"We're going streaking... through the quad!" Will Ferrell's character, Frank the Tank, never made it to the quad in the movie Old School, but this movie line factors into my eternal quest to find the good times in Chicago sports. The Bulls would love to make it to the quad -- a four-game winning streak that is -- but they seem to "tank" it every chance they get.
Just recently, I spent a Saturday night at the United Center covering the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Bulls. Entering this game, the Bulls owned a 2-game winning streak. Their opponent had only five wins on the season -- the fewest in the NBA. The Bulls seemed destined to achieve their first 3-game winning streak since April 15, 2007.
However, the Bulls lost in overtime. Their next three-game winning streak will have to wait. That's right. They have not had a winning streak greater than those two games this season as well as the entire 2007-'08 season.
Their Chicago brethren have had better luck. The Bears had a 3-game winning streak, but getting to the "quad" would have meant a trip to the playoffs. The Blackhawks posted a franchise best 9-game winning streak in December. The Cubs strung together at least three wins 14 times this past season while the Sox won at least three straight 13 times.
It's about time the Bulls go old school and win at least three straight.
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He didn't dominate when he played, but his name dominates the headlines when a baseball player needs elbow surgery. Tommy John should be enshrined in Cooperstown. His accumulation of wins is a direct result of him being a medical pioneer in baseball. He racked up 288 career wins (26th all-time), and he was able to do so thanks to successful reconstructive elbow surgery in 1974. It's what is commonly known as Tommy John Surgery.
He re-started his career in 1976 and ended it in 1989. His three 20-win seasons occurred after having the surgery. In total, 164 of his wins occurred after the surgery. One day, John Smoltz and Mariano Rivera should be in baseball's Hall of Fame. When they are giving their induction speech, one of the people they should thank is Tommy John. Countless others should be thanking Tommy John for extending their career whether it's at the high school, college or professional level.
The veterans committee now has the responsibility to recognize baseball's medical miracle.
This is the magic of good times, and this is just the latest chapter in a long book about the Bulls' low post.