The Bulls intended to honor their history Friday night as they welcomed the inaugural class for their new Ring of Honor, but the ceremony was overshadowed by the fans’ reaction toward late general manager Jerry Krause, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. Many fans at the United Center loudly booed at the mention of Krause, sparking an emotional reaction from his widow, Thelma, who was there to represent him.
“I’m telling you what, Chicago is a sports town, and what we witnessed today when Jerry Krause’s name was called and the people that booed Jerry Krause and his widow, who was accepting this honor for him, it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said former Bulls player Stacey King, who is now an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago. “I hurt for that lady. Brought her to tears, and whoever booed her in this arena should be ashamed of themselves.”
The first Ring of Honor class included 13 former players, coaches and executives, along with the entire 1995/96 team. Ex-coach Phil Jackson received the loudest cheers of the night, while franchise legend Michael Jordan didn’t attend the event but submitted a video message. Krause is blamed for breaking up the 1990s Bulls, who won six titles during the decade, a point that was emphasized in “The Last Dance” documentary.
“I’m devastated for Thelma and for the Krause family,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who was part of those title teams. “I cannot believe that the fans — and you have to understand, when you hear boos, it’s not all of them. The fans who booed, they know who they are. To me, it’s absolutely shameful, and I’m devastated by that. Whether people liked Jerry or not … we’re here to celebrate that team. Jerry did an amazing job building that team. … And I’m so disappointed in the fans — and I want to be specific because there were lots of fans who I’m sure did not boo. But those who booed, they should be ashamed.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Jevon Carter, a free agent addition last summer, appears to have fallen out of the Bulls‘ rotation, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Carter got his second straight DNP-CD against Golden State on Friday as second-year guard Dalen Terry was used ahead of him.
- Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith was able to play after being listed as questionable Friday night, but he will miss Sunday’s game at Denver due to bilateral shin soreness, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Nesmith has started the last 10 games at small forward, and Dopirak notes that Indiana’s defense has improved since his move into the starting lineup.
- After waiving Marques Bolden from their NBA roster last weekend, the Bucks have acquired his G League rights in a trade, the Wisconsin Herd announced (via Twitter). The Herd sent the rights to Gary Clark and a pair of 2024 G League draft picks to Salt Lake City in exchange for the 25-year-old center.
1. Being from Chi-town I will say that if you are going to boo someone it should be the owner.
The Jordan era was coming to a close and the team was not built to carry on without Jordan, so the tearing down was happening with the blessing of the ownership.
2. Today’s Bulls team needs to move on from LaVine, DeMar, and Vooch, and build around White, Ayo, and Williams.
Being a Bulls fan the booing while a widow was celebrating her husband accomplishments is extremely shameful, the organization should’ve understood what the last dance made Jerry Krause and the fans should’ve understood that the poor woman didn’t have anything to do with breaking up a team, embarrassing
I was at the game. While I didn’t boo many around me did. They showed Krauses pic on the Jumbotron and people were booing before Neil Funk even said who was there representing him. Not making excuses but obv most fans didn’t realize his wife was there as they were booing.
Thanks Netflix
I’ve lived in Chicago most of my life and I’ve never understood the hatred towards Krause. They don’t win 6 championships without him but yet he gets treated as bad at Bartman did. You’d think the decades of futility since would make people realize it was Reinsdorf fault not Krause.
100% agree,its jerry’s fault.
Have to agree with King and Kerr, pretty sad.
Yeah Krause was vain and tore the Bulls apart but it wasn’t just his idea, Reinsdorf got tired of cutting Jordan’s paycheck. Krause drafted Toni Kukoč and Scottie Pippen and traded for Cartwright and Rodman. He also picked Kerr up off the scrap heap and saved Jackson’s coaching career by hiring him as an assistant when Jackson was considering going back to law school.
They brought all the other people with the exception of Pippen, Rodman and Jordan. If Jordan really wanted to be there the Bulls would’ve made it work, he didn’t looked bummed in the slightest.
Bandwagon fans …. Tonight was not about them. Bulls run was one of best ever.
Nesmith at 24 is starting to look like the player Celtics thought he would be. It’s amazing how we give up on players. We don’t even give meaningful mins too. The pressure to win now is strong in Sports.
It’s why I’m a big proponent of G-league. It’s like triple A in MLB. Players need time to develop. And players need to play to develop. Happy for Nesmith
Krouse was a good GM but he had a Napoleon complex. He was upset Jordan and co liked Phil and didn’t really like him. Dude came off as bitter and in his own way. He can rip but could have been better to everyone.
If he were taller what complex would it be?
If you still want to hold a grudge against him (even though he passed away years) and don’t want to cheer for him, fine. But at least show some respect to his widow and stay silent.
I wonder though how many of the people who booed actually witnessed the 90s Bulls. Many of them probably just watched the hit piece Last Dance.
What grudge? Did you miss the part where I said he can rip? I wouldn’t boo anybody. You sound emotional. I don’t have time for you weak minded folks and your feelings. I’ve watched basketball since 1990. Whatever narrative you need to enhance your week though.
What are you even talking about? My post wasn’t a reply to your post but to the booeing Bulls fans in the arena.
If the post is directly your post (same line) it’s not a quote.
Point taken. That’s how it appeared as. No offense taken.
It’s a shame what they did that night. The Bulls wouldn’t have had all those championships without Jerry Krause making those moves. Sad part is the fans were booing the wrong Jerry. They should’ve booed Reinsdorf and not Krause, because everyone knows that Reinsdorf is the real person who broke the team up because he’s a cheapskate of an owner. Hopefully he sells the team before he croaks to someone who actually wants to win
Bulls ownership is rich enough. To have made sure everyone who was a part of this run. Should have been there to HONOR it. Freak your feelings and resentments. Be f n men.
This was one of greatest runs ever. You realize if MJ doesn’t go on hiatus. They could’ve won EIGHT Chips. 8 straight in that era. That would never be topped. Respect the game and yourself. This is a team sport. Not team grudges ……
Obviously that was beyond disrespectful to that poor lady, and never should have happened. As a Bulls fan, this organization should have realized the combination of how bad the last dance made Jerry look and how deeply frustrated these fans are with the past decade and especially this current awful middling team.. bad timing for real