Bulls Fans

The days are getting darker for Bulls fans, and I'm not just talking about the end of daylight saving time. Millionaires are fighting with billionaires over a few percentage points of a multibillion-dollar pot. If you're a Bulls fan, you've braced yourself for a cold, hard truth: There might not be any ball this season. Before you compose a handwritten letter to David Stern, streaked with tears of frustration, anger and whiskey (we've all been there), know that you've got a friend.

And so it ends. No more basketball. No more games. No more 2013 Chicago Bulls. The season started with fans talking about who wasn't there. It ended with fans talking about who was. It started with hope for The Return. It ended with the return of hope. It started with us thinking we'd go as far as No. 1 took us. It ended with us knowing that the team is number one. For that, Chicago should have but one thing to say: thank you. Thank you, Joakim Noah for producing a masterful season from start to finish.

More often than not, the playoffs bring out the best in players - and in fans. But on occasion, they also can bring out the worst. There are a number of Bulls fans who fall into the latter category, who have been spewing hateful and vile things toward Derrick Rose lately via social media. These fans feel the Bulls could have won Game 1 of their playoff series against Brooklyn, and won by a bigger margin in Game 2 had Rose been in uniform. While he may be in good shape physically, Rose is still trying to get himself ready mentally.

Last night's Bulls loss brought back some memories. See, the worst ass-kicking I ever got was in college. The day before the Bears played in the Super Bowl, actually. My buddy Herman and I were ordering a keg at a liquor store and got jumped by five dudes outside who were trying to steal it. It was bloody, tempers ran high, and it took place in Florida. Like I said, last night's Bulls loss brought back some memories. For a brief shining moment Wednesday night, we took a trip back to the NBA of the '90s, where hard fouls and calling refs every curse word that existed ruled.

Ten months ago, every Bulls fan's worst nightmare came true when Derrick Rose suffered a career-threatening knee injury. Since then, his progress has been well-documented as he's resumed practicing and was medically cleared to play a few weeks ago. Despite these developments, some fans are in an uproar over the fact No. 1 has not returned to the lineup. This is understandable. But I am sending this message to the Bulls faithful. For starters, calm down! Yes, Rose may be ready physically, but perhaps his mental readiness is not up to par. D-Rose said last week, "Nobody knows but God" when...

There's a disturbing pattern that emerges when star athletes get hurt. Just about anytime sports fans question an injury to a player, the first thing that is questioned is that player's "manhood. " The player is even more scrutinized when the injury occurs before or during a playoff game. Next, fans run to social media questioning that player's mettle without having all the facts. And once they learn the facts, there are still those who are not as forgiving as they should be. Now Luol Deng has entered the category of "questionable" sports injuries along with Derrick...

"You can just see it," announcer Hubie Brown said during the Bulls' Game 4 loss Sunday to the 76ers. "It's like a nightmare unfolding. " That comment came after a missed shot by John Lucas III and another Sixers rebound, the Bulls trailing 66-63 early in the fourth. Made on a rainy, dreary day in Chicago, Brown's comment was a fitting eulogy for these 2012 Bulls. Hubie didn't mean it that way, but no matter. His words were truth: This postseason has not been a death sentence.

Hi folks. Jack Silverstein here with some important thoughts to share on the game of basketball and our role as spectators/game-influencers. It all started Thursday, when my friend J.P. took me to the United Center for a Bulls-Knicks game. "We'll be sitting behind the basket," J.P. told me when we got through security. "So it might be difficult to see at times. " "Pish posh!" I told him. "You are taking me to a basketball game to revel in sport. Let me buy you a beer. " The seats were in section 106, a fantastic court-level view that gives fans a detailed...

Last night's Bulls loss brought back some memories. See, the worst ass-kicking I ever got was in college. The day before the Bears played in the Super Bowl, actually. My buddy Herman and I were ordering a keg at a liquor store and got jumped by five dudes outside who were trying to steal it. It was bloody, tempers ran high, and it took place in Florida. Like I said, last night's Bulls loss brought back some memories. For a brief shining moment Wednesday night, we took a trip back to the NBA of the '90s, where hard fouls and calling refs every curse...

Once again, it's on. The Bulls and Miami will square off in the playoffs for the second time in three years, renewing an intense rivalry these teams have shared since the 2010-11 season, when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade on South Beach. These teams have made it clear they don't like each other. The Bulls recently snapped the Heat's 27-game winning streak; afterward, "King" James complained about how physical the Bulls were. This series won't be the same without Derrick Rose suiting up, much to the dismay of Bulls fans who...

