Notes on a Scorecard - June 8, 1991

It happened Friday:

1:05 p.m.--Harry Caray tells a shocked WGN television audience that he is rooting for Chicago to beat Los Angeles twice this day, the Cubs over the Dodgers and the Bulls over the Lakers. . . .

4:12--In the Forum parking lot, Sam the Scalper asks me if I have any extra tickets for the game. Sure. Dozens. . . .

4:31--Chicago guard John Paxson, who went eight for eight in Game 2, misses a 20-foot jumper. Unfortunately for the Lakers, it’s in the early warm-up. . . .

5:57--Placido Domingo sings the national anthem. On a scale of 10, he gets a 9.5. . . .

6:07--First standing ovation of the night greets the dimming of the house lights. This crowd won’t be difficult to please. . . .

6:13--Michael Jordan, not Scottie Pippen, guards Magic Johnson. The Lakers should give Bull Coach Phil Jackson a standing ovation. . . .

6:15--Vlade Divac throws in a hook shot and throws a kiss to the front row. . . .

6:23--Magic’s right foot lands on Jordan’s right foot. Magic limps, and Coach Mike Dunleavy calls a timeout. . . .

6:24--Magic runs onto the court after the timeout, and 17,505 resume normal breathing. . . .

6:27--Paxson misses a shot for real after making his first two field goal attempts. . . .

6:30--Chicago center Will Perdue is called for traveling. That is an unusual call in the NBA, but Perdue’s size-22 shoes are hard to miss. . . .

6:31--Pippen is called for steps. Two traveling calls against one team in less than a minute. An NBA finals record. . . .

6:40--First quarter ends 25-25. It looks as though we are in for a close game. . . .

6:45--”This is the longest timeout in the history of basketball,” says Forum publicist Bob Steiner. . . .

6:46--”Delayed Due to Technical Difficulties,” says scoreboard. . . .

6:48--Jordan experiences technical difficulty as Terry Teagle blocks his shot. . . .

6:57--With five minutes remaining in the first half, the Bulls finally put Pippen on Magic. . . .

7:13--The Bulls lead, 48-47, at halftime. The Lakers are being outrebounded, 22-10. Is this Portland or what? . . .

7:23--On NBC during halftime, New York Knick Coach Pat Riley says the winner of this game will win the series. . . .

7:33--Scoreboard welcomes, “Mr. Sue.” . . .

7:36--A Johnson layup gives the Lakers a seven-point lead, and a fan waves sign, “There’s Magic in the Air.” . . .

7:48--Lakers score their 12th consecutive point to take a 67-54 lead with 4:46 left in the third quarter, and the crowd joins in a rousing chorus of “I Love L.A.” . . .

8:00--Hold the phone. Hold Chick’s fridge. Hold the “I Love L.A.” encore. Bulls go on a 12-5 run and trail 72-66 at end of the third quarter. . . .

8:18--Pippen drives past flat-footed Lakers for layup that gives Chicago an 82-78 lead. . . .

8:34--Horace Grant puts in third offensive rebound of sequence, and Bulls lead, 90-87, with 1:07 remaining. . . .

8:38--Vlade (NBC Player of the Game) Divac makes what would seem to be the shot and the free throw to put L.A. ahead, 92-90, with 10.9 seconds left. . . .

8:40--Jordan needs only 7.5 seconds to do his thing, and we go into overtime. . . .

8:45--Dunleavy replaces Divac with Elden Campbell, who wins the tip. . . .

8:51--Jordan draws his fifth foul, and Sam Perkins’ two free throws tie it, 96-96, but a sixth foul is what the Lakers really need. . . .

9:00--Grant’s jumper gives Bulls their seventh and eighth consecutive points. . . .

9:01--Harry Caray gets his split.