Should Kris Dunn remain as the main point guard for the Bulls?

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Last season’s return of Zach LaVine—this time donning a Bulls uniform—was undeniably most-welcome for the struggling Chicago team. While a lot of NBA critics believed that the Bulls got the raw end of the deal when they traded away Jimmy Butler for the then-injured LaVine, the former Wolves star is now 100 percent recovered and ready to gain more playing time for the Bulls.

However, LaVine’s play has evolved in that he has now become a full-fledged playmaker and ball distributor. And giving him the point-guard duties will relegate the team’s true point Kris Dunn to the background. The question therefore is, should Dunn now become the secondary option?

Coach Fred Hoiberg believes otherwise. He understands that Dunn has proven to be both steady and clutch for the Bulls these past seasons. And even though the Bulls are now technically on rebuild mode, Dunn is an essential piece for the Bulls’ own process. It makes sense to instead pair Dunn up with LaVine, as the latter also has good outside shooting to complement his explosive drives. LaVine needs to embrace his new role as a shooting guard and play more team basketball going forward.

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With the arrival of Jabari Parker and the improved play of Bobby Portis, Dunn, LaVine and celebrated shooter Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls should reach new heights this coming season. We can expect fast-paced basketball now that most of the old veterans have moved on. Again, play development anchored on Kris Dunn is a wise move. If anything, he has already earned his coach’s respect.

Richard Ohlhaberis currently based in the DFW Metroplex. But he was born and raised in Chicago and continues to be a devout Chicago Bulls fan. For similar posts, check out this website.

Why LeBron will never replace Michael Jordan as the G.O.A.T.

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Generating wins and improving the probability of getting championships seem to be the new mantra of many NBA managers.  This is often the argument they offer when another round of the LeBron-Michael greatest-of-all-time debate comes up.  In many ways, this kind of reasoning favors LeBron.  But it is, ultimately, flawed.

Crunching the numbers is one thing; gauging the overall impact a player has had on the game is another.  Jordan came into the league and single-handedly changed the way pro basketball is played.  He entered the NBA at a time when physicality had been more tolerated and had to contend with in-your-face defense throughout his career, with some of the most rugged players in history.  The list includes a younger Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and the rest of the Pistons. 

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He also arrived when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were still in their prime.  Not to mention played in the presence of big-man superstars like Olajuwon, Barkley, and Ewing, and Malone.  Moreover, even if we do look at the statistics, Jordan will still trump James’ accolades.  Jordan led the Bulls to six championship titles, twice a three-peat, and never lost in the NBA’s biggest stage.  MJ was likewise always the best player, getting Finals MVP honors in all of them.

LeBron has had a total of three championships, losing five in his nine tries so far.  And James has already gone to three teams in his quest to win more, winning twice during his stint with Miami and one recently in his hometown Cleveland.  Now he hopes to gain more as he begins his career-twilight run with the Lakers.  Jordan never needed to leave Chicago to get his wins.  He trusted his teammates and worked with them, not looking for super teams to get it done.  This fact alone trumps any advanced metrics LeBron supporters can offer.

Richard Ohlhaber grew up in Chicago but has been living in the DFW Metroplex since1998. Though now based in Texas, he is a true Chicago sports fan, cheering for the Bulls and the Bears. More on Richard and his interests here.

Historic Losses And Misses In Chicago Cubs History

Like other teams, Chicago Cubs have won some and lost some. But some losses as well as not-so-glorious moments are more painful and therefore more memorable than others – here’s a quick rundown of what could probably be the worst moments in the team’s history.

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Can anyone forget the Curse of the Billy Goat? According to legend, Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis hexed the Cubs after being told to leave Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley because the goat he brought to the game smelled so bad that fans complained to have it removed. Supposedly, Sianis said, "Them Cubs aren't going to win no more." 

From there, despite inconsistencies and changing details of the story, the Cubs never won another World Series. This curse, too, always comes up every time the team has a quality ball club and vying for postseason play. 

There’s also the Steve Bartman incident. During a postseason game between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins on Oct. 14, 2003, the infamous spectator disrupted the game by intercepting a potential catch.  

Another major heartbreak for the Cubs was the untimely death of Ken Hubbs in a plane crash near Provo, Utah, before the 1964 season. Hubbs played as a second baseman for the Cubs from 1961 to 1963. 

Finally, not one to be forgotten is how the Cubs blew its 8-0 lead and the 1929 World Series. The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Cubs decisively in five games. Here, the famous Mack Attack – in honor of long-time A’s owner-manager Connie Mack – also happened, the Athletics overcame an eight-run deficit by scoring 10 runs in the home half of the seventh in Game 4 to snatch a 10-8 victory from the cusp of a loss that would have evened the series at two games each.

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Richard Ohlhaber is a true Chicago sports fan. He is also a movie enthusiast. For similar reads, click here.

Are These The Best Movie Sets Of All Time?

It takes a whole army of production designers, location seekers, construction workers, and creative minds to make the impossible possible in the world of movies, especially when it comes to film sets. Here are some of what could arguably be the best movie sets in cinema history.

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Cleopatra: This Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starrer was supposed to be filmed in England, but the set was ruined by a winter storm, which led to its rebuilding in Rome. The results aren’t less grand at all: the country reportedly nearly ran out of building materials due to the grandeur of the movie set.

Titanic: Filmed in Rosarito, Mexico, the story of the ill-fated ship captures the world’s audience not just because of Jack and Rose, but because of the spectacular backdrop for their love story. The re-creation, for instance, was built on a gargantuan hinge allowing it to become fully perpendicular during filming while sucking in ocean water into an 800-foot-wide water tank where it sat.

