In an interview, NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell explained how anytime the Chicago Bulls played the Detroit Pistons, the game was rigged.
Turmell, the man behind "He's on fire!" and "Boomshakalaka!, revealed a bias against the Chicago Bulls that was so powerful that it actually made its way into his video game, NBA Jam. Having grown up a Detroit Pistons fan, Turmell wasn't fond of the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls-Pistons rivalry was serious business. It started in 1988, when Detroit defeated Chicago 4-1 in the Conference Semifinals. Then in 1989, thanks to the Jordan Rules, the Pistons beat the Bulls again, this time in the Eastern Conference Finals. A rivalry began to bloom. The following year, in 1990, even though it went to seven games, the Pistons took the Eastern Conference Finals 4-3 over MJ and the Bulls.
There was no doubt that the Bad Boys had MJ's number. Until 1991, when the Bulls swept Detroit in the Conference Finals for the first time. It was a shocking loss for the Bad Boys, who instead of staying to congratulate the Bulls walked off the court with 7.9 seconds remaining.
NBA Jam creator reveals game was rigged against the Bulls
Good news, Pistons fans: someone is watching out for us. Turmell was so unhappy with what happened to the Pistons and despised Jordan so much for doing this that he had to take matters into his own hands.
"That was my only way to make a difference." Turmell explained, "I was unhappy with what had happened to the Pistons…So if the Bulls take a shot to win or tie the score in the last 5s, I threw up a brick. There's an actual code in there that prevents them from winning."
So, the game was rigged against the Bulls. Sorry Bulls fans. If it's any constellation, this move is probably what cursed the entire Pistons franchise. So, let's just call it even. Whaddaya say?
