This time around, unlike the last 7 times, I have no idea who to go for in the NBA finals.

On one hand there are my lifelong favorites, the Chicago Bulls, with the great Michael Jordan and my favorite, Scottie “Pip” Pippen. On the other hand there is sympathy for the veteran tag team of Malone and Stockton and the desire to see ISU’s own Jeff Hornacek win a championship.

In addition to that, there was the dilemma of who to go for in the NHL finals. Should I have followed my patriotic spirit and rooted for the Flyers or gone for the underdog Red Wings? I guess it doesn’t matter now, because the series got over so quickly.

Then there were the two French Open finals.

On the women’s side, should I have gone for the cute sixteen-year-old favorite Martina Hingis or for the nineteen-year-old underdog Iva Majoli?

On the men’s side should I have gone for my old favorite Bruguera or my new favorite Kuerten? But both of these, like the NHL series, went by without my decision.

But the NBA decision is more important to me, because basketball is the only sport I’ve ever loved.

And even as I write this column, my dilemma intensifies considerably because now the series is tied 2-2, and I don’t want to let this series go by, too.

All right.

Let’s try cold, dispassionate, unbiased (ha-ha) analysis of the various factors that will make up my decision.

1. Who’s closer to home? Chicago, of course, has geographical proximity, but Hornacek gives the Jazz an Iowa State flavor.

But Hornacek has moved around so much (Chicago, of course, has not) in the NBA, its hard to remember he’s still a Cyclone. On a scale of one to ten, it’s Chicago 8, Utah 5

2. Who’s closer to my heart? This one, Chicago wins hands down. Da Bulls have been my favorites since 1987, while the Jazz are only the “Best in the West” for me, and that, too, only since Hornacek joined them. Chicago 8, Utah 5.

3. Who is more likely to win? : Chicago, but by only a slim, slim margin. In the beginning it looked like a huge margin, but the way Utah has recovered, this one is the closest of all the categories. Chicago 8, Utah 7.

4.Who deserves it? Chicago and Utah have played about equally well this year, but the Jazz have had a tougher road to the finals, playing two very strong teams in the Lakers and the Rockets, while the Bulls have had a comparatively easy time playing the Heat and the Hawks.

Also, the Jazz play with four tough teams in their conference while the Bulls have only two. Utah 9, Chicago 8.

5. Who “needs” the win more? Utah, definitely.

They don’t have one yet and the Bulls have four already. You feel especially bad for guys like Stockton and Malone, who deserve at least one championship. Utah 9, Chicago 2.

So here are the totals … (drum roll!) Chicago 35, Utah 35. It’s a tie!!! Oh No!!! What do I do now??

I think I’m going to go crazy, and I got the b-ball blues, all because I asked the question:

Who do I go for?

---

Jayadev Athreya is a sophomore in math from Ames.