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6 days ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
This is not a playoff preview. We’re way beyond that. Let’s call this an “assessment.” Not criticism, more like optimism that has a strong chance of coming off critical. (I will try to do better. Next time.)The NBA soap opera “Beyond the Logo” (renamed and rebranded after 1969) entered its 78th season this past October. A few teasers disguised as narratives were pushed out before the first episodes aired.
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1 week ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
So . . .
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2 weeks ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
The moment was watershed. Transactional, as the (cool) kids like to say now.
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3 weeks ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
The only way to go from here is down. Up is an afterthought. Not offered as an option. The whole thing is deeper than the record set last season. Deeper than the 121 L’s and the ‘‘worst team ever’’ label. Carries more impact than how the team and its 2024 campaign will be remembered historically. Sadder than the chalked outline we cross as we step into this season.
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1 month ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
“If you’re going to try and make sense of the NCAA Tournament, best of luck to you. Because this thing is a beautiful mess.” — college basketball analyst Seth DavisLet’s for the sake of necessity focus on the word “beautiful.” Every year we collectively can’t wait to get back here. Survive and Advance season. Bracketoligarchy. March magic. Madness guaranteed, promised, inevitable. Lady Gaga. Luther Vandross. Everyone in-between, everyone’s all in.
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1 month ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
A little more than 23 years ago, there was a column written (by I) about the “Meaning of Michael Vick’s $100M contract.” At the time, Vick had returned to the NFL, was playing for the Eagles, had spent time in jail for his role in a dog-fighting ring, had been considered public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of America and, as a black (insert N-word) quarterback, was not only a threat to the NFL QB status quo but also in many, many societal circles was undeserving of a payday that reflected...
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1 month ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
Why the obsession? Why do we, they, those who set the tone and agenda for what become our everyday topics of discussion and discourse continue to make nothings into somethings? More necessary than necessary. Why are we all always in such a rush to beat the end result to the finish line? There’s a hatred within us against nature sometimes, for certain things, taking its course.
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1 month ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
Three years ago, I was asked by the Religion of Sports, in conjunction with Higher Ground Productions (the Obamas’ production venture), to write a treatment for a documentary series about the history of Chicago high school basketball. The catch: They wanted to include current basketball currency. They wanted to include the now.
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2 months ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
Deep on the southeast side of the city, a media convergence unseen in this gym in a while occurred. Twenty-eight games deep and the word had gotten out. ABC 7 in one corner, Fox 32 securing the bleachers, NBC 5 posted up along the wall. Cameramen and reporters. All here, because this time last week, none of us believed this was real. Those of us who’d been following had honestly been waiting for the fall.
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2 months ago | 
chicago.suntimes.com | Scoop Jackson
Got a call the other day: “Scoop, you goin’ to the Bay for All-Star?”Response: “Naw. Not interested.”Got stopped on the street earlier this week: “Scoop Jackson. Thought you’d be in San Fran for All-Star. Since you’re here, where are you gonna watch the game?”Response: “Probably not going to. They’ve turned it all into too much of a circus. It ain’t even about basketball anymore.”There was a time for many of us when the NBA was the (our) NFL. It could do no wrong regardless of how wrong things got.
