As expected, episode one & two of The Last Dance did not disappoint. If all 10 hour-long episodes airing in succession, I'd have gladly stayed up until 6:00 a.m. Monday morning.
The first two episodes set-up for the animosity between Bulls management, specifically GM Jerry Krause, and the key figures in the six championships that the Bulls won between 1991 and 1998. That animosity and stubbornness was the driving force to breaking up a Bulls team coming off three consecutive titles.
My 5 favorite lines from the 1st 2 episodes:
"I'm not going to f*%k my summer up."
- This came from Scottie Pippen describing his reasoning for waiting until just before the season to have ankle surgery, even though it could have been done right after the season. This took place as he entered the final season of his seven-year, $18 million contract that had him incredibly underpaid and is his mind very disrespected.
"Depends how f---ing bad the headache is!"
- This came from Michael Jordan as he was in a discussion with doctors and owner Jerry Reinsdorf about the possibility of injuring his foot permanently. Here's the scene.
"You can go 82-and-0 and you won't be back. This is going to be your last season."
- This from Jerry Krause. The Bulls GM said this to head coach Phil Jackson after Jackson and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf had agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal for Jackson to remain the head coach for the 1997-98 season. They're won five titles in the previous seven seasons. The first two episodes of The Last Dance painted a very clear (and accurate) picture of the level of disdain many on the basketball court had for Krause, a list that included the three most important figures in their championship run - Jackson, Jordan and Pippen.
"I didn't win without Scottie Pippen... That's why I consider him my greatest teammate of all-time."
- This from Michael Jordan talking about the importance of Pippen to what they accomplished. Following his surgery that kept him out to being the 1997-98 season, Pippen played in 44 of the Bulls next 47 games. The Bulls went 36-8 in those games. The Bulls went 26-12 in the other 38 games.
"Hey tell your boy D(ennis) J(ohnson), I've got something for him tomorrow."
- This from Jordan to Danny Ainge. Jordan and Ainge had played gold between games 1 and 2 of their 1986 first round series. Jordan scored 49 points in the Bulls lopsided game one loss. Ainge mentioned he "took some money off Jordan" on the course that instance. This is what Jordan said to Ainge after Jordan and the other golfers dropped Ainge off. Jordan proceeded to score 63 points - a new all-time NBA record for points in a playoff game - in game two. It's came in the Bulls double-overtime, 4-point loss and that 63 points still stands as the most points ever-scored in a playoff game.