Current:Home > StocksChicago Bulls fans boo late GM Jerry Krause during team's Ring of Honor celebration -NextGenWealth
Chicago Bulls fans boo late GM Jerry Krause during team's Ring of Honor celebration
View
Date:2025-04-16 05:29:14
The Chicago Bulls celebrated their inaugural Ring of Honor class during Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. But one man who was honored drew the ire of the United Center crowd in an unfortunate scene: late general manager Jerry Krause.
Krause, who died in 2017 at the age of 77, was the longtime general manager of the Bulls, from 1985-2003. He built around Michael Jordan and turned the Bulls into six-time NBA champions. He collected two Executive of the Year awards (1988, 1996) along the way and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame shortly after his death. He also oversaw the dynasty's undoing, as documented (without his perspective) in "The Last Dance."
That fact, presumably, is what led to audible boos when he was honored during the halftime ceremony. His wife Thelma, who was representing him, appeared to be in tears over the poor reception.
"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," Bulls analyst Stacey King, a member of Chicago's first three title teams, said on the broadcast.
"I hurt for that lady. Brought her to tears. Whoever booed her in this arena should be ashamed of themselves," King continued. "That's not Chicago. That's New York. Philly. Chicago's not like that. We don't have a reputation of being that way. Whether you like Jerry Krause or not, that man brought six championships here. He didn't shoot a basket, nor did he get a rebound, but he put six titles up (in the rafters). There's a lot of teams don't even have one (championship).
"That was really classless. I was disappointed in the people that booed. It was a sad thing."
King is right. Though the breakup of the Bulls dynasty may have been premature and Krause failed to build a winner again before he left in 2003, citing health problems, by pretty much any measure, he's one of the great executives in league history. Only three other franchises have collected more rings than the Bulls' six: The Warriors (7), Lakers (17) and Celtics (17).
Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, Artis Gilmore, Bob Love, Chet Walker, Jerry Sloan, Phil Jackson, Tex Winter, Dick Klein and Johnny "Red" Kerr rounded out the inaugural Ring of Honor class. The 1995-96 Bulls were also honored. That team, which went 72-10 and won the NBA title, was, of course, built by Krause.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, a member of that 1995-96 team, said he did not hear the boos for Krause as he was back in the locker room with his team. But Kerr didn't hold back, calling the booing fans' actions "shameful."
"It's absolutely shameful," Kerr said. "I cannot believe ... I'm devastated for Thelma and for the Krause family. What can we possibly be thinking?
"...I'm so disappointed in the fans — and I want to be specific, because I know there were lots of fans I'm sure who did not boo. But those who booed, they should be ashamed."
veryGood! (8)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- The Excerpt podcast: 12 more hostages held by Hamas freed in Gaza
- Daryl Hall accuses John Oates of ‘ultimate partnership betrayal’ in plan to sell stake in business
- Biden administration proposes biggest changes to lead pipe rules in more than three decades
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Deutsche Bank was keen to land a ‘whale’ of a client in Trump, documents at his fraud trial show
- Biden administration proposes biggest changes to lead pipe rules in more than three decades
- 3 dead, 1 injured after Ohio auto shop explosion; cause is under investigation
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Spotify Wrapped is here: How to view your top songs, artists and podcasts of the year
Ranking
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Riley the dog gets his final holiday wish: One last Christmas with his family
- Attorney suspended for pooping in a Pringles can, leaving it in victim advocate's parking lot
- Jason Kelce's Wife Kylie Reveals What It's Really Like Marrying into His and Travis Kelce's Family
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- The Eagles-49ers feud is about to be reignited. What led to beef between NFC powers?
- Three songs for when your flight is delayed
- The Eagles-49ers feud is about to be reignited. What led to beef between NFC powers?
Recommendation
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
Autoworkers strike cut Ford sales by 100,000 vehicles and cost company $1.7 billion in profits
Leaked document says US is willing to build replacement energy projects in case dams are breached
Jonathan Majors' domestic violence trial to begin: What to know about actor's charges
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Weather experts in Midwest say climate change reporting brings burnout and threats
A six-planet solar system in perfect synchrony has been found in the Milky Way
Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a landmark ruling