Seeing a Bulls game as a fan is fun, but going behind the scenes as a reporter is fun in a in a different way. First you have to enter through a plain unmarked door to pass through security. After presenting your ID and receiving your press badge you make your way through a labyrinth of white halls, past all kinds of workers cleaning and transporting food and supplies. As you near the reporters dining area you begin to glimpse more of the players’ friends, family and some of the business men who run the game behind the scenes.

The first thing I like to do, just like the fans who arrive early, is check out the court to see the players shooting baskets and doing their warm ups before the game. After seeing who’s playing and who is out due to injuries, it’s back to the dining area for a fast cafeteria dinner and a quick hello to some of the other reporters we have gotten to know.

There is a special elevator that takes us up to the press box, where no cheering is allowed.

The first couple of times I was in the press box, I had to retrain my automatic cheering reflex to stay neutral and just observe impartially the goings on of the game. It’s difficult at first.

Just before tip off, the singing of the national anthem takes on a more meaningful feeling during wartime. I notice a feeling of pride and determination especially during the last few bars when Bulls fans’ cheers drown out the rest of the song. I guess we all realize how lucky we all are to be at a peaceful game enjoying the celebration of sportsmanship.

The Bulls have a lot of fun things to entertain the fans, like the squad of cheerleading dancers called the Luv-a-Bulls. These girls are very well trained dancers who have to remain seated on the court, until it is time to spring into action and entertain the crowd. I am glad to see that although they are wearing sexy outfits, their routines are quite demanding and command respect for their physical ability.

At the game I was at, the mascots from several different teams came out to celebrate Benny the Bull’s birthday, showing off their crowd rousing skills. Benny the Bull is a very loved mascot with an adorably over sized head! Together with Seattle’s Sasquatch, Boston’s Lucky the Leprechaun, Houston’s Clutch and a few others, they made the crowd laugh and collectively say “Wow!” as they showed off their own considerable gymnastic abilities. Lucky the Leprechaun topped them all with a full somersault and dunk shot while rebounding off a trampoline and into the air. These guys are more than just big funny suit wearers, they are physically fit performers and add a lot of fun and cheerful energy for the children (and adults) watching the game. Kids really love the time out festivities on the Jumbotron too, like the Hinkley truck or Dunkin’ Donut races where they can win prizes based on their ticket stubs.

Throughout the game, there are always more fun things to occupy fans. Often gifted young local performers like the Break-A-Bulls, Bull’s Kidz, or Bucket Boys show off their incredible drumming and break dancing skills.

Of course after the game is over, I have to rush back down to the room where we can hear the Coach answer questions about the game. Win or lose this is always a serious affair, with questions being thrown out to the coach as if to a general after a battle.

My favorite part of covering the game is going into the locker room to talk to the players. Okay, I admit it, for a woman like myself entering any pro sports locker room from the Bulls to the Sox or Hawks is a bit of a thrill. Yes, it does have that glamorous, kid in a candy store feel to it the first couple of times. In fact, the first time I saw half dressed celebrity players casually talking to reporters, I tried to play it cool but I was blushing and did not know where to look. Now, with after more than a few games under my belt, I am used to it and just hang out like one of the guys. I should also mention that the Bulls players are also terrific in the fact that they really seem to go out of their way to accommodate anyone with a question – perfect gentlemen.

After the game I was able to interview one of my favorite Bulls players, Kirk Hinrich. He had a great answer to one of my questions about overcoming fear before a game. I asked if he did anything special to pump up for away games because obviously here at home he has the full support of the crowd energy behind him.

Kirk said that he doesn’t do anything different when he’s away because he sometimes finds the energy of a crowd cheering against him to be even more stimulating than the crowd cheering for him. I think that’s a great way to look at any challenging situation in life, as if you are going to feed off that resistance in a foreign, possibly hostile place and make it push you farther.

Well, that’s what it’s like behind the scenes at a Bulls game. As I make my way out of the stadium, one of the workers generously offers me a huge garbage sized bag of popcorn, which I might have accepted except for the daunting prospect of gracefully navigating a bag of popcorn that big to my car! It was a great night, and I can’t wait for the next game!

See you there! Go Bulls!