This season, no, the entire 1990s, the two most popular teams met again in the 1998 Finals.
It was a scene of collective joy and the result that fans and the NBA had hoped for since the start of the season.
The greatest two players in NBA history reunited on the long-awaited highest stage, with memories of the epic battles of 1991 and 1992 still vivid.
That memory, intertwined with the Soviet Union’s collapse, the end of the Cold War, the Gulf War, Clinton’s election as president, the implementation of new liberal economy, electronic technology development, and Silicon Valley’s rise, witnessed America’s rapid political and economic development, becoming the world’s sole superpower.
The encounter also meant that from 1990 to 1998, the NBA championship was claimed by the golden generation of 1984.
Ah Gan, Jordan, Olajuwon, the top three picks of the ’84 draft, became the monopolists of the NBA championship in the 90s, deserving rulers of their generation.
The Trail Blazers and Bulls were overwhelmingly popular across America.
During the entire regular season, no matter which city they visited for games, fans would follow their bus from the airport, in cars or on motorcycles, escorting them.
Even in the intensely hostile playoffs, fans in the away city would curse and defame the teams on the court while trying hard off-court to get close to them, snap a photo, get an autograph, exchange a few words, adding glorious memories to their fan careers.
On June 1, 1998, the Chicago Bulls flew from Chicago to Portland, returning to this rainy West Coast city in the summer since June 1992.
Many fans gathered at the airport, waiting for the Bulls and Jordan to arrive; though this city had the most loyal Trail Blazers fans, it didn’t stop them from wanting to glimpse the style of the basketball legend.
This was the Sun King’s greatest rival, also his number one defeated general.
In front of the Hilton Hotel where the Bulls stayed, police had blocked the street an hour in advance, prohibiting other personnel and vehicles from entering or leaving.
The Bulls’ itinerary couldn’t be kept secret, and the Trail Blazers would receive the same treatment when they traveled to Chicago in a few days.
This was a spectacle not seen in last year’s Finals, as there was no such bond between the Mormons of Salt Lake City and Chicagoans.
Jordan was used to such grand scenes and said, "The air in Portland is really fresh," as he got off the bus.
The world eagerly anticipated the Finals confrontation between Jordan and Ah Gan, but they were equally doubtful that Jordan and the Bulls could create a miracle.
Even among the Bulls, they themselves didn’t quite believe they could achieve a three-peat, confronting the Trail Blazers who held a 77-win record in 1988.
wins is truly terrifying; this Trail Blazers team had surpassed this era in overall strength, competing in a way that other teams can’t understand or match.
Like the 1996 Chicago Bulls returning to the time when defense systems were incomplete, teams were still rushing fast breaks and didn’t know what three-point shots were in the 1980s, unable to conceive any team of that time having any means to beat the Bulls.
Of course, the situation might not be that bad, given the Bulls have Jordan.
Jordan still maintained his winning confidence, knowing how powerful his inner drive was.
And Scottie Pippen always wore a long face, constantly thinking, why didn’t the Trail Blazers make the Finals last year?
That way, their chance of revenge would be much greater.
Dennis Rodman wore sunglasses, and his hair had another color change, dyed a kaleidoscope of red.
In fact, Rodman’s performance was not good in this postseason; Toni Kukoc was the more important one.
But the Chicago media were counting on Rodman to give Ah Gan a big headache.
For instance, taking the initiative to get fouled, making Ah Gan take a rest.
Through the noise of fans outside the lines of censorship, as they entered the hotel lobby, a huge oil painting hung on the wall greeted them.
It was a scene of Ah Gan dunking, specially purchased and hung by the hotel for the Finals.
Perhaps a provocation and warning to the Bulls, keeping them under Ah Gan’s shadow during their stay.
"Bullshit trick," Jordan spat, then proceeded to register his information at the front desk.
Jordan never used his real name when checking into hotels, usually opting for aliases like Leonard Smith or Lawrence Welk.
Yet even so, he often couldn’t prevent hotel staff or informed tabloid reporters from harassing him, so after getting a room under a pseudonym, Jordan would stay in the room of the team’s media service manager, Tom Smithberg, letting Smithberg stay in his room.
The result was that Smithberg often couldn’t sleep well throughout the night, as people kept knocking to get Jordan’s autograph or photo.
Tonight was no exception; Jordan booked a room under the name Leonard Smith, then swapped room cards with Smithberg for a quiet night.
By the next morning, when the team got up for group training, Jordan asked Smithberg how he slept the previous night.
Smithberg said, "Oh, slept well, no one knocked on the door."
"No one knocked on the door? Woh, looks like lucky," Jordan exclaimed.
Smithberg smiled without speaking, though he wanted to say, "You’re very popular, Michael, but this is Portland."
He ultimately dared not speak out, knowing Jordan’s temper.