THE ORIGINAL AIR CANADA

Many people remember MJ and Pip powering the Bulls to NBA Championships in 95-96, 96-97 and 97-98….and who could forget Ron Harper stumbling through interviews, Scot Williams’s Championship t-shirts (he should’ve used that money on a trip to the dentist to fix those teeth) and even Dickey Simpkins’s high socks….I missed them every year in the playoffs after he got cut from the roster. All the Superstars and sideshows (Rodman) and somehow most people forget about a 7 ft. Canadian named Bill Wennington.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but yesterday I mentioned the three headed monster from the 94-95 season (Wennington, Luc Longley and Will Purdue) and my roommate and I needed to lookup Wennington’s name to finish off the trio. I was shocked and appalled by my failure to remember a man who impacted my childhood so much. As a tall awkward child, I looked to Bill Wennington as a source of inspiration… “One day I’ll be able to rock thunderous dunks with only .5 seconds of airtime!” I thought to myself.

After a throwing down an 11.7 ppg clip and leading the St. John’s Red Raiders to a final four, this simple Canadian was ready to show the NBA what he was all “a-boot”. In the 1985 NBA draft, Dallas got a STEAL with Wennington at the 16th pick (none of the first 15 picks in the ’85 draft EVER had their own McDonalds sandwich…..if that’s not vindication, I don’t know what is). After 5 solid seasons in the Big D, Wen-dog averaged a solid 4.5 pts a game with at least 10 dunks where he never technically left the ground. In 1990 the Mav’s, obviously smoking something, traded Bill to the Sacramento Kings for Rodney McCray (Rodney McCray!) and two second round draft picks. California obviously wasn’t the place for Air Canada as his numbers dropped. It started to look as if his career might be coming to and end when the Kings dropped him after a single season.

In 1993, between a Italian beef and cheese fries, Jerry Krause managed to sign Wennington to a 3 yr contract for the league minimum. During the 93-94 Season, a rejuvenated Bill averaged a career high 7.1 pts (at least 60% of those pts came from 15 ft baseline jumpers....he practically invented that shot.) and became an integral part of the playoff and championship runs. In 6 seasons with the Bulls, Bill spelled key players and chipped in 4.6 pts a game.

When Bill left the game in 2000, he walked away with 3 NBA Championships and two appearances with the Canadian Olympic team in ’84 and ’92. Bill was also honored with elections to the Canadian, Qubecian (?) and St. John's Halls of fame. Currently Bill sits alongside Neil Funk (Rodman, Pippen, Jordan, Pippen, PIPPEN, RODMAN, JORDAN………GOOD!) during Bulls broadcasts.


BIG BILL DOIN HIS THING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MxqCQX0NNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh0xq9DX0dQ

The 2007 NBA Eastern Conference!.....Feel the excitement!

Boy oh boy…..I can’t wait to see how this all shakes out….3 teams hovering around the 500 mark, all fighting for playoff position in the worst conference in the NBA!! Please….we should have a lottery to see where these three teams end up. Better yet, lets have a Pay-Per view King of the ring match between Darko, Mikki Moore and Etan Thomas to decide the positioning. I can see it now….Jason Kidd ringside giving Moore tips on his left jab while his wife sits awkwardly in the stands with a black eye…..And there’s no way the match could start without Darko uttering “I must break you” to Thomas and Moore Pre-fight. I think Mark Cuban actually called David Stern to Propose this idea but Stern was too busy teaching children in Madagascar how to box out.


If the Eastern Conference season were to end today (one can only hope), the Bulls first round opponent would be the New Jersey Nets. Coming into the season the Nets figured to be a powerhouse in a division that featured 4 other teams that would probly lose to the Spotlight Jammers (link). But, Surprisingly enough, the Raptors formula of picking up gross white European dudes and a newly motivated Chris Bosh (could have used that in the FIBA Championships) have left the Nets fighting for a playoffs spot.

Of all the teams in the 6-8 spots in the Eastern conference, this team has the most potential to pull off the upset. With the playoff experience and the 3 headed monster (no not Purdue, Longley and Wennington) of Carter, Jefferson and Kidd all averaging double figures, they will be a tough out. The Nets biggest problem (besides living in New Jeresey) is defense. The Nets gave up over 98 pts a game and only got 83. The Injury to Nenad Krystic, 16.4 PPG, also forced Mikki Moore, 9.6 PPG into a starting role…..which also forced 98% of Nets fans to contemplate suicide.

Oddly enough the Nets lead the season series with the bulls with one more grudematch on tap for April 18th. The Bulls should lead the series, but the nets stole a January game at the UC in which the Bulls blew an 18 pt lead in the second half which was surely followed by Michael Sweetney devouring a pint of Cherry Garcia to quell his sorrows.

Here are the important matchups to watch in this series with a little Jay-Z Flava…

The "I'm out for presidents to represent me" Matchup

Ben Wallace vs. Mikki Moore

Now its time to see why the Bulls gave Ben Wallace all those dead presidents during the off season. Moore is listed at 225 lbs……that’s like listing Mike Sweetney at 190. Moore is a toothpick compared to the 240 lb Wallace. Look for Wallace to eat up the boards on Moore who is a career bench player and averages a meager 5.4 rebounds per game.

The “I'm a hustler baby, I just want you to know….. It aint where I been, But where I'm bout to go” matchup

Tyrus Thomas vs. The entire Nets team

We’ve just begun to scratch the surface of Tyrus’s talent, but one things for sure, it looks like he fits the hard nosed “hustle” attitude of this Scott Skiles team. Lets face it, the kid is about as out of control as a $300,000 ferrari driven by Eddie Griffin. But, in the past 5 games he’s been able to control that athleticism and average close to double figures. Against a team that is notorious for not hustling for loose balls and somehow forgets that the other team gets to shoot too, look for Tyrus to get some great run outs or quick hitters to the basket for some easy points. Thomas’s game is “bout to go” to a new level.

The “When I come back like Jordan, wearin the 4-5. It ain't to play games witchu. It's to aim at you, probably maim you” matchup

Andreas Nocioni vs. Jefferson/Nachar

The return of Chapu!! You know Noce has been itching to get back on the court….Can you a imagine being the doctor that told him he had to miss 26 games…he’s probly still in the witness protection program. In 2 games this season against the Nets, Nocioni averaged 23 pts, the highest of any Bull. Look for Noce to get limited time, but make the minutes he gets count.