A day after losing Game 2 to the Celtics in their first-round playoff series, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro faced tough criticism from the media, but vehemently defended his use of hair style during the game.
Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 2 seconds left gave the Celtics a 118-115 lead. But the Bulls were out of timeouts after Del Negro used the team’s last one seconds before to comb out his wispy, brown locks in the huddle. A Tyrus Thomas desperation shot from behind half court was off the mark, and the Celtics held on to tie the series at one game apiece.
“I will not sit her and have the media criticize my hairstyle from their high horses on press row,” Del Negro said in the team’s news conference on Wednesday. “This hairstyle has gotten us this far, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to change anything now.”
Things got heated when a Chicago Tribune reporter suggested the team would be better off if Del Negro shaved his head for the rest of the playoff run.
“I don’t have to answer to that,” Del Negro replied. “I don’t have to answer to any of you bald-headed freaks! Come on, Locksy, let’s go!”
He then left the press conference without taking any more questions, his faithful ‘do following close behind.
By Matthew Wood, intrepid reporter
