This Week In Chicago Sports History: Jordan, Rose Each Breakout Big In Boston
WARR producer and Blackhawks reporter Sid "The Kid" is a reliable source of information when it comes to Chicago sports throughout the ages. Now every #throwbackthursday Sid gives you some of the top moments to remember for each week forward.
Our first look back in Chicago sports history takes us to the sport of basketball, which typically has the city in a fervor at this time of year, for good or bad.
The 1984 draft saw the Chicago Bulls select Michael Jordan out of North Carolina which followed up a Rookie of the Year award. The second season for Mr. Jordan didn't start out so kindly.
Missing a total of 63 games was a definite setback, but he was determined to finish the season on the court and for one afternoon, April 20th 1986, the NBA witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime showdown between a living legend in Larry Bird and the wave of the future in Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the first round of the Playoffs between the Celtics and the Bulls from the famed Boston Garden.
Jordan announced to the world that he had a lot left in his tank scoring a career playoff high 63 points, but the Bulls lost in double overtime 135-131 and eventually losing the series in a sweep. The Celtics would go on to win their 16th world championship in '86 with Bird capturing his third and final ring while Michael Jordan's legend grew to greater heights with numerous individual awards and achievements.
We all know what the 1990s decade would bring the Bulls -- a run of success the franchise is working in the shadow of and one the league has only flirted with matching in the time since.
It's amazing that this particular MJ record has stood the test of time for 33 years and it may remain as one of his more untouchable records. A lot of volume shooters and prolific scorers are in the league today -- Kevin Durant, James Harden, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, etc. -- it will be interesting to see if this generation produces a playoff performance to match Mike's or if it will take another player we still have yet to hear from.
Also, on this day, Derrick Rose kick-started his playoff legacy with a Game 1 performance in Boston that drew comparisons to MJ's earlier brilliance and awoke Bulls fans like no other performance since the 90's dynasty. Let's turn it over to Chicago historian extraordinaire Jack Silverstein and his "ashotonehlo" Instagram account:
Hossa, Hawks Make Stand In First Dynasty Year
Our last flashback this week will focus on the Men in Red, i.e. the Chicago Blackhawks.
The start of the Hawks' 21st century dynasty began with the team's first Stanley Cup in over four decades in 2010. The 2010 playoff run had a host of epic moments, including in the opening round match up against the Nashville Predators. Game 5, which happened April 24th at the United Center, was a signal-booster for a team on the rise.
After splitting the first four games of the series, the Hawks needed to regain control of the series in this crucial Game 5 battle. After dominating the first two periods, Nashville responded with three goals of their own taking the lead 4-3 midway through the third period.
Late in the period, Marian Hossa was called for a penalty which sent him to the box for four minutes. Patrick Kane tied the game late which sent the game into overtime.
After killing off the four minute penalty, only in sports the script would fit perfectly as Hossa jumped on the ice eleven seconds to deliver the game-winning goal.
The young Hawks would close out the series in six in route to their first title and a dynasty to come while the Predators have only appeared in one Cup Final (2017) with no title.