Bulls win one to remember

Today's Bulls game against the Brooklyn Nets was one for the ages. One of my Facebook posts that day was that the game was the most exciting since Game Six of their first round series against the Boston Celtics in 2009. That series went seven games and almost saw the young Bulls stun the then-defending champions.
But Saturday's game may have actually been even better. These "iron men" Bulls broke the franchise record for most points scored in a playoff game, eclipsing their 1986 effort against Boston where Michael Jordan scored a playoff record 63 in double OT.
Saturday's game went into triple overtime, but not before the Bulls erased a 14-point deficit with three minutes to go in regulation. Up 14, Brooklyn and guard C.J. Watson had a fast 1 on 0 breakaway that should have resulted in a 16-point lead. But Watson missed a dunk, the Bulls fouled Reggie Evans, who then missed a pair of free throws, and the comeback was on. The Bulls outscored the Nets 14-0 over the next two minutes and headed into overtime.
The drama actually began during the final seconds of the third quarter, when Brook Lopez put up a long last second three just a moment after the Bulls thought they had a steal.
But the fourth quarter, and much of the comeback, belonged to Nate Robinson - who scored 34 points on 13 of 21 shooting before fouling out in the second extra session.
The end of the first overtime was another reason this game turned into an instant classic. Joe Johnson of the Nets hits a shot to tie the game with 11 seconds left. Then, even with a foul to give, the Nets do not foul Robinson, who puts up an awkward shot that banks in with a second to go. Johnson, who had the hot hand, then hit the tying bucket with no time to go and force the second OT.
Blunders by both teams in the second quarter saw a third overtime, where the Bulls had already fouled out two players - but still managed to hang on for the win.
This Bulls season may ultimately be remembered for the year Derrick Rose refused to play even when cleared by doctors. but no matter what happens from here on out, Saturday's game should go down in the book for the greatest this franchise has ever seen.

NFL Draft is a disappointment

I think the NFL Draft was a better event when it was held on two days, Saturday and Sunday. I remember being in seventh grade, rushing home from Saturday morning's CCD class at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn to see who the Colts would select with the top pick in 1998. It was Peyton Manning, I was happy, and the rest is NFL history. The following year, it was on another Saturday morning where I could be seen on my knees weeping as I would watch my beloved Colts pass on Ricky Williams, the runningback from the University of Texas that was the highest touted player in Draft history. The Colts selected the lesser-known Edgerrin James, a runningback from the University of Miami. James ended up being an integral part of the Colts' dominance in the early 2000s. Williams has become more of a caricature, retiring several times during an up and down career.
These two examples show that the Draft is in fact an inexact science. Some highly touted prospects turn out, some don't. And that's what makes it fun.
But it was more of a spectacle on a Saturday morning. More going on at one time.

Bad week in America

While the debates on gun control and gay marriage have had Americans red hot all year, this week we were able to take a step back to mourn the deaths of three people at the Boston Marathon Monday as two explosions 11 seconds apart rocked the finish line of the country's best race.
As the search for the perpetrators continues, the United States has already seen the powerful drug ricin being sent to a congressman and President Barack Obama and an explosion not far from Waco, Texas - nearly 20 years to the day after another blast that killed a number of people.
Locally, the week has been dampened by flooding, cars falling into sinkholes and an incident on the west side of Michigan City that nearly caused a riot Thursday.
For me, it was difficult on Tuesday in attempts to sell ads to business owners in the south suburbs of Chicago. I like learning more and more about sales, as I intern for the Irish American News - but getting turned down by people time and again is something I am going to have to get used to.
It was nice to see the humanity that was brought forth by the Boston bombings, seeing emergency responders rushing to the scene helping the people that needed it most. Seeing the Bruins fans sing along as the Star Spangled Banner brought athletic contests back to bean town, the home of so many great sports teams over the years.
But while humanity may have stepped up in the face of evil once again, I wish we could show this togetherism all the time, and not just in the wake of tragedy.

Lights out in Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Ind. — Never too late for a first in the world of reporting. During Wednesday night's Long Beach Town Council meeting (which lasted about 10 minutes), the electricity went out in the entire building about five minutes in to the quick meeting that was called only to sign a settlement between the town and other parties regarding a NIPSCO pole that was constructed on the beach side of Lake Shore Drive.