Bulls complete their drive for five

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Jerry Sloan goes nuts after the referees fail to call goaltending.
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Karl Malone puts the loss in perspective.
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Malone credits Chicago for a hard-fought series.
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Jerry Sloan says Utah missed too many shots.
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Q&A WITH THE JAZZ

Question from David Mitchell of Baltimore: Now that you've experience the Finals, what do you need to do to get back? Answer from Jerry Sloan: "Obviously our team is a little bit older; everybody knows that. We're aware of that. But that's the greatest thing to me in sports is the fact that you come back and you compete. You try it again. "Sure, we didn't get there, but that's in the past. I hope our guys come back and play just as hard." Answer from John Stockton: "Being here was a great experience in general, even having lost. I think last year when we lost to Seattle (in the Western Conference finals), it was maybe the first time we felt we belonged in a Finals, at least to attempt a Finals. That helped us going into this year. "Granted, the Bulls beat us and they did all the things champions do. But I think everybody is leaving the locker room feeling we belong in the Finals and want to come back. That's what I'm going to take with me into next year."

The United Center was rocking. The Bulls had won another NBA title, this time at Utah's expense.

Unlike the Bulls, who were experiencing one emotion -- joy -- the Jazz players' minds each focused on a different aspect of the series.

Guard Jeff Hornacek, the team's unoffical mouthpiece, talked about why they lost. Shandon Anderson, the team's rookie swingman who blew two crucial layups in Game 6, talked about how they lost.

Owner Larry Miller, the man who brought the NBA to Utah, talked about what they lost. And reserve point guard Howard Eisley, a second-year pro, talked about what they gained.

Away from all the media, veteran forward Chris Morris, who had spent most of his career on terrible teams in New Jersey, could barely talk at all.

"I can't say anything," the 31-year-old forward said. " ... It's like a dagger in my heart."

After a few more moments, Morris was asked what he learned from this experience. "That it hurts. Real bad," he said, fighting back tears.

Of all the Utah players, none had as rough a time as the 23-year-old Anderson. Just three hours before Game 2, he learned that his father had died from throat cancer. The Jazz managed to win Games 3 and 4 without him. On Friday, he went two for 10 from the field and missed a wide-open layup that changed the game's momentum.

As Anderson stood in front of his locker, he was reflective.

Michael Jordan celebrates the Chicago win; Karl Malone realizes Utah's hopes are dashed.

"I had a chance to put us over the edge and I didn't do it," he said softly. "It was a reverse left-handed layup and I blew it."

Standing three feet away, 34-year-old Hornacek smiled though his disappointment.

"Four of (the games) were close. But we won one and lost three of those," he said. "That really eats at you. With a turn here or there, and it's us winning it, not them."

Eisley said the Jazz will move on. Utah learned what it will need to become a champion, he explained.

"You can't afford to make mental mistakes," Eisley said. "You have to make every play count."

The loss made Miller harken back to his days playing competitive sports. In his case, fast-pitch softball. He said he has learned that being a gracious loser doesn't take away from you competitive fire.

"But coming so close doesn't make it hurt any less," he said.

Utah also was buzzing about: