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Windy City Lets Out a Sigh of Relief

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OK, Hooterville, one, two, three . . . exhale.

This city, which is haunted by its pratfalls but proclaims its triumphs in advance, was spared more torture, not to mention the prospect of the ultimate embarrassment, on Sunday when its beloved Bulls finally finished off those pesky Seattle SuperSonics, 87-75, to start the long-deferred celebration.

What could they say but . . . thank heaven that’s over.

“One thing about this championship,” Coach Phil Jackson said later, with more feeling than he let show in months, “we were expected to win.

“Whenever you’re expected to do something, the pressure is great on a basketball club. It’s a relief to win, rather than an exultation. Tonight was just kind of a relief.”

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All the way around. The Bulls, beaten twice but never seriously threatened, flew home from Seattle to find their fans displaying their patented bravado while, at the same time, preparing to panic.

The Sun-Times announced the latest plans for the victory celebration: Grant Park on Tuesday with Da Superfans from “Saturday Night Live,” radio announcer John Kerr and the Lovabulls (obviously the team was sparing any expense).

In the event of a Bull victory in Game 7, it would have been Friday.

In the event of no Bull victory, don’t ask.

Fans recalled the ’69 Cubs, who blew only a large regular-season lead over the New York Mets. A Bull fall in the NBA finals, after leading 3-0, would have been an all-timer, even for Chicago.

“If the Bulls lose,” said Cub first baseman Mark Grace, spying a silver lining, “it would take the ’69 Cubs, the ’84 Cubs, take everybody of the hook.”

The Sun-Times and the Tribune ran analyses by two sports psychologists, a psychic and an astrologer. Fortunately, all auguries seemed to be working for the Bulls.

The psychic said the vibes were good and the Bulls would be “on the cutting edge.” The astrologer noted Steve Kerr and Scottie Pippen were Libras whose forecast was: “A major goal is obtained.”

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One of the sports shrinks, a Dr. Gloria Balagui, noted, “I think because they won the first three games--and somewhat easily--I think they might have relaxed.”

She went to four years of grad school for that? Chicago players got so full of themselves, they were like that hot air balloon of Benny the Bull that floats around the United Center, just perfect for pricking in faraway KeyArena.

But the NBA this season hath no answer for a Bull team that comes ready and, at last, the SuperSonics had their full attention again.

Better auguries were revealed. Slump-mired Pippen, setting for outside shots and missing almost all of them, took it to the basket the first time he touched the ball and scored on a layup. Michael Jordan made a three-point shot with Gary Payton in his face the first time he touched the ball.

After that, however, the going got heavy for the old guys. Pippen made one shot in the second and third quarters. Jordan went five for 19 from the field. Only their defense and Dennis Rodman, who took 19 rebounds, held off Seattle.

Giddy, the Bulls took advantage of the NBA/NBC on-the-floor trophy presentation to take their bows.

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Owner Jerry Reinsdorf acknowledged “the greatest player that ever played the game” and “the greatest coach in the league,” adding:

“But if you had to give credit to one man, that guy that put them all here . . . Jerry Krause!”

Jerry Krause?

To give Krause his due, the general manager did bring in 11 of these Bulls, inheriting only one player (Jordan).

Jordan was selected the finals most valuable player for the fourth time (in four finals). There was a push for Rodman (Seattle’s George Karl noted that Dennis “won them two basketball games”) but it wasn’t even close.

In six games, the Bulls outscored the SuperSonics by 23 points.

With Jordan on the floor, the Bulls outscored the SuperSonics by 48.

When Mike was out, the SuperSonics outscored the Bulls by 25. Sounds like an MVP, all right.

“When I looked at my teammates and the success a lot of those guys have never had,” Jordan said later, “it was part of the motivation to do whatever I could to be a leader to this team. . . .

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“No matter what happens from this point forward, they can’t take a championship from Randy Brown, from Jud Buecher.

“Even from Jack Haley.”

And so the curtain falls on another happy gang of Bulls, savoring the fruits of victory after a grueling season in which they lost only 13 games. It has been hard on them and they’ll need time to rest and reflect before announcing they’re staking their claim to their fifth title in Jordan’s last five full seasons.

Tuesday in Grant Park sounds about right.

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