Think about the hype around some of those Chicago Kids during that time period had, and where they are now?
Jabari Parker
Cliff Alexander
Jahlil Okafor
NBA/Pro/International Basketball
- Status
Jabari Parker
Cliff Alexander
Jahlil Okafor
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
Currently playing in Beirut, Lebanon.
Common human decency will prevent me from making any additional comment about Cliff's current professional plight.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
does that look like it's me ??...............wow , my feelings are damaged beyond repair...........they really really are.......
He has good taste in women, some say that’s all that matters
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
RIP Chet "the Jet":
helluva player
helluva player
It is Rooks but the picture is from 2023.
Former Bulls great Chet Walker died at the age of 84.
Walker was a key part of the winning teams that the Bulls had in the pre-Jordan era. Walker, Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, Bob Love, and Tom Boerwinkle gave NBA foes fits with their tenacious defense and methodical offense. When you played the Bulls back then it was like playing against a football team because the Bulls were nails-tough and very physical and just beat you up.
When you needed a hoop at the end of the game... the ball would go in to Chet. He had a head-and-shoulders, shake-and-bake move that drove defenders nuts. Chet would go through his shoulder fakes until the helpless defender finally bit on one and got off his feet. Chet would either score or get fouled and nail his free-throws and seal a win.
Walker was part of building the strong Bulls fan base in the 1970s before Michael came upon the scene. The Bulls had some great battles in the playoffs in those years – particularly against the Lakers. They got really close to the NBA finals a couple times but just couldn’t get there. The Bulls got as far as their talent level could take them. It was never for lack of effort because guys like Sloan and Van Lier were just demons on the court going all out all the time.
Thanks Chet for your great career and helping to firmly plant the Bulls in Chicago when other franchises had failed before. You helped set the table for the GOAT that would one day come to town and deliver those NBA titles.
Walker was a key part of the winning teams that the Bulls had in the pre-Jordan era. Walker, Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, Bob Love, and Tom Boerwinkle gave NBA foes fits with their tenacious defense and methodical offense. When you played the Bulls back then it was like playing against a football team because the Bulls were nails-tough and very physical and just beat you up.
When you needed a hoop at the end of the game... the ball would go in to Chet. He had a head-and-shoulders, shake-and-bake move that drove defenders nuts. Chet would go through his shoulder fakes until the helpless defender finally bit on one and got off his feet. Chet would either score or get fouled and nail his free-throws and seal a win.
Walker was part of building the strong Bulls fan base in the 1970s before Michael came upon the scene. The Bulls had some great battles in the playoffs in those years – particularly against the Lakers. They got really close to the NBA finals a couple times but just couldn’t get there. The Bulls got as far as their talent level could take them. It was never for lack of effort because guys like Sloan and Van Lier were just demons on the court going all out all the time.
Thanks Chet for your great career and helping to firmly plant the Bulls in Chicago when other franchises had failed before. You helped set the table for the GOAT that would one day come to town and deliver those NBA titles.
I loved those old Bulls teams. They just could never get over the hump and win the NBA championship. I grew up in Southern Illinois and was fortunate enough to see The Fabulous Fox, Jerry Sloan, play in high school when I was a wee lad. One class high school basketball was certainly exciting in the late 1950's and 1960's. However, with the implementation of Chuck Rowlinskis two class system this opened up new opportunities for small school basketball in Southern Illinois.
The thing about those old Bulls teams? They were truly representative of the spirit and character of the City of Chicago itself: Tough. Gritty. No-nonsense. Big Shoulders. Works hard. No frills. At least that’s how it was back then.
But also... Chicago (and the Bulls) were lacking in some important things. Like having good weather and civilized politics and a more friendly environment among all the great neighborhoods.
But maybe the bad weather and rough politics and social challenges helped to shape what the Bulls were going to become. And also be representative of some of those things the old Bulls teams lacked that kept them from bagging the Big Trophy.
Old Chicago Stadium on West Madison Street was a hot and smoky (yes, way back when it was a VERY smoky) place where real Chicagoans packed the Old Barn to the rafters and screamed their hearts out. And when you left the place after the game your clothes just reeked. And for non-smokers... one could barely even breath any more when you made your way to your car or the bus. You were coughing for hours.
