Bulls fans hold relatively quiet celebration
By Jim Paul
Associated Press
After the Bulls' fifth championship in seven years, there wasn't as much to clean up as in years past. It seems the city has learned just how far it can go in celebration without losing control.
"All things considered, it was a peaceful evening for a championship kind of celebration," Chicago police spokesman Paul Jenkins said the day after the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 90-86 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
The number of calls for police assistance were down about 30 percent from last year's celebration.
To be sure, shots were fired, rocks were thrown, some stores were looted. But some 6,000 police officers -- most in riot gear and many on horseback -- kept the revelry in check, avoiding the mass destruction of property that marked similar celebrations in 1992 and 1993.
"We saw a lot of the same kind of activity as in the past, just much less of it than ever before," Jenkins said.
One person was shot to death. Someone came out of a vehicle shooting at a group of people who were throwing rocks and other debris in a street on the city's northwest side, Jenkins said.
Concepcion Diaz, 32, of Chicago was pronounced dead at a hospital.
"The people who were throwing the debris said they were doing that in celebration of the Bulls' victory," Jenkins said. But it was not known whether Diaz was participating or simply watching what was happening, he said.
Cook County prosecutors filed fewer than a dozen felony charges related to the celebration by Saturday morning, State's Attorney's Office spokeswoman Marcy O'Boyle said.
"It was relatively peaceful celebration," O'Boyle said. "As far as calls to our felony review office, it was not unlike a typical Friday night."
The total number of arrests probably will not be available for several days, Jenkins said. About 600 people were arrested after the 1996 celebration, but even that was tame compared to 1992, when damage from rioting was estimated at $10 million.
The city's celebration will continue at 10 a.m. on Monday with the now-traditional pep rally in Grant Park, featuring Bulls players and coaches.
Fans were already making plans to be there.
"I can't wait. I already took the day off work knowing that they would win tonight," a jubilant Liana Levins said during Friday night's celebration. "I plan on being there at about five in the morning."
