This could be a cliché review of The Last Dance documentary: synopsis, plots, episodic review; but it won’t. The essential recollection of memories displayed vividly from the outstanding storytelling and narrative from integral parties within the documentary, creates a nostalgic experience that is wonderfully shared with others who witnessed, or are now introduced to the lore of the Dynasty Bulls. In these unprecedented times, entertainment has given us Gems: Tiger King, adaptive weekly Pro Wrestling and return of fanless UFC, and Busts: Sim Sports (all of them). Another Undisputed Gem has been The Last Dance;  an in-depth probe of the mythos of the titanic Chicago Bulls, and their on court leader, a certified “GOAT” (Greatest of All-Time) of polarizing proportion, Michael Jordan.

The behind the scene analyses, is a proponent feature of literally stepping into the locker room and psyche of the interviewed participants rationalized the impact and affect that each integral moment had on their person within the respective timeline of covering (of those whom are interviewed). As with many transcendent pop culture events, it has generated many of, sometimes debates and memes (see perm security guard, and any MJ reaction). This documentary transports the viewer through time and space via first person analysis to the formation and decimation of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty, featuring their iconic player, Michael Jordan.

Growing up, I hated Michael Jordan. Straight distain. This all began with not being able to beat him in Jordan vs Bird on PC/Sega. Juvenile and petty, understood, but this bitterness brewed into Bulls vs. Lakers on Sega Genesis. I was a huge Magic Johnson fan. A 6’9’’ “Point Guard”, who can do it all. I thought players who were tall couldn’t handle the ball, playmake and be uber athletic. But he had excelled at playing all 5 positions, also providing one of the Top 10 playoff performances of All-Time. I was enamored.

Alas, I couldn’t beat the Bulls, and was continually taking L’s from Virtual Jordan. This metamorphized to Bulls vs. Blazers, when Shawn Kemp’s off the glass slam wasn’t enough to take down the Bulls. How can something so cool, be ruined by someone so great? Heartbroken. Heated. My cousin was a big fan of the Bulls and Jordan, and was better than I was, so it didn’t help rational thought in why the disdain was so prevalent.

 

 

 

Everyone wanted to, “Be Like Mike”. From the shoes, McDonald’s, Gatorade, tongue hanging out when doing anything with concentration/awesomeness. It was conceived through clever marketing that, ‘if you bought the merch, then you will then you will “Be Like Mike”. However, it was Jordan’s game that extraordinarily increased the value of said products. If you wanted to “Be Like Mike”, you had to put in the work. The Chicago Bulls were mired in mediocrity before and during Jordan’s first few years. Despite the organization and team successes, Jordan was the focal point and star of the team. Gaining Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA Team, Scoring Championships and All-Star Game Nods. However, he did not reach that pinnacle of success ascending to the Pantheon of the Greats by winning a title.

He was the flashy player who couldn’t get his team over the hump. Former Bulls Coach Doug Collins said it best, “Give Jordan the ball and GTFO the way”. That approach to the game wouldn’t propel the team into greatness, nor Jordan. It would take a coaching change by inserting Phil Jackson, and the instilling of Tex Winters’ “Triangle Offense”, which was lobbied for but dismissed putting Tex in a corner, and no one puts Tex in a corner! This new offense takes the ball out of a single scorer and creates facilitation and impromptu offensive action off the ball. This would be the beginning of the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen/Phil Jackson lead dynasty.

To get over the hump, and reach the elite pantheon of basketball greats, Michael Jordan needed to overcome the Isiah Thomas led “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons and the “Jordan Rules”. This physical ‘no easy buckets’ style of play, was bruising and somewhat barbaric (even though they were playing within the rules of the game at the time). It wasn’t a shock when scuffles or fights came about. After utilizing that legendary work ethic and bulking up, the Jordan led Bulls, flanked with an emerging Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant creating a formidable ‘Bat Family’, would dethrone the Bad Boys, and become Kings of the East. This would lead them on to their first three-peat, defeating the Lakers, Blazers and Suns (’90, ’91, ’92, respectively).

Going into the ’92 summer, the Dream Team was striving for Gold in the Game of Games. This team had all of the NBA greats (sans one, but we won’t get into all of that), and was a splendor to watch. I had the cards, books, stat stickers on the door, warm ups, and started to warm up to Mike a little. When they won the tournament, I succumbed, and was all in on the Jordan Hype Train. The hate disappeared and I was now a Mike fan and even the Bulls.

When Jordan stepped away to play baseball, it was all the talk in the school yard. I really didn’t think it was a big deal. I mean, my favourite football player, “Neon” Deion Sanders, played both baseball and football and excelled at both. Except, Jordan left to play baseball. There was many of speculation and conspiracy theories at the time as to why he left the game he dominated for a third of a decade, that thankfully the doc addressed. But for an elementary school aged fan, we just knew he wanted to play baseball, and so he did.

