Big man off-the-court Noah must listen to tutor Miller

Joakim Noah (Image via Wikipedia).

So you think I’m just a baseball Jones with emphasis at 1060 W. Addison St? Why I am writing about pro basketball here?

Simple. Because it’s newsworthy. And I’ll offer up Michael Jordan as a reference.

Back in the day, I delayed His Airness from his appointed rounds too many times with extra questions, sometimes to the point of his exasperation. One time he had a foot out the locker room door to catch the Bulls’ team plane as his agent/endorsement impresario David Falk hovered close, but I needed to trap him about his relationship with Patrick Ewing. To his credit, Jordan stopped long enough and answered to my satisfaction.

Of all the angles I aimed at Jordan, I never asked him about the Bulls’ eternal quest for an impact big man. They’ve had exactly one quasi-dominating center in their 44-year history: Artis Gilmore, in the latter part of the 1970s. A mere space-taker and ball distributor was needed during Jordan’s era, but otherwise the Bulls have been hampered by lack of a legit man in the middle.

Their latest attempt at developing a tower of power is Joakim Noah. Yeah, the kinda goofy guy with the exaggerated ponytail, more known for off-the-court antics than any move basket-to-basket, other than his steal, length-of-the-court dash and slam dunk on Paul Pierce in the playoffs last spring. More typical of Noah’s profile is the result of this easy Google search: http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/14/topless-chick-drops-2-on-chicago-bulls-star/.

Obviously, Noah can have his pick and choice of such pairings even without a legit NBA performance track — for now. Eventually, the chick magnet status will fade away unless he produces on court. But he can’t waste time and use youth as an excuse forever. So for his sake, it’s advised he continues to pay attention to the free lessons in center play offered up by veteran Bulls center Brad Miller, who is willing to teach the lad in his second tour of duty in Chicago. While Noah had the glory of dunking on Pierce, Miller got a bloody face for his efforts in that Celtics series. Noah’s got to be willing to do the same, and amazingly, it won’t mess his good looks for future romps in the pool.

“That’s what we’re working on, making sure he knows when to do that,” Miller said of Noah’s goofiness. “He can’t change his personality. It’s a fun project and a challenge.

“Just try to make sure he has the focus. You can be loose. That’s how the Sacramento team was when I got there. When it was time to play, people really locked in. It’s easier said than done. He’s just him. I’ve played with guys not quite as good as him that were that crazy and loud and had swagger. I’ll get him fine.”

So does that mean working Noah over in practice, in the manner Jordan used to knock around slackers to toughen them up?

“I’m sure that’s going to happen,” Miller said. “I had the crap beaten out of me by some of the vets when I was younger, and it just makes you better.”

Noah claims Miller has helped him since his arrival in a mid-season trade. The veteran won’t have to teach him energy — that’s a given. A few deft moves inside would make the lessons worthwhile to complement the dance he displayed during TV post-game interviews after his Florida Gators won the NCAA.

“Just go out there and be more aggressive,” he said.

At some point, Noah’s on-court image has to overtake what he possesses now, in and out of the pool.

“I know I’m different,” he said. “People are quick to judge me. I don’t really care. I always have a great time in my life.  I enjoy my life. People know that. But at the same time, I like to think of myself as someone who works really hard on the court.”

What a place for Noah to make his next big splash.