Matthew in the Middle ‘The Last Dance’
So if you’ve bored while sheltering in place, there is a sports documentary you need to watch – “The Last Dance”. ESPN hired a camera crew to follow Michael Jordan (MJ) and Chicago Bulls in their quest for their second three-peat during the 1997-98 basketball season. The camera crew had unfiltered access to the Bulls team the entire season from the opening day of training camp when then head coach Phil Jackson wrote on the cover of the team’s outline for the upcoming season: “The Last Dance.”
Most professional sports teams never win championships. Ever. Tell me the last time the San Diego Padres won a World Series. That would be “never.” We’re in awe that the New England Patriots won six Super Bowls over 18 years. The Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships over eight years. No other professional sports franchise has dominated in modern history like the ’90s Chicago Bulls and no other player dominated a sport like Michael Jordan.
Egos. Why would you break up a team that won five NBA title in the past seven years and was about to win their second three-peat? “The Last Dance” got its name from Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause who announced before the start of the 1997-98 season that head coach Phil Jackson wouldn’t be back to coach the team next year. He actually told Phil Jackson, “Even if you win 82 games (an undefeated season) and the NBA championship and you’re still not coming back to coach next year.” Hence, the last dance.
The inside stories and legendary players who agreed to be interviewed for this documentary are a who’s who of NBA history: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Paxton, Horace Grant, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, John Stockton, along with former president and Chicago resident Barack Obama. There were also many players who almost didn’t do interviews as 22 years later it still hurt that they didn’t win an NBA title because of MJ and the Bulls — like Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Gary Payton.
There were 10 episodes to this series. Episode 1 was “Mike” Jordan at University of North Carolina and his early days with the Chicago Bulls, where we learned they were nicknamed “the Chicago Bulls traveling cocaine circus” as many of the former players partied a little too hard off the court and weren’t concerned about winning on the court. Episode 2 was Scottie Pippen. Episode 3 was Dennis Rodman’s unrelenting play and personal insanities. Episode 4 was about head coach Phil Jackson. Did you know Phil Jackson got his coaching start in the Puerto Rico league and then the CBA (Continental Basketball Association) before landing as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls? Episode 5 was a tribute to Kobe, “the little Laker boy.” Episode 6 was Jordan’s gambling issues and the murder of his father. Episode 7 was Jordan retiring to play baseball. Episode 8 was Jordan returns to Chicago, however they lose the 1995 playoffs. Episode 9 was role player (and future Golden State Warriors coach) Steve Kerr. In episode 10, the Bulls win their sixth NBA title and go their own ways.
My favorite segment was about Dennis Rodman. Chicago sportswriter Stan Smith said, “… and when Scottie came back, that’s when he (Rodman) lost it. Rodman’s decent became dramatic. His drinking, his partying, his connection with reality.”
MJ: “When Scottie was out, Dennis was a model citizen.
... So when Scottie came back, Dennis wanted to take a vacation.”
In the middle of the basketball season.
“Dennis says, “I need to go to Vegas.”
MJ then says, “Phil, you let this dude go on vacation, we’re not gonna see him. Let him go to Vegas, we’re definitely not gonna see him.”
After the game, Dennis Rodman drives his motorbike to O’Hare Airport and flies off to Vegas to meet up with his girlfriend Carmen Electra.
Drinking, women, parting, clubbing, gambling. Chaos ensues.
MJ flew to Las Vegas. Tracked Dennis Rodman down at his hotel and pounded on his door at 8 in the morning. Carmen Electra jumped out of bed and hid underneath some covers behind a couch.
Typical life that you and I experience every day, right? Enjoy the series.