NBC Sports Chicago Ramps Up Taped Programming With New Michael Jordan Documentary, Every Victory From 2010 Blackhawks, 1996 Bulls Playoffs

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the most famous fax ever sent in sports history, NBC Sports Chicago will air a brand new documentary presentation entitled I’m Back, detailing the announcement process and eventual on-court return of the Chicago Bulls/NBA legend Michael Jordan. Also, the RSN will be re-airing all 16 Stanley Cup Playoffs wins from the Chicago Blackhawks 2010 championship season, with this year marking the team’s 10th anniversary of their first NHL championship since 1961, along with all 15 victories from the Chicago Bulls incredible NBA Playoffs title run from 1996.

I’m Back
This in-depth, half-hour documentary, highlighting Jordan’s decision to return to the NBA, the worldwide significance of his return, and why that historic decision a quarter-century ago still matters in 2020 will all be told on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:30 PM ET, exclusively on NBC Sports Chicago and streaming live to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers here. The 7:30 PM premiere of I’m Back precedes NBC Sports Chicago’s first Bulls “Classic” game – featuring the Bulls vs. Miami in Round 1/Game 1 the 1996 NBA Playoffs – airing at 7:00 PM. In addition, I’m Back will also air immediately following tomorrow night’s Bulls “Classic” game at 9:30 PM. TRAILER: https://bit.ly/2IR9c6O

Following his 18-month retirement from basketball, I’m Back chronicles the weeks leading up to Jordan’s internationally-celebrated two-word announcement, the timing of his decision to return, the origination and simplicity of the fax itself, his first game back (wearing a #45 jersey), which occurred the very next day against the Indiana Pacers, and much more.

Among the numerous interviews included in NBC Sports Chicago’s Original Production of I’m Back, features candid recollections from the following individuals:

• David Falk – MJ’s former agent
• Toni Kukoc – MJ teammate ’95-‘98
• Horace Grant – MJ teammate ’87-‘93
• Steve Kerr – MJ teammate ’95-‘98
• Tim Hardaway – 5-time NBA All-Star
• Chris Mullin – 5-time NBA All-Star
• Brian McIntyre – former NBA Sr VP Basketball Communications
• Dominique Wilkins – 9-time NBA All-Star
• LeBron James – 16-time NBA All-Star
• Dwayne Wade – 13-time NBA All-Star
• Glen Rice– 3-time NBA All-Star
• Robert Horry – 7-time NBA Champion
• Bill Smith – Bulls Photographer
• Mark Giangreco – Sports Director, Anchor, ABC-7
• Marc Silverman – Co-host ‘Waddle & Silvy’, ESPN 1000
• Tim Grover – MJ’s former personal trainer
• Rod Higgins – MJ teammate ’84-’86, longtime friend

I’m Back was produced and edited by NBC Sports Chicago’s Emmy award-winning team of Executive Producer of Original Content Sarah Lauch, Senior Producer of Original Content Ryan McGuffey, and Managing Photographer Matt Buckman.

2010 Blackhawks, 1996 Bulls
The network is currently scheduled to carry a “Classic” Blackhawks or Bulls telecast every evening at 7:00 PM CT starting tonight through Thursday, April 16. Authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers can also stream every “Classic” match-up here. Game replays will only be made available to viewers within NBC Sports Chicago’s designated viewing territory.

Here is the following schedule, which began on Tuesday, March 17:

