent Jordan was.

What an organization can do was evident when the Bulls made their first playoff run in Jordan's second year. Jordan put up fantastic numbers against the Celtics, but the Bulls lost. When Krause got Scottie Pippin, Cartwright, et al and later, Rodman, he put a team together that could win.

And it was Pippin who signed that ridiculously stupid deal that left him badly underpaid. He had no one to blame but his agent and himself.

Overall, a C+ production. Way too choppy and spent too much of the second show focused on Jordan rather than Pippin.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Honestly, for most of the country, this may have been exciting. But for anyone who was an adult (or near adult) in Chicago from 1980 until the Last Dance, nothing is new.

The constant beating on Jerry Krause was a bit much. Krause was Reisdorf's bad cop and he wasn't a bad general manager. There's some truth to the "organizations win championships," comment because the organization has to put a team on the court worthy of the talent Jordan was.

What an organization can do was evident when the Bulls made their first playoff run in Jordan's second year. Jordan put up fantastic numbers against the Celtics, but the Bulls lost. When Krause got Scottie Pippin, Cartwright, et al and later, Rodman, he put a team together that could win.

And it was Pippin who signed that ridiculously stupid deal that left him badly underpaid. He had no one to blame but his agent and himself.

Overall, a C+ production. Way too choppy and spent too much of the second show focused on Jordan rather than Pippin.

[real chili 83]

When are the next episodes?

[MUDPT]

When are the next episodes?

Next Sunday.

MU connection, Wes Matthews was on the "Traveling Cocaine Circus."

Agree that a lot of it is review, but a lot of it is stuff I haven't thought about in 20+ years.

Also, Reinsdorf is lucky that Krause has passed away, as he rolls the bus over him.

[StillAWarrior]

Honestly, for most of the country, this may have been exciting. But for anyone who was an adult (or near adult) in Chicago from 1980 until the Last Dance, nothing is new.


Overall, a C+ production. Way too choppy and spent too much of the second show focused on Jordan rather than Pippin.

Gotta admit, I'm not far off your opinion.  I'd give it something better than C+, but I also thought it was really scattershot and didn't tread any particularly new ground.  I'll still watch...but I wasn't overly impressed with last night's episodes.

[The Sultan]

Honestly, for most of the country, this may have been exciting. But for anyone who was an adult (or near adult) in Chicago from 1980 until the Last Dance, nothing is new.

The constant beating on Jerry Krause was a bit much. Krause was Reisdorf's bad cop and he wasn't a bad general manager. There's some truth to the "organizations win championships," comment because the organization has to put a team on the court worthy of the talent Jordan was.

What an organization can do was evident when the Bulls made their first playoff run in Jordan's second year. Jordan put up fantastic numbers against the Celtics, but the Bulls lost. When Krause got Scottie Pippin, Cartwright, et al and later, Rodman, he put a team together that could win.

And it was Pippin who signed that ridiculously stupid deal that left him badly underpaid. He had no one to blame but his agent and himself.

Overall, a C+ production. Way too choppy and spent too much of the second show focused on Jordan rather than Pippin.

Yes.  ESPN shouldn't have devoted 10 hours to the most iconic sports figure of the last half-century, but to the second best player on the team.

[The Sultan]

Pippin was a stroke of genius. Lots of other solid moves along the way (Grant, Cartwright, Kukoc, Rodman, etc.,)

On the minus side, his rebuild efforts were a disaster.

But he still should be in the Hall.

Yeah they were a disaster.  And way too premature.  He should have just rode it out until it didn't work, but he didn't have the ego to do that.

Unfortunately he's no longer alive for us to hear his current point of view.

[cheebs09]

Yeah they were a disaster.  And way too premature.  He should have just rode it out until it didn't work, but he didn't have the ego to do that.

Unfortunately he's no longer alive for us to hear his current point of view.

I'll look for it, but I heard an interview with Krause before he died. It might have been on Richard Deitsch's podcast. It was interesting. I may re-listen to it based on The Last Dance. I believe he defended his decisions by it being money driven and people being ready to move on.

It was with Woj. I think I listened to it last year, so my synopsis might not be right, but below is the link.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/826787212423475201?s=21

[dgies9156]

Yes.  ESPN shouldn't have devoted 10 hours to the most iconic sports figure of the last half-century, but to the second best player on the team.

Brother Fluff:

No doubt Jordan was someone special in the game of basketball. Also, no doubt he is a global icon in a way no other US sports figure has been, to date.

But gee, one also can argue that he is one of the most over-exposed sports celebrities I've ever seen. When he was with the Bulls, he couldn't go to the bathroom without a horde of reporters following him. His every move, from gambling habits to divorce, has been over-exposed by the media.

He's also one of the most financially savvy of athletes I've ever seen. The man is about making money, which I admire. He was shrewd enough to retain control over his image for so long that he had control over when all of this was released. I admire his ability to do that, but geez, is there anything about Jordan we don't already know?

Ask Brother MU. He knows!

[The Sultan]

Brother Fluff:

No doubt Jordan was someone special in the game of basketball. Also, no doubt he is a global icon in a way no other US sports figure has been, to date.

But gee, one also can argue that he is one of the most over-exposed sports celebrities I've ever seen. When he was with the Bulls, he couldn't go to the bathroom without a horde of reporters following him. His every move, from gambling habits to divorce, has been over-exposed by the media.

He's also one of the most financially savvy of athletes I've ever seen. The man is about making money, which I admire. He was shrewd enough to retain control over his image for so long that he had control over when all of this was released. I admire his ability to do that, but geez, is there anything about Jordan we don't already know?

Ask Brother MU. He knows!

We?  Not really.  It was pure nostalgia.

My twenty-something year old kids?  Yeah, there was a lot they don't know.

[wadesworld]

We are 20% of the way through the series. The first two episodes were giving people the background. Even as a diehard basketball fan I'm personally glad they did. I'm guessing there is some juicer content to come.