Scottie Pippen's Number 33 Retired

BY Brian Hanley Staff Reporter Chicago Sun-Times

Like many an NBA All-Star, Scottie Pippen never let the tears get the best of him Friday night. Though his eyes watered almost from the start of the halftime ceremony in which his No. 33 became only the fourth number the Bulls have retired, Pippen remained as composed as the premier player he was through 12 seasons and 6 Bulls title runs. Pippen was honored via a video montage of his career highlights and heartfelt testimonials. Former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, who led his Los Angeles Lakers into the United Center for Friday's game, told the capacity crowd how Michael Jordan "was giving his teammates hell, and Scottie was patting them on the back'' through the 10 years they were together. "It was a great combination,'' said Jackson, who sat next to Jordan through the ceremony. Jordan told the crowd that Pippen was always his "brother in arms'' and that he knew Pippen "always had my back.'' "I love him like a brother,'' said Jordan, whose 23 was the last Bulls number retired. "He pushed me to be the best basketball player I could be.'' Though relations between Pippen and the Bulls were strained plenty of times through the years because of contract squabbles, Friday proved you really can't break the ties that bind. "I thank the Bulls organization for a truly great honor for me and my family,'' said Pippen, who was accompanied by wife Larsa and his four sons. The team gave gifts of a framed jersey and a replica banner of the one that now hangs at the west end of the United Center. Pippen also received replicas of the team's first three championship trophies to complete his set of six. Pippen thanked his former Bulls teammates in attendance - Horace Grant, Craig Hodges, Toni Kukoc, Dennis Rodman, Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, Stacey King, Charles Oakley - telling them how much they contributed to what surely will be recognized as a Hall of Fame career. "It was all for the good, and I learned a lot along the way,'' said Pippen, who also thanked the fans. "You made me understand what it really means to love Chicago.'' The fans showed their love by continually chanting "Scottie! Scottie!'' during the ceremony. Asked what Pippen's legacy is, Bulls coach Scott Skiles summed it up as well as anyone. "The fact that, basically, there's a position named after him; everybody wants the Scottie Pippen-type three-man,'' Skiles said. "When you think of a three-man, they immediately go to Pip's name. How many guys are that good that it happens that way? He's made his mark on this franchise, obviously, but he also has made his mark on the game. How many guys do that?'' Skiles said Pippen could be a successful NBA coach, a floor role Pippen played for Jackson. "He was a great student and a fine leader on the basketball club,'' Jackson said before the game. "He directed a lot of what happened, and one of the reasons why we were so successful over those six championships. He had the big, bass voice so he could boom out and help guys on where to go. He was really a spokesperson on the floor. He could stunt, he could trap, he could play guards, he could play centers. He was a great presence to have out there. "Retiring a number is a very special thing. Some arenas you go into in the NBA, you see guys retired and you don't remember their play. The Bulls have retired numbers where you remember these people as specific people that played in that era.'' Pippen's legacy is not lost on the current Bulls. "A lot of people don't like to say it, but I think he was just as good an athlete as MJ,'' Ben Gordon said. "He was 6-8. He caused a lot of problems on both ends of the floor. He was a terrific player.''

I watched the ceremony during the game. It was very touching. He was really a great player and I'm glad I got to watch him all those years.