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@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates Overall, the Pats have been more fatiguing, for two reasons:
1. Their run is longer. Pats have had 10 seasons just since Brady's ACL injury. Bulls run was only eight seasons.
2. No one on the Patriots has the national adoration of Jordan.
1. Their run is longer. Pats have had 10 seasons just since Brady's ACL injury. Bulls run was only eight seasons.
2. No one on the Patriots has the national adoration of Jordan.
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates The Bulls did start receiving some national flack in the 2nd three-peat. You had fans of other teams tired of losing, and some national press drumming up silly angles, like S.I.'s infamous cover in March 1997: 
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates The Bulls were also all over pop culture. MJ had a cologne, MJ and Rodman did movies, Rodman had his book and book signing + a reality show on MTV, and even Bill Wennington had a McDonald's menu item.
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates But overall, the Bulls remained hugely popular, even nationally, especially in 1998 when everyone knew it was ending. In March, for instance, a game in Atlanta drew an NBA-record crowd of 62,046 fans, including 8,000 seats that DID NOT FACE THE COURT.
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates This was MJ's last game in Atlanta. Fans at the Georgia Dome paid between $5 and $13 to sit in seats called "restricted view," which were meant for football games, not basketball.
Said one fan: "At least we can see the goals on the baskets."
Said one fan: "At least we can see the goals on the baskets."
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates There was just nothing like the compulsive need even non-Bulls fans felt to squeeze every last drop from the MJ experience. Look at the Finals TV ratings:
Highest ratings:
ALL-TIME
Series: 1998, 18.7
Game: 1998 Game 6, 22.3
POST-JORDAN
Series: 2001, 12.1
Game: 2016 G7, 15.8
Highest ratings:
ALL-TIME
Series: 1998, 18.7
Game: 1998 Game 6, 22.3
POST-JORDAN
Series: 2001, 12.1
Game: 2016 G7, 15.8
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates MJ took this super seriously. From his baseball return to his last shot, he played in 357 of 358 possible games (preseason, regular season, ASG, playoffs). He missed only the 6th preseason game of '97-'98 following surgery to remove ingrown toenails.
@SarahSpain @SpainandFitz @FieldYates I think this quote from Steve Kerr in '98 sums up the intensity of focus on the Bulls in '98, and the love they received from even opposing fans and national media.
No offense to the Pats, who are incredible, but they're not on that level. That's MJ :)
chicagomag.com/city-life/June…
No offense to the Pats, who are incredible, but they're not on that level. That's MJ :)
chicagomag.com/city-life/June…
