In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:18 am
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Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:19 am
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Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:19 am
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Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:20 am
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Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:24 am
I'm beginning at the start of the 2009-2010 season. My Bulls look very different to the team that Vinny Del Negro is currently fielding. But I will give the roster in a moment.
As for now, this is the Prologue.
IN THE SHADOW OF HIS AIRNESS - A 2K9 ASSOCIATION
Chapter 1: Prologue
Derrick’s story
Derrick Rose pounced on the loose ball after the block and began running fast up the Garden floor. This was what he’d always dreamed of as a kid: wearing the Bulls’ red in front of 15000 Knicks fanatics screaming for his blood. The blood pulsated in his head, his lungs were begging for oxygen. It had been a long game and a longer season. He crossed over Nate Robinson, and left him in the dust. It was 2-on-1. Spotting Kirk Hinrich in his peripheral vision, he ran hard at the Knicks’ defender. He drove into the paint and made contact with the defender.
WHISTLE
Rose awoke to the sound of his condo’s phone ringing. The caller ID told him that it was Kirk Hinrich.
Showing the basketball IQ that so many of his team-mates lacked, he screened the call.
Climbing out of bed, Rose walked to the fridge.
The damn Knicks game again.
It was the first game after the All-Star break, and the Bulls had blown a 16-point lead late in the 4th. Rose had had an otherwise great game, with a great stat-line. 24 points, 10 assists, 6 boards. But all of that was forgotten after one particular play. Tyrus Thomas swatted away a Quentin Richardson layup, demonstrating the heart that had dissipated throughout the entire 4th quarter. Rose grabbed the loose ball, and began the fast break. Kirk Hinrich on one wing, Thabo Sefolosha on the other. They ran hard at the Knicks’ basket and the only man back - Anthony Roberson. The New York scrub, showing hitherto unrealised defensive fortitude stood his ground as the Bulls rookie barreled towards him. The referee’s whistle stopped the play, and he signalled the charge. It was Rose’s 6th foul, and he went to the bench. 40 seconds later, the game was lost. Hinrich, the team captain, hadnt spoken to the rookie since.
Until:
“Hey rook. It’s Kirk. Answer your phone... Look, i just wanted to say no hard feelings about the Knicks game....And, yeah...I’ve been traded. Me and Luol, actually. We’re going to New York. For David Lee and, <ahem> Starbury. So yeah, good luck with that..... Ah to hell with it, just call me back and tell me you had nothing to do with it. <beep>”
Derrick Rose smiled to himself. Suddenly the season was on an upswing.
Oleg’s story
The Ukrainian big man looked across at Johan Johansson. He had only met the Swedish Power Forward some weeks earlier, but the two had already established a healthy rivalry. A rivalry which had fed into the NBA draft green room. David Stern had yet to present himself to announce the top pick, and the mood was tense.
The mock drafts were no help to Oleg, and not just because they were in English and not his native Ukrainian. They all said something different. Some had Semenko going first, others had Johansson in the top spot. Still more were predicting Armando Ramirez, the Argentine big man as the first pick. They all agreed on one thing, though: This was going to be a big draft for International prospects.
If Semenko had been able to read the reports, they would have likely added to his uneasiness rather than cure it. He had been described as everything from the best big man prospect in years to the biggest flop prospect since Michael Olowokandi. He had drawn comparisons to both Tim Duncan and Jake Voskuhl. It was the Duncan comparisons that would have worried Semenko the most. He could remember watching a game back in Kiev where the rookie Tim Duncan took apart Oleg’s countryman, Vitaly Potapenko. The eleven year-old Oleg was inspired, and took his basketball training to newer and more extreme levels. He developed an extremely effective high-arcing bank-shot, and used his length to become an intimidating defensive presence. He had Tim Duncan to thank for being in the position he was. On the verge of being drafted into the basketball league in the world.
