Post by TimPig on Dec 18, 2018 19:40:00 GMT
C.K. Johnston
The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Bulls celebrated Desmond Mason's 500th career regular season TMBSL game by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 142-133 on the Lakers' home court, a contest in which Mason played 42 minutes, demonstrating once again why the Chicago faithful have adopted the native Texan as an honorary Chicagoan.
"It's special to know I've played all 500 regular season games of my career with the team that drafted me," said Mason. "All 500 games. Every single one. Just look at my player page. Nothing but Bulls."
Now 29, Mason reflected on a career that was nearly derailed by slanderous claims made in The Charlotte Observer.
"On one hand, it's been seven years and I've moved on," began Mason. "But at the same time, it's one of those things that you never forget. It defined a lot of my draft experience and therefore my entire career. You can't really escape something like that."
Bulls General Manager Tim Pig reportedly reached out a couple of weeks ago to Lakers owner Sean P. Lavs to ask if the Lakers would be willing to allow the Bulls to put together a pre-game ceremony for the Oklahoma State graduate.
"Of course, without hesitation," said Lavs about his response when asked. "Desmond has been a fantastic ambassador for this league. I don't doubt that any owner would have responded in the same way."
During the ceremony, the Bulls presented Mason with a plaque that included a collage composed of 500 images showing his testicles being placed on the foreheads of various opponents around the league during posterizing dunks. Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared in the collage 113 times, the most of any player. Bison Dele and Antawn Jamison tied for second with 37 images apiece.
The Bulls also plan to paint a mural in the United Center concourse depicting the same series of images.
A surprise moment during the ceremony occurred when an image was displayed on the Jumbotron featuring two of General Manager Pig's previously private text messages.
Pig confirmed during the ceremony that the messages were indeed from his fire-crotched counterpart in Charlotte, the same one who made disparaging remarks regarding Mason when he was a 23-year-old draft hopeful attending the TMBSL draft with his mother, whom he loves.
In an unplanned portion of the ceremony, Mason immediately grabbed a microphone with tears in his eyes and thanked God and Tim Pig for never trading him to Charlotte.
The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Bulls celebrated Desmond Mason's 500th career regular season TMBSL game by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 142-133 on the Lakers' home court, a contest in which Mason played 42 minutes, demonstrating once again why the Chicago faithful have adopted the native Texan as an honorary Chicagoan.
"It's special to know I've played all 500 regular season games of my career with the team that drafted me," said Mason. "All 500 games. Every single one. Just look at my player page. Nothing but Bulls."
Now 29, Mason reflected on a career that was nearly derailed by slanderous claims made in The Charlotte Observer.
"On one hand, it's been seven years and I've moved on," began Mason. "But at the same time, it's one of those things that you never forget. It defined a lot of my draft experience and therefore my entire career. You can't really escape something like that."
Bulls General Manager Tim Pig reportedly reached out a couple of weeks ago to Lakers owner Sean P. Lavs to ask if the Lakers would be willing to allow the Bulls to put together a pre-game ceremony for the Oklahoma State graduate.
"Of course, without hesitation," said Lavs about his response when asked. "Desmond has been a fantastic ambassador for this league. I don't doubt that any owner would have responded in the same way."
During the ceremony, the Bulls presented Mason with a plaque that included a collage composed of 500 images showing his testicles being placed on the foreheads of various opponents around the league during posterizing dunks. Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared in the collage 113 times, the most of any player. Bison Dele and Antawn Jamison tied for second with 37 images apiece.
The Bulls also plan to paint a mural in the United Center concourse depicting the same series of images.
A surprise moment during the ceremony occurred when an image was displayed on the Jumbotron featuring two of General Manager Pig's previously private text messages.
Pig confirmed during the ceremony that the messages were indeed from his fire-crotched counterpart in Charlotte, the same one who made disparaging remarks regarding Mason when he was a 23-year-old draft hopeful attending the TMBSL draft with his mother, whom he loves.
In an unplanned portion of the ceremony, Mason immediately grabbed a microphone with tears in his eyes and thanked God and Tim Pig for never trading him to Charlotte.
