Bulls Deep: Why Bulls Fans Are Showing Up Outside of Chicago
Bulls Deep
Analysis
Why Bulls Fans Showed Up in Denver
The Bulls team felt the love from the "away" crowd at Denver November 19th. Chants of "Let's go Bulls!" reverberated throughout the arena, loudly enough to be heard clearly through the television broadcasts. The energy during the Bulls' runs rivaled that of a home crowd at the United Center. The unexpected charisma appeared to affect the momentum - and outcome - of the game.
Now, the team is giving the love back to its fans.
Just look at what the guys had to say about the crowd reaction!
It feels really good to see this kind of reciprocal love affair. And I believe we are going to see a lot more of this in the coming games. That's because this fan reaction makes sense taken within the context of our Bulls fan history.
Michael Jordan's Bulls
Post-Jordan Era
The Bulls quickly fell from respectability after Jordan's Bulls were broken up following the 1998 Championship. And for a while - quite a while - there was little to cheer for. The Bulls nabbed the worst record in the NBA multiple times, and seemed to make a routine of threatening to break the record for fewest wins ever. I remember being proud to make it to 30 wins. These long years of losing put all but the most dedicated of us fans into hibernation.
Derrick Rose Era
Fans began to come back for the try-hard Chicago Bulls teams that culminated in a 62-win season in 2010-11. But despite finishing with the best record, it always felt like it would be an uphill battle to beat LeBron James. Plus, while Chicago won often, the games were not usually very pleasant affairs. Outside of some Rose highlights, The Bulls' grinding ways lacked the pizazz that helps ignite a crowd. Then, of course, it all ended too early. Depression settled in as the dominant feeling among Bulls fans as the losses once again mounted.
Post-Rose Era
We lost some more -- for half a decade. The wounds of the recent past are fresh enough that they do not require a thorough retelling.
The New Bulls:
Covid came next, making fans readier than ever to cheer for their team when fans were allowed back into arenas. We watched with greater interest when Vucevic was acquired at the trade deadline, but for various reasons, the group couldn't squeak into playoff competition.
But then, following a change in management, Bulls fans woke up and suddenly there was hope. We had actually signed big-named players. We actually beat out other teams who were competing for the same guys, and we won our top targets. Even when we brought Carolos Boozer (and half the Utah team) over to aid Rose, Boozer was the consolation prize after losing out on Bosh -- and it felt like it. But the past year's acquisitions have brought nothing but excitement to the fan base.
Then the preseason gave us more hope. 4-0 with several dominant games. More interest was piqued. Now that the Bulls have started beating good teams and jumped out to one of the best records in the NBA, you go on the forums and talk to friends and it's clear that the fandom is reaching a fever pitch. The middle aged (or older) folks who watched and loved those Jordan teams are still out there, around the country and around the world, ready to don the red and black with pride again. The younger ones might appreciate the electricity surrounding a team with 2 dominant scorers, 2 recent dunk champions, 2 guys that make watching defense fun, a fast-breaking, high octane team.
That's why if the Bulls keep up their winning ways and play hard and together like they have to start the season, they can expect a lot more home games than they have documented on their official schedule.
So let the good times roll, like Vucevic after a screen! I'll be watching and cheering the whole way wherever this journey leads. And if you're here then so will you!
Go Bulls
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