"The Last Dance" tells the story of the Chicago Bulls around Michael Jordan in the 90s. Back then, Frank Buschmann commented on the legendary team's finals live from America.
Munich - The documentary "The Last Dance" by ESPN (available on Netflix in Germany) is currently thrilling basketball fans all over the world. The Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 90s with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman is examined. Frank Buschmann (55) commented, among other things, on the Bulls' finals from 1996 to 1998 live from the USA. In conversation with our newspaper, the well-known sports commentator tells how he experienced the “traveling circus” at the time and why he would never exchange these experiences for a World Cup finals.
Frank Buschmann, how did you like the first episodes of the documentary “The Last Dance”?
For me, watching the documentary is very likely something different than for 99.9 percent of people. I saw the first two episodes in bed in the morning on the iPad and the tears came to me. With most of the pictures I still remember exactly where I was in the respective hall at that time. In the interview sequences, I still know exactly which colleague I was standing next to. I have chicken skin all the time, for me it is also a journey into my own past.
Why is the documentary
so popular with basketball fans at the moment?
The documentary gives extremely deep insights. Impressions from the cabin, conversations with the families, personal stories about the players. This is so great and differentiates it from other sports documentaries, where you often know as much afterwards as before.
You were there at that time ...
I sometimes smile when I hear how supposed basketball experts talk about the bulls of the 90s. Who was there live back then? Who was allowed to sniff the magic? It fills me with great humility. I always think to myself: My God, it was cool that I was allowed to be there.
How did the German broadcaster DSF fly to America to broadcast NBA finals?
The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona increased interest in the NBA in Germany. The "Dream Team" of the Americans with the dazzling figure Michael Jordan was simply fascinating. For a long time I was in the ears of the DSF program managers that American basketball players could also be shown on German TV. They showed me a bird at the beginning. In 1996 the German Detlef Schrempf played with the Seattle SuperSonics in the final against the Bulls. I was already on the Greek island of Santorini at the time. Kai Blasberg called me and said: "If you interrupt your vacation now and fly to Seattle, we will broadcast the finals at DSF." I flew straight to Munich, packed a bag and then went to the NBA finals. At that time Blasberg let the dog off the leash, that was the hour of birth of the German "Live on site" - reporting on NBA games.
How did the broadcasts arrive in Germany?
We sometimes had up to 400,000 spectators at night from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. If you ask a 40-year-old about the documentary today, they will tell you: "I have to see it, I got up for the games in the middle of the night." People still come to me with VHS tapes on them they recorded the games.
What made the Chicago Bulls so special in the 90s?
The Bulls were a fascination in the United States that even the Americans had never experienced. You have to imagine that: The best basketball player of all time Michael Jordan plays with Scottie Pippen, the best adjutant of all time and the insane Dennis Rodman in a team. And these stars are then trained by the Buddhist-inspired coach Phil Jackson. These were ingredients for a dish that could only taste delicious. Back then, the Bulls' circus transported its power to every city. In 1997 and 1998, Chicago traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, with antichrist Dennis Rodman to play the finals. These were stories outside of basketball that just polarized.
And sporty?
What many of Jordan forget is that he was not only an outstanding scorer, but also a brilliant defender. Pippen is a player who has always been underestimated. The rebounds, assists and steals he collected per game was incredible. Pippen was an absolute all-rounder. Then there was the compact Rodmann, who didn't care how many points he made in the game. As little children absolutely want to reach into the bag with gummy bears, he tried to grab every rebound.
Of course, the documentary also revolves around what is probably the best basketball player of all time: Michael Jordan. How did you experience him back then?
With Michael Jordan, the head was also the decisive factor. He has transferred his mentality to the whole team. Jordan was obsessed with success and managed to channel his obsession with success, namely six NBA titles. As a teammate, it was not always easy. After an important success he is said to have got on the bus and said: "If someone believes that we have already achieved something, he will have a problem with me." It was this winning mentality, the incredible aura that Jordan has always surrounded . I can remember an appointment at an Allstar event. There was quite a bit of hustle and bustle in the hall, but suddenly I noticed that something was changing. It suddenly fell silent and it was as if time was running at half speed: Jordan had entered the hall.
How was the German television team perceived in America at the time?
We Germans were considered the colorful birds in America. We had no personal relationship with Jordan, of course, but he already recognized us: "You are the crazy Germans." You are the crazy Germans. Many US journalists probably thought: What kind of questions are the Germans asking? And what do they look like? We weren't dressed in fine suits. We wanted to convey the passion for the NBA to the audience. For me, these were incredible experiences.
The best experiences in your career as a sports commentator?
The NBA finals, which I was allowed to comment on live, are stored on my hard drive forever. If someone would offer me the opportunity to comment on a World Cup final in football with German participation at a major broadcaster, but would have to erase the hard drive, I would always opt for the NBA memories. I think that says it all.
Interview: Nico-Marius Schmitz