While Jordan was away, you could feel it. His absence did give other players a chance to take the helm of top player in the game. It also allowed other teams become household names as well. But, removing such an icon from the game dwarfed in comparison to which the enigma Jordan was. These players like Hakeem, Barkley, and Shaq were legends and budding legends of the game, but they couldn’t lace his Flights. Ok, now its starting to sit into realization that Space Jam was a documentary.

The story begins with a flashback of Jordan’s youthful aspirations and leads to his retirement. Jordan left to play baseball, the NBA players had all of their talent and joy taken from them by a egocentric GM who looked like Jerry Krause. The season also ends which could also reference the Lockout in 95-96. Then, the Looney Tunes go and find Jordan golfing with Larry Bird to help defeat these bully ‘Monstars’, who emasculated them and challenged them to a duel. They bring him back to shape, and he brings them over the hump to propel them into greatness again, through his leadership skills. ‘Jordan Juice’ or Gatorade, wasn’t needed to be great, it was within the Toon Squad that made them, because it was just water. He then returns the talent to the players, and returns to the NBA to dominate. Still one of my all-time favourite sports movies but, weird.

When Jordan returned, I received a book called Second Coming, by Sam Smith (still have it to this day). It talks about how Jordan went from basketball, to baseball, back again, and even included the in-depth look into the off court issues that in retrospect, for an elementary school kid, was a bit cavalier. Either way, Jordan was back!

I got a 45 Jordan home jersey, but not the shoes. We were of modest means, so buying expensive shoes just so they get dirty was out of the question (still live by that today). The returning Jordan was not the same, and seemed like a shell of himself, where the Bulls eventually lost to the Orlando Magic in six. And, eventually I got a Penny Hardaway jersey.

In the ’96 season, the Bulls acquired the charismatic enigma, Dennis Rodman. I was a card collector as a youth, so seeing that the Bulls acquired the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons’ ‘DPOY’ card, who now has colourful hair, I was intrigued. Rodman was unique, to say the least, but I was enamored by his hustle, defense, and rebounding. He gave 110% every time on the floor, and that’s something I wanted to emulate. When we would play at the school yard, everyone wanted to be their “player”. I wanted to be Rodman: going all out diving on the floor, and giving everything from basketball to kickball to tag, and with jersey in tow.

The emulation reached a point where I was allowed to wear sweats and shorts to stop putting holes in my school pants. Even though his on the court was intoxicating, off the court was even more tantalizing: High profile dating, “marrying” himself, his book Bad as I want to Be, his biopic movie and feature films. Yes, I did get to see Double Team with Jean Claude Van Damme; no regrets. He was counterculture and aligned right with where I was/am. But even though he was able to effect his team on the court, he was also able to effect them off it (see hiatus). But the best was when he joined the nWo: Rodzilla and Hollywood Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone. As a pro wrestling fan that was epic seeing both worlds collide!

Okay, back to basketball and the Bulls Super Team. The 72 win Bulls team may be the greatest team that ever played. They were scoring duo heavy with Jordan and Pippen, their ‘Big 3’ comrade Rodman provided the defensive anchor and rebounding, their bench lead by Toni Kukoc had formidable contributions as well. As being able to witness both iconic runs of the 72 Win Bulls and the 73 Win Warriors, the 73 win Warriors could give them a run for their money in terms of Greatest Team of All-Time (GToAT). But they’re like the undefeated Patriots in comparison with the ’72 Dolphins. They got it done in the regular season, but couldn’t get it done in the championship.

The next two finals, the Bulls would go up against a formidable foe, led by one of the greatest duo ever in John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Utah Jazz. The duo of ‘Stockton and Malone’, encompassed the all-time assist and steals leader (Jordan is 3rd in Steals) at Point, with the number two all-time scoring leader (Jordan was number 3, currently 5th; surpassed by Lebron and Kobe) and number 7 all-time rebounder in Karl Malone (Rodman is 23rd). Their pick and roll game was perfected and a blueprint in how to be effective within those roles in reads and execution.

The back and forth between these two juggernauts of their respective conferences was on and off the court. Especially, the aforementioned battle between Rodzilla and Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs DDP and Karl Malone. To culminate the dynastic reign as the ‘Kings of the NBA’ (not Sacramento), the ultimate battle would cement a legacy unparalleled within the modern era of American Basketball. Before the culmination of the Last Dance, they would have to meet a true nemesis of the East, Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers.

Reggie Miller had a same reaction to getting into it with MJ, “Don’t Talk Sh*T” (‘DTS’), or as he would say, “Don’t talk trash to Black Jesus”. He was cutthroat, and turned it on when the right buttons were pressed. Reggie was a formidable foe. The sneaky sharpshooting 2 guard had all the confidence in the world to beat the best. Even with a little shove. But Jordan still had the confidence in himself and his team.

