The Circus Trip

Today marks the start of the Chicago Bulls' Circus Trip.  This is an annual event that gave rise to one of my favorite, funny sports stories.

Every year around this time, the Chicago Bulls go on the road for seven games and take what they refer to as the "Circus Trip."  

A few years back, the team had a rookie -- I think it was Taj Gibson, but at this point I can't swear to it -- and when he heard that the team was going on its Circus Trip, and he saw the long road schedule that took the team crisscrossing the country, he just figured that they called it that because it was such a madcap journey.  He later found out why they call it that.

The circus arrives in Chicago and kicks the team out of the stadium.  It's actually a trip because of the circus.

Every year for many decades, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to town in November, and they always reserve the city's main stadium.  For decades, it was the Chicago Stadium, where the Bulls and Blackhawks play.  And then when they tore that town to replace it with the United Center, the teams moved there -- and so did the circus.  And so when the circus comes to town, the teams have to leave.

And so, the Bulls are on their annual Circus Trip.  

For real.