A LETTER TO MY FANS:
When I signed with the Bulls this summer I couldn't have been more excited. To play for such a globally known and storied franchise--a team I grew up watching as a kid--is a dream come true. I have so many childhood memories of watching MJ, Scottie and all those great Bulls teams--the first championship against the Lakers, both Three-peats, the 72-win season-to me, Jordan is the best player ever, and to watch him dominate the '90s was awesome. I knew I was joining a great young team, and the opportunity to play alongside a true center in Joakim and a great young point guard like Derrick is truly amazing. D-Rose could be the best point guard in the world when all is said and done.
Before I got here I already knew Bulls fans were the best in the NBA. You work your butts off to pay for tickets--true hardworking, blue collar fans--and I know how loud the UC gets when things heat up. I've been so impressed with the city since moving downtown. There's so much going on: the restaurants, the people, the electric atmosphere just walking around. It's so alive. It's right up my alley.
I've been around some great coaches in my career, but Coach Thibodeau is more prepared than anyone I've seen. His playbook is huge! He was a big reason why I came to Chicago, and you can already see the passion and energy he brings to the game. After I signed I made sure to talk with Coach Thibodeau, Gar Forman and John Paxson about getting my former Jazz teammates Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer on board. Kyle is a dead-eye shooter who can spread the floor, and Ronnie is a freak athlete who can get important stops on "D" in the last five minutes of a game. Both guys are going to open it up for me and Derrick so we can go to work in the lane.
Watching my teammates from the bench is tough, and I'm so anxious to get back. My recovery from a broken hand is progressing on schedule, and I hope to be back on the floor very soon. When on the court I'm a ferocious competitor who's going to mix it up in the paint--I'll be doing a lot of posting up and high pick and roll with Derrick--but for me it's the intangibles. I bring leadership, focus and a big-time hunger to win. The great thing about our team is we have a group of guys with that same hunger. It's contagious.
Finally, my goal is to win an NBA Championship. I was on some great teams in Utah that went deep into the Playoffs, but I don't have the ultimate prize. That's why I came to Chicago, to bring the championship back to Chicago where it belongs. My teammates and the entire organization all have that championship DNA, and if we stay healthy I believe we have the pieces in place to win it all.
See you at the UC soon,
Carlos Boozer
What do you think about me now?
Too much to think and digest at the moment. I do know that I don't like it.