NBA Commissioner David Stern walked onto the Madison Square Garden stage, and the Garden crowd filled with Knicks fanatics rose at once into a mixed chorus of boos and cheers.
Johansson and Semenko made eye contact again. A wry smirk crossed the big Swede’s face.
“With the first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select... Oleg Semenko of BC Kyiv, Ukraine.”
Vinny’s Story
“So, one day, you’re sitting there. Could be any day, and you look at yourself, at your hands, and you think ‘Man, I have done nothing. You were there when the team was on the brink of success, but couldnt get over the hump....until they traded you...and saw the beginnings of a dynasty.” Vinny said to the man beside him. “And then, you get a job, a good job handed to you. And it gets you nowhere.”
Vinny threw back another shot of whiskey.
“I played twelve years in the league. Twelve good years. I played for the best coaches, played with the best players. Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Tom Gugliotta, Ralph Sampson, Mookie Blaylock. But it’s still nothing.”
“This team couldnt play together. We had a rookie point who fell in love with a shot that he didnt have. A big man with too much energy, too much hair, and not a single bit of offence. Three other big guys who could each do one thing, but had no second talent. And then we had a whole other army of overpaid has-beens with more attitude than sense.”
“I’ve got the media saying that I need to take responsibility for 18 and 40. I’ve got a team full of guys who havent spoken to each other since April 16th. And now I’ve got this new kid who is supposed to be the saviour of the city and you know what? He only speaks seven words of English.”
The other man cleared his throat, “Sounds like you’ve had a hard time of it, Coach. But tell me something: Why are you drinking so much in the middle of the day when you have practice in an hour?”
Vinny Del Negro stood, and looked at the man, “Because I’m about to get fired.” He stood up and walked to the exit.
“I’ll see ya, Coach.” the man called to Vinny.
“Yeah,” Vinny sighed, “See ya, Isiah.”
Javaris’ Story
“RIGHT! DO IT AGAIN!” Coach Eddie Jordan bellowed at his team, “Nick Young, set up for the inbound.”
The Wizards ran the inbound play again. Young inbounded to Gilbert Arenas, who carried the ball to the top of the three-point arc. Brendan Haywood rushed forward to set a pick, as Arenas made a move to roll towards the baseline. Javaris Crittenton, in his eagerness to stay with Arenas, crashed hard into Haywood, and hit the floor, hard.
Arenas’ open jumpshot was interrupted by Eddie Jordan’s whistle.
“Crittenton! That’s your foul. And more than that, you just gave up an open jumper. If you want to be more than just a mediocre garbage-minutes point guard, then...”
Javaris left the Verizon Centre 40 minutes later, in a bad mood. Coach Jordan’s treatment was nothing new. He had only seen about 7 minutes of action per game the year before, after being traded from Memphis. His time with the Grizzlies hadnt been much better.
Basketball had never been less fun for the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket. There was no satisfaction in being paid a million dollars a year to sit on a bench in the nation’s capital. His college teammates Thaddeus Young and Anthony Morrow were getting good runs in Philly and Golden State, respectively, despite most draft reports projecting Crittenton to have a better career than the other two.
He had recently been in contact with another former Yellow Jacket, Australian Luke Schenscher, who had lived through what Javaris had lived through and was now playing solid basketball in Germany and having the time of his life.
Crittenton was a free agent in 2010, along with big names LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire and Rudy Gay. Intimidating company, and it was unlikely that Javaris would be able to garner any attention unless he saw more action in a more prominent role on a more successful team.
Javaris sighed and wondered how much a German dictionary would cost.
As for now, this is the Prologue.
Derrick Rose pounced on the loose ball after the block and began running fast up the Garden floor. This was what he’d always dreamed of as a kid: wearing the Bulls’ red in front of 15000 Knicks fanatics screaming for his blood. The blood pulsated in his head, his lungs were begging for oxygen. It had been a long game and a longer season. He crossed over Nate Robinson, and left him in the dust. It was 2-on-1. Spotting Kirk Hinrich in his peripheral vision, he ran hard at the Knicks’ defender. He drove into the paint and made contact with the defender.
