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Scottie Pippen Makes His Basketball Comeback... in Finland.

January 7th 2008 08:55

Wow, basketball truly is an international game. If you want proof in

Scottie Pippen playing for Torpan Pojat.

There probably aren't Michael Jordan-esque players in Finland. (Kimmo Mntyl / AP)

regards to the introductory sentence, look no further than Finland where former NBA All-Star, Scottie Pippen has been making a comeback of sorts.

Pippen suited up with Finnish League leaders, Torpan Pojat for two games, with a third, in Sundsvall, Sweden.

During the weekend, Pippen scored nine points, grabbed nine rebounds to help Torpan beat Honka, 98-85. Showing signs of rust after three years away from professional basketball, Scottie found his groove in the second half, making some impressive plays along the way.

“It was great, I did not know what to anticipate without a game for the last three years," the 42-year-old Pippen said. "My conditioning is not at the top level but I played with a great team and had a lot of fun.” (AP, 2008)

In Pip’s first game he scored 12 in another Torpan victory.

The motivation for Pippen in his mini Nordic sojourn is to inspire young Scandinavians to pick up the wonderful game.

Today’s video is highlights of Pippen’s time with Torpan. He actually looked very good.

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Posted By: Stanley - Category: Player News, Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan

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Magical Michael Jordan Moments: 'The Pose'.

July 13th 2007 07:58

Michael Jordan is God! Don’t believe me? Ask Larry Bird circa 1986.

Everybody wants to be like Mike.

There have been a multitude of memorable MJ moments and during this offseason we’ll go through some of them here in NBALOUD.

Moment number one is pretty much the last significant imagery of Jordan playing basketball because let’s face it – no one wants to recall his time in Washington. Michael will always be a Bull.

So, what is the Jordan memory that will be recalled today? Well, try Game 6 of the NBA Finals in 1998 and the Bulls are facing the Jazz. With the clock ticking down on another Chicago run at a three-peat and playing in the Delta Centre in Utah, the game is on the line so who are you going to call? No, not the Ghostbusters but His Airness, because no one in the history of the game has been as clutch as Jordan.

The Jazz players and coaches knew who was going to get the ball, the crowd at the Delta Centre had no arguments at who was going to take the game winning shot, hell, just about everyone in the whole damn universe watching the game wouldn’t get any psychic brownie points in this instance because Jordan was always going to take the game winning attempt. It wasn’t just Game 6 that was on the line but a legacy.

After his first retirement and comeback the detractors came out into the fore calling MJ a spent force, he wasn’t the same cat. Two championships later everyone pretty much shut up but this was the icing on the cake. After accomplishing the impossible once already by winning three titles in a row, Mike and the Bulls were going to repeat the improbable once again.

Adidas’ slogan of ‘impossible is nothing’ should have been bestowed on Jordan and the Bulls because he made dreams come true. Too bad for Michael he is a Nike man.

With a minute left in the contest and the Bulls trailing by three Jordan strapped on his Superman cape and went to work.

Michael Jordan championship shot against the Jazz.

To appreciate true artistry you have to see the masterpiece through various angles.

First, he drove the lane and scored in a lay-up. No one in the Jazz was going to stop him and it ended up being the ‘smart’ play because they didn’t want the most hardcore baller on the planet making a 3-point play.

Utah found themselves on offense and handed the ball to their own superstar in Karl Malone, who had the ball down the baseline and was about to muscle in for an easy basketball. Wrong! Jordan and his defensive skills stripped the ball from the Mailman and was about to create history – again.

The ball was in the hands of God and there was going to be only one outcome – the stadium is hushed. MJ takes the ball down to the Bulls end and watches the clock tick down then makes his move.

With 10 seconds left on the clock and Bryon Russell of the Jazz checking Jordan tightly MJ was about to conjure up magic. His Airness fakes, does a little crossover dribble that shakes the earth from under Russell causing the Jazz player to fall ass first onto the ground, then came the shot.

It was beautiful to watch. The ball came out of Jordan’s hand in perfect fashion and with a pose to behold the ball fell through the hoop with a deafening swish sound.

Game over. Chicago wins 87-86 notching up their sixth title during the Jordan era. MJ finishes off with 45 points and the final pose etched in the memories of basketball fans forever more.

Poetry in motion. God was at work and the ironic thing is that I am an atheist.

Today’s video is obviously of this moment. Enjoy.