Special game calls for special paint job

With time to kill before his son, Ryan, arrived for Game 3 of the Bulls-Celtics playoff series on Thursday night, John Madigan visited the face-painting station on the United Center's main concourse.

But the 45-year-old Lisle resident, normally a mild-mannered technologist, decided against having red and white paint plastered on his face.

Instead the, uh, follically challenged Madigan had the Bulls horns logo inked all over his forehead.

"This is just a lark," Madigan said. "Only for the playoffs."

The immaculate work of art attracted television cameras as well as big laughs from friendly neighbors near midcourt.

Madigan, ordinarily a club-level fan, invested $250 per ticket in a set of second-row seats.

"My brother and I upgraded," Madigan said. "It's a special game."

Well, it was until Boston's Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo took over the contest before the end of the first quarter.

Fans who chanted "R-O-Y! R-O-Y!" after Derrick Rose's first basket didn't waste much time going from giddy to grumpy.

The first of several "Boston S---s!" chants rained down from the 300 level with one minute left in the first quarter as the Celtics built a 32-21 lead.

The 300-level boos kicked in early in the second half when Rondo drove uncontested through the Bulls defense for a layup.