WHISTLE
Rose awoke to the sound of his condo’s phone ringing. The caller ID told him that it was Kirk Hinrich.
Showing the basketball IQ that so many of his team-mates lacked, he screened the call.
Climbing out of bed, Rose walked to the fridge.
The damn Knicks game again.
It was the first game after the All-Star break, and the Bulls had blown a 16-point lead late in the 4th. Rose had had an otherwise great game, with a great stat-line. 24 points, 10 assists, 6 boards. But all of that was forgotten after one particular play. Tyrus Thomas swatted away a Quentin Richardson layup, demonstrating the heart that had dissipated throughout the entire 4th quarter. Rose grabbed the loose ball, and began the fast break. Kirk Hinrich on one wing, Thabo Sefolosha on the other. They ran hard at the Knicks’ basket and the only man back - Anthony Roberson. The New York scrub, showing hitherto unrealised defensive fortitude stood his ground as the Bulls rookie barreled towards him. The referee’s whistle stopped the play, and he signalled the charge. It was Rose’s 6th foul, and he went to the bench. 40 seconds later, the game was lost. Hinrich, the team captain, hadnt spoken to the rookie since.
Until:
“Hey rook. It’s Kirk. Answer your phone... Look, i just wanted to say no hard feelings about the Knicks game....And, yeah...I’ve been traded. Me and Luol, actually. We’re going to New York. For David Lee and, <ahem> Starbury. So yeah, good luck with that..... Ah to hell with it, just call me back and tell me you had nothing to do with it. <beep>”
Derrick Rose smiled to himself. Suddenly the season was on an upswing.
The Ukrainian big man looked across at Johan Johansson. He had only met the Swedish Power Forward some weeks earlier, but the two had already established a healthy rivalry. A rivalry which had fed into the NBA draft green room. David Stern had yet to present himself to announce the top pick, and the mood was tense.
The mock drafts were no help to Oleg, and not just because they were in English and not his native Ukrainian. They all said something different. Some had Semenko going first, others had Johansson in the top spot. Still more were predicting Armando Ramirez, the Argentine big man as the first pick. They all agreed on one thing, though: This was going to be a big draft for International prospects.
If Semenko had been able to read the reports, they would have likely added to his uneasiness rather than cure it. He had been described as everything from the best big man prospect in years to the biggest flop prospect since Michael Olowokandi. He had drawn comparisons to both Tim Duncan and Jake Voskuhl. It was the Duncan comparisons that would have worried Semenko the most. He could remember watching a game back in Kiev where the rookie Tim Duncan took apart Oleg’s countryman, Vitaly Potapenko. The eleven year-old Oleg was inspired, and took his basketball training to newer and more extreme levels. He developed an extremely effective high-arcing bank-shot, and used his length to become an intimidating defensive presence. He had Tim Duncan to thank for being in the position he was. On the verge of being drafted into the basketball league in the world.
NBA Commissioner David Stern walked onto the Madison Square Garden stage, and the Garden crowd filled with Knicks fanatics rose at once into a mixed chorus of boos and cheers.
Johansson and Semenko made eye contact again. A wry smirk crossed the big Swede’s face.
“With the first pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select... Oleg Semenko of BC Kyiv, Ukraine.”
“So, one day, you’re sitting there. Could be any day, and you look at yourself, at your hands, and you think ‘Man, I have done nothing. You were there when the team was on the brink of success, but couldnt get over the hump....until they traded you...and saw the beginnings of a dynasty.” Vinny said to the man beside him. “And then, you get a job, a good job handed to you. And it gets you nowhere.”
Vinny threw back another shot of whiskey.
