Image via Variety.com
Since this last Sunday, America has been mourning the loss of one of its greatest joys. That being, last Sunday was the conclusion of ESPN and Netflix’s Last Dance documentary on the 1990’s Chicago Bulls dynasty. The series showcased a ton of different angles of the multitude of personalities on those iconic teams. From the zen master Phil Jackson to embittered general manager Jerry Krause, there was no shortage of quality television from this 10-part series. So while there has been a slew of people sharing their favorite stories from the series, I wanted to share some of my thoughts as well in addition to this podcast. #plug
Dennis Rodman in WCW: Finishing a close second in this category was “Rodzilla” chugging a Miller (?) before speeding off to a bender in Las Vegas in between Bulls games. What is most surprising about this portion of the series is Rodman, the team’s defensive stalwart, putting the season on pause to go smoke cigars with “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan on an episode of Nitro. Though the taping was in nearby Auburn Hills, Michigan, it is hard to fathom a player doing something like this during the modern era. Just goes to show much of a skillful chemist coach Jackson was in combining of these volatile personalities together.
Michael Jordan on the iPad: Whether it was blasting Gary Payton or renewing old “Dream Team” rivalries, there was no shortage of meme-able content from His Airness. M.J. is famous for his bitter rivalries and long memory of slights, so being able to see his reactions in real time was a pleasure to watch especially given how legendarily competitive Jordan is. The North Carolina native did not become the greatest of all time by being complacent so his competitive drive was on full-display throughout the series. Jordan recounting his battles in the NBA Playoffs was a joy to watch, even if there was some revisionist history abound.
The blistering soundtrack: You can find the entirety of the soundtrack here but pairing old-school 90’s nostalgia with a star-studded Bulls highlight reel was something to behold. The majesty of those 90’s Bulls teams is pretty close to seeing how perfect basketball can be played, and while they had their dysfunctions, those teams set the standard for the league just like the songs featured in the documentary set the standard for hip-hop music during the era. These were songs that captured the grace and ferocity of those teams and made you feel like you were part of the moment as soon as the bass hit. The soundtrack had everything from high-intensity jams to somber melodies as the sun set on the Bulls dynasty in 1998.
Anytime “Sirius” was played: Wright Thompson wrote about Michael Jordan in an immaculate piece earlier this week and his impact on the game and one of the key standouts from the article was reflecting on those iconic Bulls intros from the era. During the height of their powers, there might not have been a more intimidating intro than “Sirius” by the Alan Parson Project. This intro rivals even some of the most iconic WWE entrances of all time in terms of making the hair on your arm stand up. So let me know your favorite part of the series and what it meant to you in the comments below.
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