D’Antoni, Johnson now being considered
If you’ve been hedging your bets on who will be picked as the next Chicago Bulls coach, this will come as interesting news. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni is a vital name in the rumor mill right now. The same is being said about Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.
Interesting picks, both of them. Unfortunately, this looks just as reliable as those Izzo rumors that started this whole guessing game. The Suns’ general manager is denying reports that D’Antoni is about to be fired, and Johnson is being reported interested according to an article over at ESPN.com. But again, let’s remember that none of these rumors have been commented on by the coaches in question. Rumors aren’t the same as reporting, though the Internet, as we all know, loves a good guessing game.
Chicago Bulls fans, hang in there. Soon enough there’ll be a coach picked, and games will be hot. At that time, you’re going to want Chicago Bulls tickets. Whether you’re looking for those or other sports tickets, visit Stubhub.com.
Mark Jackson: New Bulls coach?
Permit a mixed metaphor here: Mark Jackson has just come out of left field. Newsday is reporting that Jackson, who has no NBA coaching experience, is currently in the sights of the Knicks, who are seeking a head coach as well. It came as kind of a surprise that Jackson is meeting with Bulls exec John Paxson tomorrow.
Will the surprises ever end? First Carlisle, then Izzo, and now Jackson. Who’s the preferred candidate? Unknown. And it will undoubtedly stay that way until someone is selected.
With the coaching pool growing ever wider, it can only mean this season the Bulls will be playing some interesting games. Bulls tickets, or other sports tickets, are available on Stubhub.com.
Anaylsis: Who’s the best next Bulls coach?
While fans speculate who the next Bulls coach will be, they’re sure to also be doing a lot of pre-game analysis about the pros and cons of the candidates (both rumored and true). The Chicago Sun-Times had a nice breakdown of the coaching pool, though the conclusions they reach make things seem somewhat bleak. In short, they think the vast majority of candidates aren’t top picks.
The writer concludes Izzo is the right pick if you want a college coach, but also thinks the Bulls don’t want a college coach. He argues it’s a whole different game, one college coaches aren’t always prepared for. Then again, he says, while Carlisle will probably be picked, he’s not the right pick.
It’s hard to sift through all the rumor and opinion in all this, but even before the dust settles, the Bulls’ season is looking interesting. Chicago Bulls tickets are now available, as are other sports tickets, at Stubhub.com.
Izzo rumor being downplayed
Yahoo Sports! reports again on that nagging rumor about Tom Izzo being a candidate for the next Chicago Bulls coach. A couple days ago the Web site reported that he was a possible contender, though Rick Carlisle, former coach of the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, was the lead choice. There are some other names in the air, as we mentioned before, but Carlisle is definitely at the top of the short list right now.
But Yahoo Sports! is now reporting (again, according to unknown sources), that Izzo was never a serious candidate. To be sure, this isn’t a surprise. Izzo said he hadn’t been contacted by the Bulls when he was initial interviewed for the first story. The sources Yahoo Sports! are talking to now say it’s just an “Internet rumor.” Ah, the Internet. Where truth is always just a click away.
What’s certain is the new coach will make having Chicago Bulls tickets very worth it this coming season. Get sports tickets at Stubhub.com now.
Izzo as coach rumor: Power play?
The rumor mill is keeping everyone busy, and probably will continue to do so as long as the Bulls haven’t settled on a coach. ChicagoSports.com has a story out today analyzing the situation, and doing a rather fair job of it. According to them, GM John Paxson is still on the hunt, and has at least three other names besides Rick Carlisle on his mind: Tom Thibodeau, Michael Curry, and possibly former Timberwolves Coach Dwane Casey.
The most interesting part of the article is its analysis of Yahoo!’s story the other day, claiming that Michigan State’s Tom Izzo was a “wildcard.” Now, Izzo was quoted as saying he hadn’t been contacted by the Bulls at all at the time the story was being written. Ostensibly some other anonymous source is credible enough to make Izzo’s name worth mentioning. But ChicagoSports.com’s article says it’s own sources downplayed Izzo’s chances, and even frame it as a power play against Michigan State for a higher salary.
Not a bad thought. But whoever ends up as coach, things will definitely be interesting for the Bulls. Chicago Bulls tickets will pay for themselves in a pretty entertaining game in the near future. Buy some sports tickets at Stubhub.com and be court-side when that happens!
