Noah Now Living His Dream
CHICAGO - He was 12. He was in France. He came to see the king. Joakim Noah sat in the stands of an arena called Bercy, watching a 34-year-old American play basketball. "Michael Jordan is in Paris," that day's France-Soir newspaper had editorialized. "That is better than the Pope. He is God in person." It was October 1997. Already the adolescent Joakim knew what - no, whom - he wanted to be when he grew up. Inasmuch as the boy's father had been a French Open tennis champion, a TV journalist asked Joakim which he would someday prefer, to play center court at Roland Garros or to play basketball like Jordan. "Jordan!" the child exclaimed.
Now he is 22. He has come to Chicago. He is the city's fresh prince.
Joakim Noah had the best seat in the house Monday at a suburban arena called Berto, where the Bulls hold their practices. He said, "I feel like the luckiest dude in the world."
A new No. 13 Bulls jersey in his hands was held gingerly, as if a sacred garment.
"We can keep these?" he asked.
Not sure, John Paxson, a former Bull himself and Joakim Noah's new boss, told him.
"Because I'd like to wear it all day and all night," he said.
Joakim Noah is no Jordan, but he does know how it feels to be ruler of his domain.
"All hail Caesar!" college teammate Corey Brewer would occasionally greet him when Joakim came into a dorm room or a party.
Heads of state did not impress him. When he was invited to visit the White House with the Florida Gators' national championship team, Joakim Noah said no thanks.
He explained at the time, "I have different views from who's in power."
Billy Donovan, his coach, persuaded Joakim Noah to change his mind. Joakim Noah did go along with the team to meet President Bush, but he wore no jacket, no tie. His shirttail flapped loose.
Sometimes a man has to wear what feels suitable for the occasion.
Ten years ago, when the Bulls came to Paris to play, Jordan came to a news conference in a beret.
Joakim Noah came to Monday's debut in Chicago wearing a beautiful string of beads and an amulet.
He wears no bling as a rule, no rings, no earrings, not even a tattoo, for that matter. His mother doesn't care for it.
"I don't really wear jewelry. She even got mad at me about this," Joakim Noah said, indicating a wristwatch. "It's a nice watch, right? No diamonds."
His mother was a runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant. His father won the French Open singles and doubles. His grandfather was a soccer great. His grandmother was captain of France's national women's basketball team.
When he returned to New York to attend a prep school, he lived 10 blocks from Madison Square Garden, cheered for the Knicks and hated Jordan and the Bulls.
He has charm. He has breeding. He has taste. He has convictions and speaks his mind.
Joakim Noah was asked to say a little something in French off the top of his head, so he did.
"OK, translate," he was told. "What's up, Chicago?" he said.
Air Joakim Noah has arrived.
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