Intolerance: When talking about the best and the biggest cost-wise, not a lot can beat “Intolerance” in 1916, whose film set cost $2.5 million back then and $47 million when adjusted for inflation. DW Griffith’s movie is an epic tale that spanned 2,500 years and took place in ancient Babylon, 16th century France, and 20th century America.

Ben-Hur: It’s called the “entertainment experience of a lifetime,” which the film lived up to with its 2,000-foot-long arena. For a time, the chariot arena serves as the largest film set in history, while the rest of the set pieces – all 300 of them – occupied over 340 acres.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Waikato region of New Zealand gave life to this 2001-2003 masterpiece, specifically a 1,200-acre property that was once privately owned by a single family. Apart from facades for 27 hobbit holes, a mill, and a double-arch bridge, production designer Grant Major also insisted on the planting of real flowers and vegetables on the set.

Chicago sports fan Richard Ohlhaber also loved movies and counts 'The Godfather,' 'Gladiator,' and 'The Natural' among his favorite films. For similar reads, click here.

Chicago Bears Players Who Have a Lot To Prove In 2017

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As it’s deep in the middle of a franchise overhaul, the Chicago Bears has a critical 2017 season. For Bleacher Report, these guys face the most pressure from its roster of young and veteran players.

Mike Glennon

Perhaps joining the Bears was a chance for Glennon to turn things around at age 27, but then he saw the front office move up in the draft and select Mitchell Trubisky. It’s yet to be seen if the Bears will start Trubisky over him, but as quoted by Jeff Dickerson of ESPN, the quarterback said it was made clear to him that 2017 will be his year. And he’s determined to take the team along the same glorious path as his career.

Charles Leno Jr.

It’s time for the 25-year-old guy and 53rd tackle in football at Pro Football Focus to step up, with a huge contract extension in the horizon if he can perform strong this year.

Jonathan Bullard

This 2016 third-round pick, unable to beat stopgap veteran Mich Unrein for many snaps in the previous year due to being ill-prepared “for the every-down responsibilities,” has the opportunity this year to beat out the veterans and shore up one of the largest weak spots of the roster.

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Kyle Fuller

No. 14 pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Fuller has 2017 as his last year to fulfill his staggering potential, either bagging a long-term deal with the Bears or showing other teams that he’s worth investing in. It’s a make-or-break year for the 25-year-old who missed the entirety of last year.

Kevin White

One year earlier, White missed his entire rookie year along with 12 games, and he’s considered to be back at square one in the area of development due to his injury. He needs to stay on the field and develop along with new players to give back to the organization this year.

While he now resides in Texas,Richard Ohlhaber grew up in Chicago and remains a loyal supporter of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Bears. Learn more on this page.

One-Time Offer: Leadership Lessons From 'The Godfather'

If someone says that “The Godfather” is one of the greatest American films ever made, maybe a throng of people would react and tell him that this is a gross understatement. For starters, it is the best and certainly a highly influential film in its genre. A gangster movie won’t ever be the same again. It was difficult to escape the looming shadow of Vito Corleone even on a good day. And the whole movie screams “iconic” from beginning till end. If a person is fortunate enough, Nino Rota’s “Speak Softly Love” won’t be stuck in his head for ages.

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However hard it is for anyone to imagine that people can learn a thing or two about leadership from this critically acclaimed classic, the Corleones’ approach to issues and the situations encountered by the leading characters here in this film offer valuable insights. One cannot overemphasize the fact that this is not to condone or support criminal and immoral acts. There are general lessons, though, which do not involve those acts, that can help leaders achieve goals.

One of the clearest takeaways from the movie is the fact that building a network is as important as keeping an organization’s own core resources strong and independent. A group must acknowledge the necessity of forging ties and interconnected mutual relationships with other institutions that might help them survive in the most trying of times. Relationships outside of the immediate workplace can also surprisingly provide a perspective on issues and problems that beset the organization. The Corleones fiercely endorse familial closeness and friendships.

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Resilience when faced with the most troublesome circumstances and the need for backup plans and other preparations for the future are necessary considerations that an effective leader must take into account. Executions work primarily because of careful and strategic planning. Business eventualities are dynamic, not static. One must plot possible solutions to future problems.

Richard Ohlhaber lists 'The Godfather' as one of his favorite movies. To learn more about his interests, follow this blog.

The Best Players After MJ Left the Bulls

Before we begin let’s get one thing straight – the discussion involving superlatives like best or greatest is more often than not, of a subjective nature. The reason why Michael Jordan is considered the GOAT is mostly backed up by the sheer number of people considering him to be. But now, let’s look at the best players who came after him.

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Kobe Bryant
A lot of players have been compared to MJ. A lot of players were touted as being the “next Michael Jordan”. The one player who comes closest to this is Kobe Bryant. Winning five NBA championships in the post-Jordan era, Kobe played, shot, and thought like MJ. It was uncanny. They were both winners.

Tim Duncan
Probably the most decorated player post-Jordan, Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all-time. Like Kobe, Duncan won five championships after MJ retired. The Big Fundamental became the Spurs’ leader for two decades, and would average a double-double for record periods of time.

Lebron James
Much has been said about Lebron James. Whether you love him or hate him, he is a player of immense talent, and one of the greatest in NBA history. To date, he has made the NBA finals eight straight years, and has won three championships. He continues to break a lot of records during his incredible career.

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Richard Ohlhaber lives in Texas but grew up in Chicago. He is still a huge fan of Chicago sports teams. For more on sports, visit this page.