A group of very different, equally fascinating individuals who came together and created something divine. That divinity overshadowed the grit and gristle that went on behind the scenes.
Australian Luc Longley, the 218-centimetre wise owl, was famously absent for much of the documentary despite his central role (pun intended). The Bulls’ story is dominated by Jordan, the greatest player to ever play the game. Asked to describe Jordan’s leadership style, Longley memorably replied, “Carnivorous.”
Luc Longley and Michael Jordan in 1997.Credit: Reuters
This week, the announcement that Jordan was returning to basketball, albeit as a broadcaster, was worldwide news. It will be fascinating to hear how, some 27 years after the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme in the NBA, Jordan (at age 60) will become an in-game commentator and analyst for the NBC.
With my subconscious faintly buzzing with this cultural crossover of America and Australian rules football, I found myself wondering if there are a couple of forgotten lessons to come out of the Chicago Bulls story that break free from the individuals and could be of use to the 18 AFL clubs. I whittled it down to three.
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1. Phil Jackson (the fifth Beatle) emerges as one of the big winners from The Last Dance. This is due, at least in part, to his ability to balance the egos on the team, but more significantly, a coaching philosophy that leant evenly on a system (the triangle) and a connection to the spirit with something greater than any individual through symbolism, storytelling and borrowing from other cultures.
2. The Chicago Bulls are arguably the greatest team of any kind, from all time and at various points, yet they hated each other’s guts! If they were fighting each other, it’s probably reasonable to assume that your footy team will be fed up with each other from time to time, too.
3. This one goes out to a few young superstars in the AFL. What gets brushed over a little too quickly, in my opinion, is the simple fact that Jordan – His Airness, the GOAT – didn’t seek his glory elsewhere. He stayed. He built it. He shaped it, cajoled it and his success was sweeter for it.
Speaking of carnivorous, this year’s trade season promises to be especially active. Will Harley Reid, the young Eagles bull, return to Victoria? There is a recent precedent: fellow No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis left North Melbourne for home when they were at a similarly low ebb. Will the Demons manufacture a reunion with Docker Luke Jackson? Will Tom De Koning take the $1.7 million a year from St Kilda or be a one-club player with Carlton?
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My advice is to think long and hard about the benefits of digging in, and to resist taking shortcuts.
The Bulls were a joke when Jordan arrived. If your footy club has cultural issues, you can change it. If your footy club is losing, you can stay and help right the ship. For some, a change of scenery can do wonders for performance, but it’s not a rule.
If the problems begin and end with you, don’t forget the adage, wherever you go, you’ll always be there.
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