The Bulls are coming off of a 13-point third quarter. “Michael Jordan figures to be more a part of the offense,” Albert says as the fourth begins. The words aren’t out of his mouth before MJ pops a turnaround jumper.

Then Dennis Rodman begins to weave his spell again.

Unprompted, Gary Payton grabs and holds Rodman as the players fast break. When he’s called for the foul, Payton earns a technical by arguing what was clearly his mistake. “I don’t know what he’s complaining about,” says Guokas.

Maybe that he is playing horribly, at least for him, during these Finals.

Meanwhile, Rodman is still a target, mostly because he made himself one over time.

Before long, he’s called for two fouls in about ten seconds of game time, although the calls could have gone against Seattle.

When we act like bad boys and do all kinds of deceptive things, we have no right to act innocent and shocked at much of anything.

Again Coach Jackson removes Rodman, who now has five fouls.

The Bulls breathe easier. A combination of Rodman’s trickanery and Longley’s consistency have cushioned them again.

Toni Kukoc missed seven of 11 shots. He still managed a respectable 14 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds. This partly made up for Scottie Pippen, who grabbed 8 boards and had 9 assists but didn’t show up offensively.

Payton, Kemp and the Sonics are in hurry-up mode from the start of the final quarter. But the score at the 7:00 mark is 91-69. Kemp was frustrated early and often by foul trouble, Rodman, and the dawning realization that Seattle is overmatched this year.

Game Three is over for all practical purposes.

Rodman did his head-game-best, Payton reacted by grabbing him, and the lead is back to twenty as he hits the bench.

But he gets another chance at wreaking havoc with Brickowski and Kemp. Longley collects his fifth foul by tossing Payton to the floor like a sack of rice. Rodman is called back in.

Within a few possessions, he tangles with Brickowski as Jordan is fouled on a jump shot attempt.

During the free throws, a smirking Rodman stands at attention, hands clasped behind his back. He faces Brick, rather than the lane. Brickowski seems to be holding back a small smile, too.

“Why is that not taunting?” Guokas said. “Almost baiting Frank Brickowski to do something…”

“If you can’t stand there, and look at somebody with a blank expression on your face,” says Walton, “what are you allowed to do?”

“I think that was a bit more than…” Albert says, and is unable to finish as the booth laughs.

A few minutes later, Rodman gets Brickowski kicked from the game. Another tangle, more of Rodman clapping as he parades the sideline… we know the bit by now. It doesn’t matter at this point and both teams know it. The only danger is a Rodman suspension, a worry we can see in Phil Jackson’s face every time Rodman shows out tonight.

Final score: Bulls 108, Sonics, 86.

Luc Longley finished with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Championship teams always seem to have a few guys who “quietly” get things done.

Jordan was ho-hum spectacular once again. 11 for 23, 36 points, five assists. Watching this game reminds that the crest of his abilities is amazing to watch.

Like saying who’s the “best” rapper, singer, guitarist or pianist, there is no universally-accepted answer. But arguing against MJ in the best-ever ballplayer conversation is silly. We know the game is not easy, but he makes it look so effortless.

So does LeBron James: As his star peaks in the here and now, there is a small movement to diminish Jordan’s legacy.

This doesn’t include those who are simply comparing and discussing–but those who absolutely must put one person down, in order to lift another. No one is simply allowed to say “both are great.” All of the fun sports conversations are burdened with this double-edged sword.

This is partly why the fan(atic) must not take athletic entertainment seriously. These men and women sacrificing their bodies for our viewing pleasure are not gods. They should be small and unimpressive, compared to our lives at large.

“America has fallen so far so fast in part because of this fascination with sports. In essence, sports teams are nothing more than privately owned traveling circuses, using these athletes to keep the illusion alive. The violent riots, gambling and drinking that often accompany sporting events vividly display the true nature behind sports.

It’s amazing that people will riot over the outcome of a game that has absolutely no effect on their life, but not over the poisoning of their water through fluoridation, their jobs being shipped overseas, the destruction of the middle class and the devaluation of their currency. They just tamely stand by as their lives are ruined by these traitors running America, but want to start a war because of the way a ballgame turned out.”

–R.J. Erickson