It's Media Day

Yes, you read that title right.  I'm posting because it's Bulls Media Day at the Berto Center.  I know it's very small compared to what we'll see transpire over the course of the season, but it gives the press their first look at the roster that will be competing for a championship this season.  It also allows a chance for new stories instead of those that have been rehashed over the summer.

This is the event during which Derrick Rose posed the question of why he couldn't be MVP of the league just three years ago.  Since 2009, he's the only player not named LeBron to come away with that hardware.  It's unlikely we'll see such amazing prognostication again, but it sure gives us sentimental value, especially since Rose will actually be on the floor this season.  That makes anticipation as high as it's been since before his ACL tear.  This and an Adidas commercial won't be the only times he wears a game uniform this year, meaning great excitement around the United Center.  If he somehow leads the Bulls past Miami in this year's playoffs and then to the championship, the team can claim to be the most popular tenant of their building once again.

Of course, The Return is not the only big story surrounding the Bulls as they open camp.  The fact that this could be Luol Deng's final season with the team has created a lot of buzz.  Gar Forman has not been able to negotiate a new contract with the longest tenured Bull and all indications are that Deng will test the market next summer.  This has also been said to be a source of animosity between Forman and Tom Thibodeau.  The last thing this organization needs is a fiasco reminiscent of Jerry Krause and Phil Jackson.  They got away with it in the 90s partially because of the talent on the roster.  This edition doesn't have Jordan, Pippen or even Rodman.  Rose is great, Deng is in his prime and Joakim Noah may be about to enter it.  Still, unless they're the last team standing in June, they can't compare to the old dynasty.  Thibodeau is locked up, so he and Forman better patch up their differences or there could be a sense of uncertainty I'd rather not possess.

There are some big things to look out for and more will become known once Media Day ends.  This is like meeting the cast of a big Broadway production in costume before previews.  Optimism is in the air and this is about as lighthearted as it gets before the pressure starts to build up.  Though the fans are shut out from the activities, enjoy what comes out of them.  After all, you never know whether a crazy prediction will actually come out right later on.