I got the bling too, BJ! I got the bling.
Today we were at the Ascott Hotel (in a meet and greet sponsored by official NBA sponsor Gatorade) where I invited a few media friends and bloggers to have a brief chat with BJ Armstrong. It's no fun experiencing this alone. I think it's even more cool to share it with others don't you think? The Inquirer's Cedelf Tupas made it as did bloggers Jason Inocencio and Eddie Ching but the Bulletin's Jonas Terrado had a tough time getting there. The Star's Joey Villar and Biz Mirror's Reuben Terrado were in Tarlac for the Palarong Pambansa.
Anyways, I've interviewed a lot of NBA players and this guy is just one of the coolest and easiest to talk to. He related how just the other week he sat at a game with Michael Jordan and had a laugh. He poked fun at his former teammate who he jokes needed to buy an NBA team before he watched an NBA game. The former University of Iowa Hawkeye said he was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time as he joined the Bulls at the same time Phil Jax became head coach. It was a time unlike anything today where teams stayed together for years. They were given a chance to mature and compete as one. There was Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Boston. All with line-ups that were steady. Unlike today where we see wholesale changes in squads. That allowed players to bond and become lifelong friends. Some were surprised to hear that BJ almost made the second wave of Bulls titles. He played alongside Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, and Ron Harper before he departed via the expansion draft. I videotaped the parts where he talked about his time with the Bulls. I should upload that soon. When I get back from Cebu I guess.
But if BJ wasn't going to take credit for the Bulls success (remember he said that he was in the right place at the right time), I asked him if he'd like to take credit for getting Jordan back to the Bulls after his fling with minor league baseball. MJ would play a lot of one-on-one with BJ even if he was wearing Italian suits. BJ laughed at that. "Nah, he is what he is. The best basketball player ever."
NBA Asia's Scott Levy wouldn't make me forget about my snafu during my interview with him yesterday at the Marriot Hotel. While discussing NBA history, I went back to the boxcar days. And he needled me for that, "I don't know how old you think I am but I grew up during the days when there was better transportation." Everyone had a laugh at my expense. Hahaha. But he did say that he understood the point I was making. Mr. Levy is a backpacker who used to go to Boracay when only huts existed there. He's been around the country long before he joined the NBA. He is a New Yorker but from the wrong side of town -- he roots for the Mets! I totally enjoyed chatting about baseball with him. He would walk to Shea Stadium as it was within walking distance from his home in Flushing. He did say that if he grew up in the Bronx then he'd be a Yankees fan. "No need to apologize, Rick," he said. "Steinbrenner's got a lot of money." We all laughed some more.
They were amazed that I still had by Official Championship Shirt of 1992. Jason Inocencio wore his Three-peat shirt but --- sorry, dude! My shirt is older. Hahaha. BJ couldn't believe that I still had the shirt. "I'm not even sure if I still have mine!" he exclaimed. Of course Scott tried to get the last word in. "The reason why his shirt looks to be in good shape (I'm OC kasi kaya it's in good shape) is that he only wears it when a Chicago Bull is in town!" We all laughed but Ed Winkle jumped to my defense. The dude after all is a Bulls fan and is from Chicago. In the picture at the top, BJ points to my shirt. "Man, I know die-hard and you are die-hard." I said, you want to see my Bulls trading cards and Wheaties boxes? He whistled. "This place is basketball heaven, man!"
Then Eddie Ching asked BJ that since he was interested in looking for a Filipino player who could play in the NBA why not look for an NBA team to draft Chris Tiu? Man, the whole room erupted! Ton Gatmaitan whooped it up. BJ thought that Eddie was thinking now like an agent. Scott seemed puzzled. "Who's Chris?" "Think of all the jerseys you will sell? That's millions of Filipinos buying an NBA jersey with Chris Tiu on it!"
It was to say the least a fan-tastic day!
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