I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

[JohnDoe8865]

Other than when Charlotte was in the playoffs vs Boston in 1993, and then the series with the Knicks that same year, I've never wanted a team to win so badly as I did those 1998 Jazz in the Finals vs Chicago.

It really just brought back all of those emotions as I've been watching NBA TV all day. They've been showing all of the Jordan Bulls Championships, and the final games of the series' with LAL, POR, PHO, SEA, UTAH (2). I can't believe after 11 years I am still so emotionally charged as I have been watching the 98 Finals game.

The 90s Bulls were probably the easiest to hate, best villians (or heroes in Chicago) that I've ever seen and that includes the late 80s Pistons.

[AlexBrady]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

Karl Malone gave new meaning to the phrase: "He who chokes last, chokes first".

[JohnDoe8865]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

I'm still pissed that MJ got away with that pushoff on Brian Russell. Russell had really held his shooting % down. Even though he had 45 pts, MJ took 35 shots.

[Muzyk23]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

I'm still pissed that MJ got away with that pushoff on Brian Russell. Russell had really held his shooting % down. Even though he had 45 pts, MJ took 35 shots.

even Russell alone admitted it wasn't a pushoff..lmao

[Muzyk23]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

Karl Malone gave new meaning to the phrase: "He who chokes last, chokes first".

haha seriously if it wasn't for John..he owns Stockton big time for all those passes

but his jumper was wet when he was on

still ' the mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday'

[AlexBrady]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

haha seriously if it wasn't for John..he owns Stockton big time for all those passes

but his jumper was wet when he was on

still ' the mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday'

Stockton was a passing genius, and one of the most clever passers of all time. He had so many ways to deliver the ball to Malone off the pick and roll and other variations of the 2 man game. Stockton was brutally tough, courageous (played on bum knees, stitched hands) and was always in attack mode. It was Stock who was the most important player throughout their 'glory' years.

Malone liked to spin baseline and unleash his fadeaways and step backs and he was a dynamite finisher in a broken field. Still, Malone operated by having his biggest clunkers in the most important games of the year and was more concerned with his stats than winning. He was very good but he wasn't the greatest power forward to ever live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgq1MBRyl8I&feature=PlayList&p=7ED706A982CF3B08&index=12

Classic Stockton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1CwMvZcTQ&feature=related

Somehow, Stockton wills his team to victory after Malone inevitably chokes.

[DC]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

Yea I don't see why people make it seem like EVERYONE loves Mike and the Bulls. I knew plenty of folks that hated them

[ehh]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

^^ I agree but there is no way they were the "best villains" or easiest team to hate.

**** as a Knicks fan I hated the Heat and Pacers more than the Bulls in the 90's. Pippen annoyed the hell out of me but outside of that I didn't have much hate for the Bulls. As a big basketball head it's hard to hate a team that was that cohesive as a unit, not to mention having the best player of all-time.

[DC]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

The best is ALWAYS the easiest victim

[PrettyT11]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

even Russell alone admitted it wasn't a pushoff..lmao

Exactly. I don't see how people keep crying and yelling that MJ pushed him off. They must be watching a different tape or something lol

[ehh]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

The best is ALWAYS the easiest victim

Nah, not always.

[23]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

Exactly. I don't see how people keep crying and yelling that MJ pushed him off. They must be watching a different tape or something lol

Gotta reach for something man... he won in two consecutive 3 peats

[AlexBrady]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

Malone's total ineptitude in the clutch killed Utah time and again. Lots of missed free throws at the stripe by Malone, stupid fouls and turnovers, pathetic defensive gambles, and laughable leadership is what Malone will be remembered for. Who knows why he kept spinning baseline constantly when he was unleashing bricks.

[flamangatang2k5]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

you have to be a true ***** and not much of a basketball fan to even consider the bulls "Villains". Ron Artest grew up in NY, where <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Jordan</st1lace></st1:country-region> constantly hurt the knicks and Chicago and NY hate each other, yet he was still somehow a bulls fan. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>
<o></o>
I too was watching those finals replays, and to say Mike pushed off you must not understand physics. He barely grazed Russell. Just appreciate that game and What MJ did during that game. Be happy that you were able to watch some great basketball being played (On both sides, Malone was destroying the front line of the Bulls) because you will not see anything like it again. <o></o>
<o></o>
MJ and Scottie vs. Stock and Malone<o></o>
<o></o>
Rodman vs. the state of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Utah</st1lace></st1:State><o></o>
<o></o>
Horecek and the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Utah</st1:State></st1lace> role players vs. Kukoc and the Bulls role players.<o></o>
<o></o>
Tex Winter via Phil Jackson vs. Jerry Sloan, some of the greatest coaching minds to ever walk the earth. <o></o>
<o></o>
You know you sound as hateful as Bob Costas on Rodman during those telecast. <o></o>
<o> </o>

[amra01]

Re: I've never rooted as hard for a team as I did for Utah in '98

you have to be a true ***** and not much of a basketball fan to even consider the bulls "Villains". Ron Artest grew up in NY, where <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Jordan</st1lace></st1:country-region> constantly hurt the knicks and Chicago and NY hate each other, yet he was still somehow a bulls fan. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>
<o></o>
I too was watching those finals replays, and to say Mike pushed off you must not understand physics. He barely grazed Russell. Just appreciate that game and What MJ did during that game. Be happy that you were able to watch some great basketball being played (On both sides, Malone was destroying the front line of the Bulls) because you will not see anything like it again. <o></o>
<o></o>
MJ and Scottie vs. Stock and Malone<o></o>
<o></o>
Rodman vs. the state of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Utah</st1lace></st1:State><o></o>
<o></o>
Horecek and the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Utah</st1:State></st1lace> role players vs. Kukoc and the Bulls role players.<o></o>
<o></o>
Tex Winter via Phil Jackson vs. Jerry Sloan, some of the greatest coaching minds to ever walk the earth. <o></o>
<o></o>
You know you sound as hateful as Bob Costas on Rodman during those telecast. <o></o>
<o> </o>

agree, nice post but what's with all the faces?