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| Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose joke around with Pres. Barack Obama in this file photo. (image by Pete Souza/White House) |
Tuesday
night was big for the city of Chicago.
The Bulls
bounced back from a freak loss to the New Orleans Hornets by trouncing the
erstwhile undefeated, and overachieving mind you, Orlando Magic.
A few hours
after that, Barack Obama, one of Chicago’s favorite sons (though born in
Hawaii, the President worked, taught, and currently has his private residence
in Chicago), won another four years in the White House.
Both the
Bulls and Obama were engaged in tight contests.
The Bulls
had their hands full with the Magic, who, despite losing in the Dwight Howard
summer sweepstakes, have started the season on fire. Glen Davis was norming
25.5ppg prior to this game, while guys like JJ Redick and Nikola Vucevic were
contributing beyond expectation. Orlando actually led for the better part of
this encounter, but a big run late in the third period erased the Magic’s lead
and paved the way for a rousing Chicago win.
''We just
found a way,'' Chicago center Joakim Noah said. ''We fought hard at the end.”
Davis shot
just 7-of-22 from the floor before fouling out in the final frame, but Arron
Afflalo picked up the slack with 28 markers for Orlando. E’Twaun Moore also did
well with 17 points for the visitors.
The Bulls,
meanwhile, continued to enjoy career numbers from Noah, who scattered 20
points, 9 boards, and 5 blocks. Luol Deng also sparked the impressive play of
the home squad, scoring 23 points to go along with 8 caroms. Diminutive
playmaker Nate Robinson stepped up, too, recording 11 markers and 6 dimes off
the pine.
Deng
actually had this to say about Robinson, ''I thought Nate did a good job of
looking for his shot and running the plays we were calling.''
This win
bumped the Bulls up to 3-1, which is good enough for solo second behind
undefeated Milwaukee in the Central Division.
Obama’s win,
however, bumped him back into the Oval Office. Many political pundits foresaw a
tight presidential race, though Obama was still favored over the conservative
(is there any other kind?) Republican bet, Mitt Romney.
Romney got
the jump on Obama when early returns poured in, but the President’s key wins in
the swing states (the Ohio victory eventually clinched it for the incumbent)
enabled him to earn four more years to offer “change” in America. Like the
Bulls, Obama made a late run and ended strong for the victory.
The question,
though, for both the Bulls and Obama, is this: can they sustain the momentum
and continue winning?
Can the Bulls
continue winning even without Derrick Rose? Can Obama continue winning people
over despite some of his promises not yet reaching fruition?
Tuesday night
was big for the city of Chicago, but how many more “Tuesday nights” do the
Bulls and Obama have in them?
Note: The Bulls have a tough schedule ahead,
with OKC, Minnesota, and Boston all coming in before they go on a 5-game road
trip. On election day, Barack Obama played alongside Chicago Bull legendScottie Pippen in a pick-up game with friends. This pick-up game has been an
election day tradition for the President. Aside from giving him an avenue to
unwind, playing on election day is something he has always correlated with good
fortune (read: winning the election).