Detroit Free Press

"I say two prayers when I get up in the morning. First I thank God for letting me wake up. Then I pray that Vlade Divac is on top of his game."

LOS ANGELES -- Before I tell you the most amazing statistic I have learned about these NBA Finals -- that Will ...

CHICAGO -- As a Detroiter I must admit that watching Michael Jordan's last-second jumper spin out of the basket into the hand of an LA Laker, and catching Jordan's frown which seemed to say, "Miss? I don't miss. How could I miss?" and hearing the Chicago crowd fall deathly silent as the Lakers jogged off the court with a Game 1 victory, and seeing the Bulls droop their shoulders and slink away, as if to say "Lose? We don't lose.

I can't be sure how these NBA Finals between Chicago and LA -- a.k.a. Michael vs. Magic -- are going to go.But I ...

For some people, the Pistons losing their title wasn't enough. They want them to suffer.I base this on newspaper ...

One by one, they walked off the court, surrendering the title like old sheriffs turning in their badges. Joe Dumars dropped on a table and tossed his head back. Isiah Thomas hugged Bill Laimbeer. Dennis Rodman, who looked stunned enough to cry, found Vinnie Johnson and slapped his hands. Then, with a few seconds left on the clock, they exited the Palace floor together, the deposed kings, heading down the tunnel where their wives stood clapping in the echoing silence.Say good-bye to glory.No tears.

Great. As if Michael Jordan wasn't enough, now we've got to deal with Bill Murray? That's right. Bill Murray. The actor. The comedian. Mr. Ghostbuster himself . . . A Bulls fan?He told me so. The other day. Said he might just show up at a Detroit-Chicago playoff game, ready to taunt the Pistons. "Maybe I'll wear one of those Bill Laimbeer masks," he said. "You know, I heard Laimbeer never really suffered a cheek injury. He's just having his face lifted. It's true. He's getting redone so he can do TV work when he's finished with basketball."

CHICAGO -- Pressure is a funny word. There is the pressure a sports team feels when it needs to win a playoff game, like the pressure the Pistons are feeling, celebrated, famous pressure that inspires big stories on the 11 o'clock news.