And speaking of smoky... it was not unusual for some interesting pungent ‘grassy odors’ to be smelled all around the Old Barn when the game tipped off. The Bulls game was an Event. And there were always those in the throngs who wanted just a bit more additional ‘spice’ to add the special occasion that was unfolding on the court.
We wanted the Bulls — (They were now ‘OUR Bulls!’) – to succeed. Just like every person crammed into those hard seats wanted to be successful in our own personal lives. We lived and died through and with those Bulls. They were us – and we were Them.
When the Bulls went up against the Association’s top clubs and elite talents... that was ‘us’ fighting against the odds to try to prevail over sometimes sexier and more skilled opponents.
And ‘we’ (as The Bulls) still ended up winning more games each season than we lost. Why? Because of hard work, dedication, passion, energy, and commitment. Tired of the feeling of being a Second City and wanting desperately to finally become a Number One.
Sloan and Van Lier never had a slow gear. They would never crack a smile on the court because it was just too damned serious and important. They had the look of actual raging bulls in their eyes and would scare the stuff out of panicked opponents.
Bulls Coach Motta even had to tell these guys to ease up a bit sometimes. That’s how intense they were. Coach didn’t want his guys burning themselves out.
The silky mid-range sharp shooting of Love would pile up points to compliment Walker’s one-on-one prowess. And Boerwinkle in the middle would be running the show because the Bulls offense was mostly being run through Big Tom. Van Lier would deliver the ball to Tom in the high post – he’d quickly swivel his head and scan the court – then he’d thread the needle with a sharp pass to whichever Bull had an opening.
And after scoring, the Bulls would take their places on the defensive end and dare the other team to come anywhere near. It was poetic and beautiful. Like nothing ever seen since.
Basketball has changed. The NBA has changed. Defense has become unsexy and optional. But not to the Walker and Sloan and Van Lier Bulls. They made defense a thing of beauty. And a City of hard-nosed, hard-working Chicagoans and suburbanites loved them for it.
Chicago has changed, too. The big factories are gone. The politics doesn’t look the same. The West Side is not as raw and gritty as it was back then. No more broken glass and big holes in the rocky cement pavement that comprised the Stadium’s parking lots. Wilt is gone. Kareem is gone. Magic is gone. Michael moved on.
But the City – and the Bulls – live on. They don’t look the same. They don’t sound the same.
But it’s still a great game played on an intense court by some of the best athletes in the World. And all this was built by guys like Chet Walker and the rest.
If you listen closely on Madison Street you can still hear Norm Van Lier or Jerry Sloan yelling smack at their opponent. You can still hear the sweet sound of singing twine when Bob Love drains another mid-range jumper. Or when Chet Walker drains his free-throws with the game on the line.
And yet, you might even smell the sweet odor of a special kind spice in the air – the sweet perfume of watching special human beings make a game with a big round ball and hoops at two ends look like a symphony.
In a City that hasn’t lost its passion to be a Number One.
But also... Chicago (and the Bulls) were lacking in some important things. Like having good weather and civilized politics and a more friendly environment among all the great neighborhoods.
But maybe the bad weather and rough politics and social challenges helped to shape what the Bulls were going to become. And also be representative of some of those things the old Bulls teams lacked that kept them from bagging the Big Trophy.
Old Chicago Stadium on West Madison Street was a hot and smoky (yes, way back when it was a VERY smoky) place where real Chicagoans packed the Old Barn to the rafters and screamed their hearts out. And when you left the place after the game your clothes just reeked. And for non-smokers... one could barely even breath any more when you made your way to your car or the bus. You were coughing for hours.
And speaking of smoky... it was not unusual for some interesting pungent ‘grassy odors’ to be smelled all around the Old Barn when the game tipped off. The Bulls game was an Event. And there were always those in the throngs who wanted just a bit more additional ‘spice’ to add the special occasion that was unfolding on the court.
We wanted the Bulls — (They were now ‘OUR Bulls!’) – to succeed. Just like every person crammed into those hard seats wanted to be successful in our own personal lives. We lived and died through and with those Bulls. They were us – and we were Them.
When the Bulls went up against the Association’s top clubs and elite talents... that was ‘us’ fighting against the odds to try to prevail over sometimes sexier and more skilled opponents.
And ‘we’ (as The Bulls) still ended up winning more games each season than we lost. Why? Because of hard work, dedication, passion, energy, and commitment. Tired of the feeling of being a Second City and wanting desperately to finally become a Number One.