Who will coach the Bulls? Carlisle and Izzo are two names in the air
More news on the hunt for a new Chicago Bulls coach this morning from Yahoo! Sports. According to them, Rick Carlisle, the former coach of the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, is at the top of the list. They’re reporting he’s already been granted an interview, and two unnamed sources claim he made a good first impression.
But there’s a dark horse in this race. The spotlight is shifting to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, who allegedly is another favorite pick among Bulls brass. Now, no sources are named, and historically college coaches enter the NBA by being picked up by hard-on-their-luck teams. That makes this a bit of a rumor. But Izzo has a good track record, and he turned down the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors in the recent past. He’s playing it safe right now, not saying one way or other whether he’d jump into the professional league if an offer came along, but it certainly won’t stop speculation on the Web.
Which will it be? Carlisle? Izzo? Or is there another coach out there the Bulls have their eye on? One thing’s for sure: Games will be hot when a coach is picked, and tickets will be well-worth it. Check Stubhub.com for more ticket information.
Some classic photos of Michael Jordan
Jordan has been off the Bulls roster since 1999, but it’s hard to forget one of basketball’s most prolific players. He made some interesting, non-basketball-related forays during his time off from the Bulls, like his shortly-lived baseball career and acting stints in films like “Space Jam.” But what people will always remember him for is being a giant on the court.
The Chicago Tribune has a nice photographic retrospective of the man who would be basketball’s king, beginning in his college days and ending in his Dream Team days during the 1992 Olympics. The photo slideshow records some of his greatest moments during that time, including crying over the trophy for his first NBA Championship and some sweet, showboating slam dunks. Jordan was a bigger-than-life player who, at one time, you couldn’t turn around and not see on a billboard or magazine somewhere.
Though he’s not around anymore, the Bulls haven’t lost their appeal. True fans still love them, even if they no longer have the celebrity star-power that Jordan brought with him. And they’ve got plenty of games coming up for those fans to enjoy, particularly on Stubhub.com. We’ll see what the future holds for a classic team like the Bulls.
The Bulls and Bucks doing the coach shuffle
Anyone following the tension between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls will find this tidbit interesting: ChicagoSports.com is reporting the Bucks will announce the hiring of former Bulls coach Scott Skiles later today.
Nice play by the Bucks, who let go of coach Larry Krystkowiack this past Thursday due to poor performance. The same day, the Bulls let go of their interim coach, Jim Boylan. Will either of them–or both–find their way to the Bucks as assistants to Skiles? Start taking bets.
In any case, it’ll make for a real hot game. Check out ticket prices at Stubhub.com.
What Team Ought Bulls Fans to Root for in the Playoffs?
Now that the season is over for the Bulls, it’s time to sulk and feel bad that you’re not doing research about Chicago’s upcoming matchup in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. But there are some silver lined clouds for Bulls fans. For one, you will not have to look hard for game tickets. For another you will not have to shell out more dough for beer and popcorn. And finally, you will not have to have a heart attack every couple of days when the Bulls are playing in an overtime playoff game.
Now that the Bulls and their fans are mere casual observers, we have to pick sides with the remaining teams. Who should we root for? Here is out list:
1. Cleveland Cavilers (It would be nice to see Big Ben do well)
2. San Antonio Spurs (If the playoffs are boring, we’ll feel less miserable that we’re not in them)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (Casual fans want a Lakers-Celtics matchup)
4. Boston Celtics (Same as above… plus it makes the East look better)
5. New Orleans (Bulls fans will love the rags to riches story of the Hornets)
To get Chicago Bulls tickets, go to StubHub.com.
Bulls Win Last Game of the Season
The Bulls finished with a bang… well, two bangs, in a way. The first one was a good one. Chicago gave their home crowd a win to cap off the season last night at the United Center. The Bulls won 107-97 after they pulled away from the Raptors in the fourth quarter. The minutes got spread out over many different players last night, and Tyrus Thomas had one of the best games of his season, ending with a game-high 26 points.
The bad bang last night was the announcement that Jim Boylan has coached his last Chicago Bulls game. GM John Paxson announced that Boylan would be relieved of his duties this morning. Good luck you, Mr. Boylan. You were put in a tough spot, had plenty of injuries and player attitude problems to deal with, and you managed to tread water, which, given the situation, was not bad at all. Hopefully he finds some gig with another team in the league, or can stay with Chicago in an assistant role.
On behalf of all of us here at the Bulls Blog, we’d like to thank the team, the fans and all the rest who made it a success. Can’t wait until next year! Go Bulls!
To get Chicago Bulls tickets, go to StubHub.com.