As a Bulls fan I'm excited right now. I'm excited because my team is going to the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson were running the show. I'm excited because apparently some members of the media are finally ready to stop calling us the "Baby Bulls." I'm happy that the Bulls showed that they were hungry and willing to fight. I'm proud of these guys because I got to watch John Paxson build what was once a perennial lottery team into a contender. I was a toddler when Jordan was drafted, so by the time I became a sports fan the Bulls had already established themselves. Even though I don't watch as many games as I did in the 90's (partially because I'm busier these days, and partially because I no longer live in the Chicago area), this current team is one I can claim more as a reward for my patience. Thanks guys.

There's still that other reason that I mentioned in the title though. I'm really happy that the Bulls did us all a favor and eliminated the Miami Heat. No more listening to the media's infatuation with Shaq. No more hearing about the growing "legend" of Dwyane Wade. Seriously, doesn't it almost seem like he'd be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if his career ended today based on all the hype he gets? No more hearing about how this aging, inconsistent team that finished 44-38 was going to repeat as NBA Champions. I don't know about anyone else, but the Heat over the past year have gone from a team I was mostly indifferent about to a team I flat out hate. Hopefully this first-round sweep will put an end to the unwarranted mystique surrounding this 19-year-old former expansion team.

Enough negativity though. The Bulls' next challenge is the Detroit Pistons. While the Pistons are the better team on paper, the Bulls took the season series from them 3-1. Is there an upset brewing? We'll find out next week. Go Bulls!