Bulls complete their drive for five

NBA Finals page

MULTIMEDIA

Michael Jordan narrates the Steve Kerr game-winner.
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Jordan makes a steal and goes in for a poster jam.
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Toni Kukoc seals it with a dunk as time expires.
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Michael Jordan felt an obligation to win another title.
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Jordan has a special gift for Scottie Pippen.
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Steve Kerr knew he'd have a chance to win the game.
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Jordan says the Bulls climbed a mountain.
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Phil Jackson explains why Jordan is a champ.
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Jackson praises his team's defense.
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"Yo, Adrian!" Kerr bellowed as he frantically searched for his wife, Margot, amid the wall-to-wall bodies that jammed the small room.

Steve Kerr celebrates the win.

After hitting a game-winning shot that seemed straight out of a movie script, Kerr figured he might as well continue the Hollywood theme.

And why not? In a room filled with cigars and champagne, no one was going to chide Kerr for his corny line.

The hero of Game 6 of the NBA Finals eventually found his wife and draped her in his game jersey -- even though it reached nearly to her knees.

For Kerr and the Bulls, it was a night to revel after a season of travails.

"Last year was so much fun, and I wouldn't characterize this year as fun," Kerr said of his second championship run. "It was much more of a grind, but that makes it much more satisfying."

On the other side of the locker room, guard Ron Harper sat with bits of confetti still stuck to his face. That couldn't hide his satisfied expression, however.

"I am really enjoying it," Harper said as he tilted his head back and slowly blew a circle of cigar smoke into the air.

"This was a great year, even though we had some guys hurt. But it was positive because we survived it. I'm just glad we survived it."

Q&A WITH THE BULLS

From Aaron Hacedo of Hurfreesboro, Tenn.: How did it feel for Steve Kerr to hit the game-winning shot? Answer from Kerr: "I couldn't believe this had happened. I've had a bad series. I had a bad series against Seattle last year. I've never really come through in the Finals. "I was dying to make one. ... Jud Buechler came up to me after the game and he was yelling, 'You made the big one!' I said, 'It was a good thing because I missed all the little ones.'" From Rachel White-Koltz of Southborough, Mass. for Michael Jordan: Is it important for you to return the core three (yourself, Pippen, Rodman) for next year, plus Phil Jackson? Answer from Jordan: "I have choices, and I will not play for another coach. I chose to play for Phil Jackson, and to finish Scottie Pippen's contract out and let him have the opportunity to have the same type of choices, because he's earned it. ... We're entitled to defend (our title) until we lose it."

A couple of feet away from Harper, reserve guard Randy Brown was trying to give an interview when he was interrupted by Robert Parish. The veteran center, who has taken part in four such celebrations during his 21-year career, started rubbing the top of Brown's head.

Overcome by laughter, Brown cut off his thoughts in mid-sentence and turned to offer the Chief a hug.

It was that type of night for the Bulls, who seemed to greet their fifth title in seven years with a collective sigh of relief. Seems all the injuries, suspensions and questions about next season had taken a toll on these champions. There was no spraying of champagne or screaming in this locker room -- just plenty of back-slapping and hugs from family and friends.

Down the hall in the interview room, a smiling Michael Jordan sat next to an oversized bottle of champagne.

"When it gets to six, it's going to be bigger," Jordan said, already looking ahead to next year's bottle of bubbly. "They just keep getting bigger and bigger as we keep winning and winning.

"It's a great feeling. I'm tired. I'm weak, but I've got the whole summer to recuperate."

Jordan might need it after battling illness and fatigue to win his fifth ring and fifth Finals MVP award.

"It's been a fight," he said. "It's all guts, deep-down determination.

Michael Jordan enjoys a victory cigar.

"I didn't want to give up -- no matter sick I was, or how tired I was, or how low on energy I was. I felt the obligation to my team and the city of Chicago to go out and give that extra effort, so we could be here for the fifth championship."

With his arduous drive for five complete, Jordan would then slip out the backdoor of the postgame interview room and into a near-empty hallway in the basement of the United Center. Waiting for him was his wife, Juanita.

"You're soaked," she said as she embraced her husband.

"Yeah, I am," replied Michael, as he offered her a kiss on the cheek and then one on the lips.

Stopping to have a security guard light his cigar, Jordan would then take off toward the locker room, wearing only one shoe and a boyish grin.

He danced down the hallway, stopping to hug familiar faces and allowing his admirers to express their adoration.

At one point, His Airness even broke into a skip as he became overcome with the joy of his latest accomplishment.

Seems even relief can give way to revelry at the right time.