The Word Masseur

In lieu of this year’s soon-to-be-cancelled 2011-12 Bulls season, Comcast Sports Chicago has been rebroadcasting the team’s greatest games.  Last night it was Game 5 of the Cavs series in the first round of the ’89 playoffs, also known as “the day the Bulls embarked on a “rent with an option to eventually own” the NBA for the better half of the 90’s.”  Two observations, neither of which has much to do with the game itself:

1) I don’t think the Cavs’ cheerleaders could have dressed more 80’s.  Honestly, if you looked out your window right now and saw a woman dressed like one of those Burnin’ River sirens, you’d think it was either a) Dia de Muertos, or b) a casting call for a remake of the video for Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical”.  But to be honest, these cheer gals didn’t resemble a clan of aerobics instructors so much as they did female versions of Captain Freedom, Jesse Ventura’s character from the movie The Running Man.

Work those delts!

2) In his postgame interview with James Brown (who hasn’t aged a day), MJ claimed that he conquered the cold/flu that had been dogging him that afternoon with help from some inspirational pregame music.  Now, back in the late 80’s the options for what that could have been are endless.  So who was it?  Metallica?  Def Leppard?  Living Colour?  Any one of a slew of up-and-coming hair metal bands, i.e. Warrant or Winger?  How ’bout Nelson?

Wrong on all counts. You see, MJ went out and dropped 43 on the Cavs with a little help from Anita Baker.  Specifically a song called “Give it Your Best”.  Huh.  Well.  I, uh – I suppose that’s cool.  MJ was a pretty good baller in his day, after all.  Whatever floats your boat, right?

Update: I cued up “Give it Your Best” on YouTube and just dead-lifted 545lbs.  Now I know what the heck MJ was talking about!

IOH (Bulls + Anita + Captain Freedom):  +9,019

2 Responses to “Bulls vs. Cavs, Game 5 of the ‘89 Playoffs: Two observations from last night’s rebroadcast”