• Tuesday, March 17
  • Round 1-Game 2: Nashville at Blackhawks (From 4/18/10 — 2-0 Blackhawks win; Niemi 23 saves, first playoff shutout since Belfour in ‘96)
• Wednesday, March 18
  • Round 1-Game 1: Miami at Bulls (From 4/26/96 — 102-85 Bulls win; Jordan gets championship run in motion with 35 points)
• Thursday, March 19
  • Round 1-Game 4: Blackhawks at Nashville (From 4/22/10 — 3-0 Blackhawks win; Niemi 33 saves, two goals from Sharp)
• Friday, March 20
  • Round 1-Game 2: Miami at Bulls (From 4/28/96 — 106-75 Bulls win; Pippen w/24 pts, 8 rebounds and 8 assists)
• Saturday, March 21
  • Round 1-Game 5: Nashville at Blackhawks (From 4/24/10 — 5-4 OT Blackhawks win; Kane game-tying SHG w/:14 left in reg., Hossa OT goal)
• Sunday, March 22
  • Round 1-Game 3: Bulls at Miami (From 5/1/96 — 112-91 Bulls win; Pippen triple-double propels Bulls to series sweep)
• Monday, March 23
  • Round 2-Game 1: New York at Bulls (From 5/5/96 — 91-84 Bulls win; MJ tears it up with 44 points in series opener)
• Tuesday, March 24
  • Round 1-Game 6: Blackhawks at Nashville (From 4/26/10 — 5-3 Blackhawks win; Toews go-ahead goal in 1st period caps opening round series clincher)
• Wednesday, March 25
  • Round 1-Game 2: New York at Bulls (From 5/7/96 — 91-80 Bulls win; Rodman dominates the boards with 19 rebounds)
• Thursday, March 26
  • Round 2-Game 2: Vancouver at Blackhawks (From 5/3/10 — 4-2 Blackhawks win; Versteeg goal w/1:30 left in reg. proves to be GW)
• Friday, March 27
  • Round 1-Game 4: Bulls at New York (From 5/12/96 – 94-91 Bulls win; Bulls hold on to key road victory thanks in part to a solid offense outpourings via Jordan and Harper, along with the usual stellar defense provided by Rodman)
• Saturday, March 28
  • Round 2-Game 3: Blackhawks at Vancouver (From 5/5/10 — 5-2 Blackhawks win; Byfuglien scores hat trick)
• Sunday, March 29
  • Round 2-Game 4: Blackhawks at Vancouver (From 5/7/10 — 7-2 Blackhawks win; Toews hat trick and two assists)
• Monday, March 30
  • Round 1-Game 5: New York at Bulls (From 5/14/96 — 94-81 Bulls win; MJ pumps in 35 sending Bulls to conference finals)
• Tuesday, March 31
  • Round 2-Game 6: Blackhawks at Vancouver (From 5/11/10 — 5-1 Blackhawks win; Brouwer & Versteeg score :36 apart in series clincher)
• Wednesday, April 1
  • Conference Finals-Game 1: Orlando at Bulls (From 5/19/96 – 121-83 Bulls win; Bulls dominate 4th quarter 40-24 to offset solid road performances by Orlando’s O’Neal and Hardaway)
• Thursday, April 2
  • Conference Finals-Game 1: Blackhawks at San Jose (From 5/16/10 — 2-1 Blackhawks win; Niemi 44 saves; goals from Sharp & Byfuglien)
• Friday, April 3
  • Conference Finals-Game 2: Orlando at Bulls (From 5/21/96 — 93-88 Bulls win; Shaq outscores MJ 36-35, but Bulls take 2-0 series lead to ORL)
• Saturday, April 4
  • Conference Finals-Game 2: Blackhawks at San Jose (From 5/18/10 — 4-2 Blackhawks win; goals from Ladd, Byfuglien & Toews)
• Sunday, April 5
  • Conference Finals-Game 3: Bulls at Orlando (From 5/25/96 — 86-67 Bulls win; Bulls hold host Magic to just 10 points in 4th quarter, Rodman w/16 boards)
• Monday, April 6
  • Conference Finals-Game 4: Bulls at Orlando (From 5/27/96 — 106-101 Bulls win; Jordan’s dominant 45-point performance completes series sweep and sends Bulls back to the NBA Finals)
• Tuesday, April 7
  • Conference Finals-Game 3: San Jose at Blackhawks (From 5/21/10 — 3-2 OT Blackhawks win; Byfuglien game-winner in OT)
• Wednesday, April 8
  • NBA Finals-Game 1: Seattle at Bulls (From 6/5/96 — 107-90 Bulls win; MJ and Pip pace Bulls with 28 and 21 points respectively, but Kukoc comes through with some key 4th quarter scoring to help Bulls take a 1-0 series lead)
• Thursday, April 9
  • Conference Finals-Game 4: San Jose at Blackhawks (From 5/23/10 — 4-2 Blackhawks win; Hawks reach Stanley Cup Final for first time since ‘92)
• Friday, April 10
  • NBA Finals-Game 2: Seattle at Bulls (From 6/7/96 — 92-88 Bulls win; a superior game by Rodman, who grabbed 20 rebounds, including an NBA Finals record 11 from the offensive end, puts the Bulls up 2-0 and sends the series to SEA)
• Saturday, April 11
  • Stanley Cup Final-Game 1: Philadelphia at Blackhawks (From 5/29/10 — 6-5 Blackhawks win; Kopecky GW in third period)
• Sunday, April 12
  • Stanley Cup Final-Game 2: Philadelphia at Blackhawks (From 5/31/10 — 2-1 Blackhawks win; Hossa & Eager score :28 apart)
• Monday, April 13
  • NBA Finals-Game 3: Bulls at Seattle (From 6/9/96 — 108-86 Bulls win; Jordan’s 36 points, along with a solid offensive effort from Longley w/19 pts gives Bulls a commanding 3-0 series lead)
• Tuesday, April 14
  • Stanley Cup Final-Game 5: Philadelphia at Blackhawks (From 6/6/10 — 7-4 Blackhawks win; pivotal victory featuring three 1st period goals)
• Wednesday, April 15
  • NBA Finals-Game 6: Seattle at Bulls (From 6/16/96 — 87-75 Bulls win; after dropping Games 4 & 5 in Seattle, the Bulls returned to the United Center on “Father’s Day” as NBA Finals MVP Michael Jordan pumps in 22 points, Rodman ties his own NBA Finals record with 11 offensive boards, and the Bulls conclude their historic 1995-96 season with their 4th NBA title)
• Thursday, April 16
  • Stanley Cup Final-Game 6: Blackhawks at Philadelphia (4-3 OT Blackhawks win; Kane with memorable OT GW…Blackhawks earn first Stanley Cup Championship since 1961)