Tom Thibodeau has often been criticized for not having a life outside of the Berto Center. Thibodeau sought to put these accusations to rest by spending a fun-filled day at a local carnival with his best friend, a regulation-sized basketball named Orangy McLeather.
“I am allowed to have a little fun from time to time,” Thibodeau said. “My life isn’t all about the Bulls, so I decided to take a day off. Orangy and I rode the Ferris wheel, ate cotton candy and rode the Tilt-A-Whirl until we puked. It was super awesome!”
Thibodeau was spotted laughing and skipping around the carnival grounds with Orangy bouncing along right beside him. At one point, Thibodeau playfully sprayed Orangy with a water gun and even tossed him into a hoop, winning the duo a stuffed bear.
But it wasn’t all fun and games. Tensions arose when Orangy caught Thibodeau scribbling down offensive sets on a box of popcorn. Orangy tried to roll away but was caught by Thibodeau, who quickly apologized and tossed the popcorn box into the trash.
“Orangy doesn’t like to be second banana,” Thibodeau said. “It looks like I have to make a choice: It is either basketball or basketball.”
