Hours before tipoff on Wednesday, they began lining up at the corner of Illinois and LaSalle, home of Michael Jordan's Restaurant.
Fans showed up in droves to watch the Bulls play the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on the big screen television inside this unique dining establishment. They came to party, to see history in the making and, maybe, to eat a Barbecue Bacon Cheesburger ($6.95; also known as Coronary On A Bun).It was hyped as the biggest Bulls game in years. And anybody who understood this wanted to be at MJ's place for the occasion. You didn't have to be a member of some high-brow club to get in. You only had to be a rabid basketball fan.
Little did these fans know, they would witness one of the greatest performances by the restaurant's namesake. Which, you know, is saying a mouthful.
More than an hour before tipoff, the place was packed with about 300 festive, unruly fans. Many more had to be turned away at the door. It was standing-room-only. Talk about pick-and-roll - that's the kind of maneuvering required just for a trip to the restroom.
Fifteen minutes before tipoff, Bulls fans warmed up their vocal chords by chanting, "Utah sucks lemons! Utah sucks lemons!"
Except they left out the part about "lemons."
The derisive jeers were punctuated by pointing fingers, directed toward a small group of conspicuous out-of-towners wearing Jazz caps. In town on business, the five men, from Young Chevrolet in Layton, took the taunting in stride. Say this about them: they were either a little deranged, or extremely brave. Maybe both. It was kind of like the Christians jumping eagerly into the lion's den. "I hope to make it out alive," said one before the game began.
"If the Jazz win, I think I'll hang out here until everyone leaves."
And for much of the first half of the game, it appeared the Jazz would win. When Utah raced to an 18-8 first-quarter lead, Bulls fans were dumbfounded. Their jaws dropped into their bowls of Michael's Banana Pudding ($3.95).
By the time the Jazz went up 25-12, one Bulls fan at the bar ordered a hemlock on the rocks. Chicago fans were rattled, and it didn't help that Jordan was playing with a stomach ailment. At least they could be reasonably sure the food at his restaurant wasn't to blame.
Meanwhile, the quintet of Jazz fans let out brief cheers, then wisely suppress their enthusiasm by smiling. To do anything more demonstrative than that would incur the wrath of an angry mob.
After remaining relatively quiet in the first quarter, Bulls fans came to life when their team came storming back in the second quarter. Led by the unflappable Jordan, who scored 17 points in the period, Chicago overcame a 16-point deficit to claim, at one point, a 45-44 lead.
During timeouts, the joint jumped as loud music played and fans danced. At times the place resembled a giant mosh pit. They were incited by the sight of the local TV cameras that were filming the zany scene. But once the game resumed, all eyes were transfixed upon the TV screen.
Indeed, this assembled throng was wild. One woman had the ubiquitous Air Jordan logo tattooed on her ankle, which she couldn't resist showing off.
Then there was the journalist from Uruguay who was in town attending a candy convention. He claimed to be a big Bulls fan. "What state is Utah in?" he asked over the din.
After a quick geography lesson, he was asked if people care about this series in his native land. "Oh, yes," he replied.
"Basketball is the second most-popular sport in my country. Everybody knows Michael Jordan. Everybody loves Michael Jordan."
Following a tight third quarter, the fourth period began with the Jazz clinging to a five-point advantage. We've learned over the years, and over the past week or so, that that particular quarter belongs to Jordan. For fans at the restaurant, most of the night was Miller Time. But in the fourth, it was Jordan Time. But you had to wonder what a physically spent Jordan had left.
You didn't wonder for long. When he drilled a 3-pointer that tied the score at 77, the roof nearly ripped off the restaurant.
Later, with about 3:00 remaining in the game, John Stockton was left wide open for a 3-point attempt. Bulls fans suddenly had a bad flashback from Game 4. "Noooooooooo!" they exclaimed in unison as the ball left Stockton's hand and splashed into the net. Jazz by three.
Of course, the Bulls eventually triumphed, thanks to the heroics of Jordan. His 3 with 40 seconds left gave the Bulls the lead for good, 88-85. "M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!" the fans at Michael Jordan's Restaurant screamed at Michael Jordan. They knew the Bulls were about to take a 3-2 edge in this best-of-seven series.
As the clock ran out, an even bigger impromptu party broke out. Some acted like the series was over. In the minds of some, it was. "We're gonna close it out Friday, baby!" yelled one fan.
Our friends from Utah, meanwhile, were out of there quicker than you could say "Game 6 Friday at the United Center."
More than anything, Bulls fans were relieved. "I knew Jordan would get us the win, but it was a matter of when," said one. "It looked like a dead man out there. But he rose from the dead."
"I was real nervous there for a while. Jordan looked so sick. He looked horrendous," said another fan. "That was one of the most incredible games I've seen him play."
It was another Jordan masterpiece. And we're definitely not talking about his Chicken Wings ($4.95). Watching this game at Michael's restaurant was like watching Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Tabernacle on Temple Square - with one arm tied behind his back.
"Being here is like being at the game," said one fan. "It's great to be here to watch it, where people watch the game, unlike most sports bars where people just chat and hang out. I just hope the fans in Chicago won't relax. There's nothing to celebrate yet at all."
You could have fooled most of them by the way they were carrying on.
Someday, Michael Jordan will probably have his personal Hall of Fame. Until then, the restaurant will do. It's his shrine.
And now you can add a videotape of Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. The night Jordan, who should have been in a hospital bed, poured in 38 points against the Utah Jazz.
His legend continues to grow. And so too will the lines of people who will visit his restaurant.