If the Suns had to lose this series to the Bulls, this was the only acceptable way to do it. They left the field of battle with honor. Suns fans are all now certain that the best team lost. As they used to say in Brooklyn: "Wait until next year."
@rule:
@body:On the door closest to Barkley's dressing stall, there is a sign in big letters that reads: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the Earth?" It is signed, "God."
There is plenty of space in the room. So the influx of media people did not actually crowd the place too much. They spread out like locusts to interview the Suns players. Groups quickly surrounded KJ, Dan Majerle and Danny Ainge. Another group surrounded the Suns' owner, Jerry Colangelo.
Majerle seemed totally wasted. He had played his heart out.
Majerle was on the floor all during the final period, when the Suns made their drive after trailing by eight points--87 to 79--at the beginning of the quarter.
With incredible intensity, the Suns held the high-scoring Bulls to only 12 points for the entire period.
"Our defense forced them into two 24-second violations," Majerle said. "When we took a four-point lead, I thought we were in the driver's seat. But it didn't turn out that way."
Majerle was referring to the final three-point shot by Paxson.
Ainge left Paxson open, and went to defend Horace Grant on that play.
"It looked to me," Ainge said, "like Charles was going for the steal. I stepped back and was going to foul Horace when he caught the ball. But he caught it quickly and threw it back out to Paxson.
"It was a well-designed play. We all just reacted. Charles went for the steal and I picked up his man and nobody saw Paxson. You don't want to give up a three, but you don't want to give up a dunk, either. Tough play."
Ainge has been like a coach on the floor all season. He never gives up. And he has never been afraid to throw his body in the way of bigger men charging to the basket.
"It was a terrible way to end it," Ainge said. "I can't ever remember being this disappointed after a loss. This is a great basketball team.
"We didn't play consistently all year, but we always stayed together and played great when we had to. Today was no exception. We had an unbelievable season."
The game-winning shot was also indelibly engraved in Westphal's mind. As a coach would, he saw it from the overall perspective.
"It was just a spread-out situation," he said. "They tried to take it to the basket and Mark West left Horace Grant to try to stop the penetration. Then Ainge thought he could intercept the pass in to Grant and left Paxson open." Westphal recalled watching Paxson's perfect shot.
"It seemed like the ball was in the air for about an hour," Westphal said. "It's something every kid dreams about, and John Paxson got to live that dream out." Barkley arrived from the shower wearing only a towel. Everyone moved to surround him. At first it seemed that no one would ask the first question.
The lights hit him from all sides. Drops of perspiration began rolling off his shaved head.
Barkley glanced toward the floor. Barkley broke the ice. When he spoke, it was in a soft voice.
"It was quick," he said, "so quick, the way it ended. I mean, you work seven, eight months, and then, wham, it's over."
I remembered a night back in November. It was the season opener at America West Arena. Barkley tore the Los Angeles Clippers apart. He led the team in scoring and rebounding.
When it was over, he tossed the game ball high into the stands. It was the start of the wildest ride any of us has ever seen. You have to wonder if any member of the Suns--Barkley included--will ever again have such a great season.
KJ wore shades to fend off the bright lights.
"It's a tough way to lose," he said. "I still don't know what happened on Paxson's shot. One thing, though. We didn't win the title. So now Charles won't be able to retire."
I went into the interview room. Most of the media people had left. They were replaying the tape of Jordan's interview.
I thought I might watch and take notes.
I heard Jordan say with the supreme confidence that has become his general manner of speech: " . . . now that we have accomplished history. . . ."
I put my pen back in my pocket. I turned away from the TV screen and headed for the parking lot. It was over.
