2006 Chicago Bulls

Even as we say “Congratulations” to the Cleveland Cavaliers, winners of the Eastern Conference Finals, we want to say a big “Thank you” to the Chicago Bulls for the amazing season they had!

The Bulls are excited to follow up their strong 2005-6 season with a 2006-07 team that goes deep into the NBA Playoffs. Luring All-star Ben Wallace from the archrival Detroit Pistons will improve the power and presence of the Bulls frontcourt. Steady team player Kirk Hinrich continues to show leadership at point guard, and explosive Ben Gordon can add points fast and will be a player to watch this season. Tenacious coach Scott Skiles will always have his team ready to play, and a swarming defensive presence will make the Bulls an even more feared opponent this year.

Throughout the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls were among the premier basketball teams in the NBA. Led by arguably the greatest player ever to grace the court, the Bulls won three straight NBA Championships ... twice. Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six titles in the 1990s and claimed NBA Finals MVP honors all six times. Jordan claimed five regular season MVP trophies, made fourteen All-Star teams, was named defensive player of the year in 1988, won two Olympic gold medals, and was named one of the fifty greatest players in NBA history.

The Chicago Bulls call the United Center home. The facility was opened in 1994 in the midst of the Bulls dynastic reign. The new facility, and a championship team, sent ticket sales soaring in the mid 1990s. The Bulls have won three NBA championships in the United Center. Phil Jackson was brought in to head the team in 1990. Jackson's triangle offense proved to be unstoppable. In 1996, the Bulls went 72-10, the best single season record in NBA history.

Since Jordan's second retirement from basketball, the team has not quite regained its swagger. In 2002, the Bulls drafted collegiate player of the year Jay Williams. He was to be the first step towards revitalizing the franchise and boosting ticket sales. After a stellar rookie season, a motorcycle accident kept Williams off the court in the 2003-2004 season and possibly put an end to his career. Chicago welcomed home Scottie Pippen in 2003. Pippen, who was with the Bulls on all six championship teams, returned to Chicago after several years with the Portland Trailblazers. The Bulls selected college All-American Kirk Heinrich in 2003. The guard is a great leader on the court and has a knack for dishing out the basketball. Big man Tyson Chandler was drafted straight out of high school in 2001. He has matured a lot since he entered the league and has developed into a legitimate double-double threat night in and night out.

Chicago, Illinois is the home of two Major League Baseball teams, an NFL team, and an NHL team. Historic Wrigley Field is the home of the Chicago Cubs. Always contenders in the National League's Central Division, the Cubs one-two punch of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood head up one of the premier young pitching rotations in all of baseball.

U.S. Cellular Field is the home of the Chicago White Sox. In the early 1900s, the team was accused of fixing a World Series. Though they were cleared of wrongdoing in court, then commissioner Mountain Landis banned all of the players for life. The NFL's Chicago Bears play at Soldier Field. The Bears hired away Lovie Smith from the St. Louis Rams in 2004 to take over the head-coaching job. The NHL's Chicago Blackhawks share the United Center with the Bulls. The Blackhawks have not won the Stanley Cup since 1961. They have struggled in the early part of the new millennium in the NHL's Western Conference.