It happened one day in July 2010. Two days actually. July 7 and 8. In those 48 hours, professional basketball changed in Chicago and Miami. Early July 7, Bulls fans still thought The Decision would mean Chitown. Jordan's throne. Rose's home. If LeBron wasn't coming, then certainly Dwyane Wade. Rumor had it Wade wanted to return to Chicago to be closer to his children. Rumor had it he was bringing his friends. That's the trouble with rumors. When we woke July 8, Wade was still a member of the Heat, and he'd convinced Chris Bosh to join him. When we woke July 9, James was there too, and the Bulls...

Screw it, I'm in. No more of my "happy to be here" nonsense. I now see red. At the end of Game 1, after the Bulls had finished icing over the Heat, my brother texted me from L.A.: "Daaaaaamn! Think we can sweep?" I laughed at this, but when I told my buddy Jesse, he cheered. "Yes!" he said, clapping his hands together. "I like where his head is at. " And you know what? So do I. To approximately quote Derrick Rose from fall 2010, "Why not the Bulls? Why can't they beat the MVP of the league?

Here in Chicago, sports talk has become consumed by snide disdain for star point guard Derrick Rose as he remains on the bench during the playoffs while the Bulls hobble on after an impressive if battering series against the Brooklyn Nets. Now that they're playing LeBron James and the Heat, I hear Bulls fans making openly hostile comments about Rose remaining on the injured list despite being “cleared to play.” My favorite overheard joke is that the Bulls are going to erect another statue outside the United Center, this one of Rose peering from the...

There's a disturbing pattern that emerges when star athletes get hurt. Just about anytime sports fans question an injury to a player, the first thing that is questioned is that player's "manhood. " The player is even more scrutinized when the injury occurs before or during a playoff game. Next, fans run to social media questioning that player's mettle without having all the facts. And once they learn the facts, there are still those who are not as forgiving as they should be. Now Luol Deng has entered the category of "questionable" sports injuries along with Derrick Rose and Jay...

Once again, it's on. The Bulls and Miami will square off in the playoffs for the second time in three years, renewing an intense rivalry these teams have shared since the 2010-11 season, when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade on South Beach. These teams have made it clear they don't like each other. The Bulls recently snapped the Heat's 27-game winning streak; afterward, "King" James complained about how physical the Bulls were. This series won't be the same without Derrick Rose suiting up, much to the dismay of Bulls fans who want nothing more than to...

More often than not, the playoffs bring out the best in players - and in fans. But on occasion, they also can bring out the worst. There are a number of Bulls fans who fall into the latter category, who have been spewing hateful and vile things toward Derrick Rose lately via social media. These fans feel the Bulls could have won Game 1 of their playoff series against Brooklyn, and won by a bigger margin in Game 2 had Rose been in uniform. While he may be in good shape physically, Rose is still trying to get himself ready mentally.

It's up to you, Bulls. After the Blackhawks fizzled out like LeBron James in the fourth quarter, Chicago sports fans are counting on the Bulls to make a deep playoff run to help them forget the debacle on ice. Well, I've got good news for you, Bulls fans. The future looks bright for the Bulls this offseason. That's what my prognosticating powers are telling me, at least. And, no, this is not a good time to remind me I picked the Blackhawks to beat the Coyotes in six games.

Enough is enough. Enough of the hand-wringing over Luol Deng's wrist injury. Enough of the worrying about what's wrong with Joakim Noah. Enough complaining about Carlos Boozer's defense. Enough fretting about Derrick Rose's big toe. Bulls fans have done a lot of focusing on the negative recently - and with all those doom-and-gloom headlines, they can't be blamed. But, looking at the big picture, there's a lot to be extremely happy about in Bulls nation. Take Monday night's huge 110-95 win over the New Jersey Nets, for example.

Sunday marks the one-year anniversary that the Bulls franchise was set back at least a year with Derrick Rose's ACL tear in his left knee. Rose suffered through the lockout-shortened season with a string of injuries that ended with one of the more devastating things that can happen to an athlete. Bulls fans may remember what the day was like, April 28, 2012, in Chicago: Cold, damp with overcast skies. With the city feeling like the team was on a collision course in the Eastern Conference finals with Miami, nobody could've imagined how the weather that day would be symbolic for the Bulls.

Hi folks. Jack Silverstein here with some important thoughts to share on the game of basketball and our role as spectators/game-influencers. It all started Thursday, when my friend J.P. took me to the United Center for a Bulls-Knicks game. "We'll be sitting behind the basket," J.P. told me when we got through security. "So it might be difficult to see at times. " "Pish posh!" I told him. "You are taking me to a basketball game to revel in sport. Let me buy you a beer. " The seats were in section 106, a fantastic court-level view that gives fans a detailed look...