Sloan and Van Lier never had a slow gear. They would never crack a smile on the court because it was just too damned serious and important. They had the look of actual raging bulls in their eyes and would scare the stuff out of panicked opponents.
Bulls Coach Motta even had to tell these guys to ease up a bit sometimes. That’s how intense they were. Coach didn’t want his guys burning themselves out.
The silky mid-range sharp shooting of Love would pile up points to compliment Walker’s one-on-one prowess. And Boerwinkle in the middle would be running the show because the Bulls offense was mostly being run through Big Tom. Van Lier would deliver the ball to Tom in the high post – he’d quickly swivel his head and scan the court – then he’d thread the needle with a sharp pass to whichever Bull had an opening.
And after scoring, the Bulls would take their places on the defensive end and dare the other team to come anywhere near. It was poetic and beautiful. Like nothing ever seen since.
Basketball has changed. The NBA has changed. Defense has become unsexy and optional. But not to the Walker and Sloan and Van Lier Bulls. They made defense a thing of beauty. And a City of hard-nosed, hard-working Chicagoans and suburbanites loved them for it.
Chicago has changed, too. The big factories are gone. The politics doesn’t look the same. The West Side is not as raw and gritty as it was back then. No more broken glass and big holes in the rocky cement pavement that comprised the Stadium’s parking lots. Wilt is gone. Kareem is gone. Magic is gone. Michael moved on.
But the City – and the Bulls – live on. They don’t look the same. They don’t sound the same.
But it’s still a great game played on an intense court by some of the best athletes in the World. And all this was built by guys like Chet Walker and the rest.
If you listen closely on Madison Street you can still hear Norm Van Lier or Jerry Sloan yelling smack at their opponent. You can still hear the sweet sound of singing twine when Bob Love drains another mid-range jumper. Or when Chet Walker drains his free-throws with the game on the line.
And yet, you might even smell the sweet odor of a special kind spice in the air – the sweet perfume of watching special human beings make a game with a big round ball and hoops at two ends look like a symphony.
In a City that hasn’t lost its passion to be a Number One.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
muy bueno:
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
is that a Behemoth shirt? Has Trent Frazier always been into extreme metal?
PizzaHutParkingLot
- McPherson, KS
Yes! PLEASE trade for Trae Young and get him off my Hawks. Still cant believe we traded Luka for Trae. Been awhile since I yelled at my TV like I did that draft night.Dear Rob Pelinka,
Please hire JJ Redick as your next coach.
Please extend Lebron for 3 more years.
Please trade for Trae Young.
Please draft Bronny.
The dream scenario.
Go Lakers!
Ryllini
- Lombard
Off! Yikes, I forgot about that.
Bill Walton. Chet Walker. Now, Jerry West.
That’s three all-time NBA and roundball greats that have passed away in the just the last few days.
All those games. All those Titles. All those practices. All that travel. All those made shots... and missed shots.
And all those great times with teammates and playing before adoring crowds (and hostile ones). With millions of people around the World instantly recognizing your names and faces.
They got to Live The Dream. They made it to the top of their profession and got to make a living at doing something they loved.
Not a bad way to live.
Got the Center. Got the Forward. Gor the Guard.
Now it’s time to join a few other guys already up there and choose up sides – on the Great Ball Court in Heaven.
That’s three all-time NBA and roundball greats that have passed away in the just the last few days.
All those games. All those Titles. All those practices. All that travel. All those made shots... and missed shots.
And all those great times with teammates and playing before adoring crowds (and hostile ones). With millions of people around the World instantly recognizing your names and faces.
They got to Live The Dream. They made it to the top of their profession and got to make a living at doing something they loved.
Not a bad way to live.
Got the Center. Got the Forward. Gor the Guard.
Now it’s time to join a few other guys already up there and choose up sides – on the Great Ball Court in Heaven.
Jerry West was a Great, Great player.
I once said it would be a sad day when Barkley retires from TV. That day will be next year.
The end of an era.
The end of an era.
The Barkley news isn't surprising, especially with how up in the air the status of the NBA on TNT is after next season. It was already pretty well known that EJ wouldn't be leaving Turner since he turns 68 later this year and it is getting pretty close to retirement. If the NBA on NBC returns next season, I would be curious to see if Shaq or Kenny would decide to move over.
- Status