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On Thursday I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It started off so innocently with a cup of tea with my fellow broadcasters Neil Funk and Bill Wennington. In early afternoon prior to our arrival at the White House to meet President Barack Obama we learned of the passing of Bulls great Norm Van Lier.

Later that evening we learned that Johnny “Red” Kerr had left us as well. Two great men. Two great legends in Chicago basketball history.

Norm and I would chat before practically every Bulls home game. In fact, our last conversation was Tuesday about three hours before the Bulls tipped off against Orlando. We talked about his #2 jersey that Tim Thomas now wears. He was proud of that number. As I told him on Tuesday, #2 in the program but #1 in your heart! He was great to me and I will always appreciate his kindness and his enthusiasm for the city of Chicago and the Bulls. He loved the Bulls and loved when the Bulls played with intensity, that was his style that made him one down and dirty rock solid NBA player for many years. I am still in a state of shock while I’m writing this blog.

Johnny was an icon with the franchise and was such a wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many people. The celebration of Johnny’s life at the United Center a few weeks agos touched all of us.
To the Van Lier and Kerr family I can assure you that Norm and Johnny will always be in our hearts and we will never, ever forget them as the spirit of their passion and love for the game and for the Bulls will be in ourt hearts forever.

Our trip to the White House has left me speechless. In my wildest dreams if someone told me one day I would be standing next to the most powerful man in the world I would have said, “Take this guy to the nearest hospital… now!” President Obama was tremendous. Personable, articulate, great sense of humor. Wow. Before we met the President we received a tour of the White House. We entered a room where former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy lay in rest. We saw the White House kitchen. The green room, the red room, etc. Just a crazy day. President Obama is the real deal.

Friday night the Bulls need to get back on track and take care of business against the Wizards. They just can’t afford to lose against teams that are sub .500 and without key stars.

Ben Wallace broke his leg in Cleveland’s loss rto the Rockets. LeBron failed to register an assist for the first time in his Hall of Fame career. Rockets looked great and they’re at the United Center Saturday. All the more reason to get this game tonight here in DC
The Lakers pounded Phoenix scoring 132 points…..132. The honeymoon is over in the Valley of the Sun. The Lakers now 48-10, a league best.
Albert Haynesworth is joining the Redskins…that’s the buzz in DC. Talk about a stimulus package!
Manny turns down 45 million for two years? What’s up with that?

cswirsky@bulls.com