Karl Malone is the MVP adding that extra motivation. Bryon Russell also made the “DTS” list for Jordan, coming from a story about him playing baseball and Russell asking him ‘why he quit?’. Thus, cements the skewering of Russell I’m back to back finals moments.

The infamous “Flu game”, that is now food poisoning game (FPG), was iconic. Possibly due to “tampering”, either way was a show of perseverance innate in His Airness to go and perform for him and his team. Always finding that switch. It instilled within a youth mindset to do your best within your abilities, and if you can go without further damaging yourself, go. And give your all.

The story continues with the emphasis of utilizing “The Other Guys”, those who are outside the star podium and compliment the stars. It all came down to trusting your teammates. Something emphasized by every coach no matter who the talent is, to trust your teammates to defend, rebound, and make shots. No matter how much they struggle, still belive in your team. You win and lose together, not on your own. “I’ll be ready”, as Steve Kerr stated. Struggled, and came in the clutch when needed to seal the title. Still get goosebumps.

 

 

Our ride through the DeLorean (s/o Back to the Future; dopest time travel movie ever!) brings the viewer to the culmination of the final series of the Dynasty Bulls. An emphasized clairvoyance of Jordan describing his press end of mind at all times to try and achieve greatness. Bulls went down 0-1, just like my Sixers did to the Lakers in ‘01. I believe Jazz fans had the same feeling that they had the series won. Oh, they did not. The aforementioned Rodzilla experiment in the nWo explanation of his thought process in dabbling in the pro wrestling, playing ball and doing his thing was what a 18-25 year old would have; he was 37 at the time. Despite the “distraction”, and “dishonoring” (as Phil stated), Rodman could live his life off the court and give 1000% on the basketball court. The ingredients of party, wrestle, bullsh*t, lock down defense and grab 40 boards. The Bulls had a chance to close it out, but Utah would give a fight. Leading into a deciding Game 6.

With a laboring Scottie Pippen due to back issues, that Jordan even said scared him from being out of the game; if you’ve ever had them, then excruciating isn’t the proper word. A key player down, the leader had to step up.

Pippen did make his return to the second half and working out his injury to relieve it doing a 5 and 5. The Jazz took the lead with less than a minute by 3; 83-86. The Bulls needed Jordan’s heroics. On the next possession, he went right at Bryon Russell, and got a weak side steal on Malone in the post who made the biggest error in posting up- taking the eyes off the baseline. Jordan brought the ball up, no time out needed, and “Get the Hell Out the Way” occurred. Then the ‘Shot/”push off” Heard Around the World’, put the dagger in the Jazz (so much debate, but momentum had Russell going. Jordan just stopped on a dime). A missed Utah shot solidified the second Three-Peat. 6-0. Thus, the end of a Dynasty, and a hypothetical ‘what could’ve been’.

 

 

The nostalgic trip of reliving The Last Dance was a welcoming experience during a time when involuntary sedentarism opens the opportunity for such, as well as self realization. Like any great documentary, Multiple stories were told, some uplifting others heartbreaking. Showing the humanity with the overall essence of the players and their development throughout their lives.

Michael Jordan was a player that could not be replicated, the late Kobe Bryant was close, but without Jordan, there wouldn’t be a Kobe Bryant.  Jordan set the bar in excelling within a sport that literally pushes you to your limitations. His approach could be chastised by many as “bullying”, “emotional abuse”, or “tough love” that would be frowned upon by a fraction of people, and he even stated that this documentary would make people think he was a “bad guy”. However, the essentiality of where the fire and desire was emanating from; the desire to be great. No one was going to be as great as him, due to gods given abilities, and basketball prowess that were harnessed through hope. However, that work ethic can be passed along to continue setting and raising that bar.

Jordan raised that bar across all realms within basketball that he was a part of, save general managing and ownership for which has caused a row between him a Sir Charles. However, success is the attempt of which to achieve an objective through giving maximum effort all within the ethics of sport, to reach that pinnacle of accomplishment by achieving said goal. Jordan embodied that, as it reflected on his team creating an unmatched dynasty of mythological proportions. For that, as a sports fan, I am grateful. Despite all of the juvenile disdain just from a video game, it sets into rationalization: it’s because he was that damn great that the need to understand and conceptualize the greatness and how to emulate it, to become better in all facets of the game of basketball (still wish I made that dunk from the free-throwline though). He was my Detroit Pistons, and also my GOAT; at Shooting Guard.

via 44communications.co.uk

Thank you for all of those who created, produced, participated, and helped make this documentary film. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and it is truly appreciated!