Excellence, the Bulls and Illinois government

by Ed Wojcicki

Now that the Bulls are five-time NBA champions in the 1990s, it is easy to take for granted how great they are. But institutional greatness never happens by accident. Looking at the Bulls not so much as a sports franchise but as a corporate entity or organization, I have given some thought to some of their attributes that transcend the world of sports. Such as:

Leadership: On the bench and on the court, this team has leaders. It has a coach who, in Garry Wills' definition, can mobilize others toward a goal shared by leaders and followers alike.

Followership: OK, maybe this isn't a word, but in successful organizations people need to follow as well as lead. It isn't always the leaders' fault when an organization becomes polluted by uncooperative followers.

Great skill: Seems obvious, but several Bulls players have honed their craft to perfection. That takes practice, and it takes failure. Twenty-six times in his career, Michael Jordan says in the commercial, his team gave him the ball to make the last shot to win a game, and he missed. But he is a champion; he does not play in fear of losing.

Role players: Not every player is a superstar, but every Bulls player knows his role and performs it as if it were the most important role on the team. Which, for each player, it is.

Shared goals, lofty goals: This team planned to win the NBA championship this year. There could be no higher goal. The entire organization kept its eyes on the prize, and pursued the goal relentlessly, despite injuries, the rise of tougher competition, and occasional distractions about what might happen with Jordan and Coach Phil Jackson next year.

Now, apply these attributes to the the spring session of the General Assembly. The problem was one of failed followership as well as failed leadership. Despite all the rhetoric, there are few shared, lofty goals to be found in Springfield. This legislature makes promises, but fails to keep its eyes on the prize. Instead, it bickers. Fear of losing paralyzes this group.

Maybe that's why it seems ludicrous to compare the Bulls to the legislature. The former has achieved excellence — to such a degree that Bulls fans expect a championship. The latter, meanwhile, has created a climate in which observers expect disappointment. Each group is leaving an unmistakable legacy.

Notice that this issue is dated July/August. We are returning to a previous schedule of publishing 11 issues a year, not 12. This will have no adverse effects on the information you receive, or its timeliness. We promise. Your next issue will arrive in early September, not August. Subscribers who signed up for "12 issues" will have their subscriptions extended by one month. And everyone will still receive a free Roster.

3 / July/August 1997 Illinois Issues