“I played twelve years in the league. Twelve good years. I played for the best coaches, played with the best players. Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Tom Gugliotta, Ralph Sampson, Mookie Blaylock. But it’s still nothing.”
“This team couldnt play together. We had a rookie point who fell in love with a shot that he didnt have. A big man with too much energy, too much hair, and not a single bit of offence. Three other big guys who could each do one thing, but had no second talent. And then we had a whole other army of overpaid has-beens with more attitude than sense.”
“I’ve got the media saying that I need to take responsibility for 18 and 40. I’ve got a team full of guys who havent spoken to each other since April 16th. And now I’ve got this new kid who is supposed to be the saviour of the city and you know what? He only speaks seven words of English.”
The other man cleared his throat, “Sounds like you’ve had a hard time of it, Coach. But tell me something: Why are you drinking so much in the middle of the day when you have practice in an hour?”
Vinny Del Negro stood, and looked at the man, “Because I’m about to get fired.” He stood up and walked to the exit.
“I’ll see ya, Coach.” the man called to Vinny.
“Yeah,” Vinny sighed, “See ya, Isiah.”
“RIGHT! DO IT AGAIN!” Coach Eddie Jordan bellowed at his team, “Nick Young, set up for the inbound.”
The Wizards ran the inbound play again. Young inbounded to Gilbert Arenas, who carried the ball to the top of the three-point arc. Brendan Haywood rushed forward to set a pick, as Arenas made a move to roll towards the baseline. Javaris Crittenton, in his eagerness to stay with Arenas, crashed hard into Haywood, and hit the floor, hard.
Arenas’ open jumpshot was interrupted by Eddie Jordan’s whistle.
“Crittenton! That’s your foul. And more than that, you just gave up an open jumper. If you want to be more than just a mediocre garbage-minutes point guard, then...”
Javaris left the Verizon Centre 40 minutes later, in a bad mood. Coach Jordan’s treatment was nothing new. He had only seen about 7 minutes of action per game the year before, after being traded from Memphis. His time with the Grizzlies hadnt been much better.
Basketball had never been less fun for the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket. There was no satisfaction in being paid a million dollars a year to sit on a bench in the nation’s capital. His college teammates Thaddeus Young and Anthony Morrow were getting good runs in Philly and Golden State, respectively, despite most draft reports projecting Crittenton to have a better career than the other two.
He had recently been in contact with another former Yellow Jacket, Australian Luke Schenscher, who had lived through what Javaris had lived through and was now playing solid basketball in Germany and having the time of his life.
Crittenton was a free agent in 2010, along with big names LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire and Rudy Gay. Intimidating company, and it was unlikely that Javaris would be able to garner any attention unless he saw more action in a more prominent role on a more successful team.
Javaris sighed and wondered how much a German dictionary would cost.
Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:38 pm
Nice writing. Really leaves you with an extciting feeling of what comes next. Vinny taking another shot ^^ thats nice. I guess that those 3 guys will be on the Bulls then? Well see. Keep it up 
Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:19 am
I enjoyed the read man. I'm jumping on the Oleg bandwagon. 
I'm jumping on the Oleg bandwagon.
Re: In the Shadow of His Airness - A 2K9 Association
Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:19 am
Cheers for the response, guys.
I'll be picking up the recaps a quarter of the way into the 09-10 season, but some of the earlier games will be touched on, especially some of the more significant ones- including a triple-overtime slog against the Lakers, and a tough loss to the Mavs, where one of our key guys saw his season thrown into jeopardy.
It's a great bandwagon to be on. The kid is proving himself in new ways every night.
I'll be picking up the recaps a quarter of the way into the 09-10 season, but some of the earlier games will be touched on, especially some of the more significant ones- including a triple-overtime slog against the Lakers, and a tough loss to the Mavs, where one of our key guys saw his season thrown into jeopardy.
Sit wrote:I enjoyed the read man.
It's a great bandwagon to be on. The kid is proving himself in new ways every night.