A Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony featuring Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and many others sounds like a fun time for everyone. Instead, things got ugly.
None of Jordan, Pippen and Rodman showed up at halftime for the Bulls to honor their first Ring of Honor class, all sending video addresses to at least acknowledge the event. Jordan's video wasn't what we would call emotional.
Other honorees included Phil Jackson, Toni Kukoc, Artis Gilmore, Tex Winter, Chet Walker, the entire 1995-96 team, Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Dick Klein and Jerry Krause.
It was this last name that caused the ceremony to enter nefarious territory.
To say the least, Krause, the Bulls' general manager from 1985 to 2003, is not popular with Chicago fans. Jordan famously despised him and he is widely blamed for Jackson's 1998 exit, which brought about the collapse of the team's dynasty. Krause died in 2017, leaving him unable to defend himself when the team's legacy was re-examined on ESPN's “The Last Dance.” Instead, the entire documentary became a chance for everyone to relate to Krause.
So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise when Bulls fans loudly mocked Krause's name when it was announced. It was still a surprise, as some in the United Center audience booed when Krause's widow Thelma was in attendance.
Thelma Krause didn't seem to be coping well with her late husband's boos:
You can see Take a closer look at her reaction here.
Among the many people angered by the sight of fans booing an older woman because they hate what they believe her husband did to their sports team was Bulls color commentator Stacey King, who served from 1989 to 1994 played alongside Jordan and under Krause for the Bulls.
He opened the third quarter by denouncing these fans:
King's reaction:
“I'm a little upset right now… We just had a remarkable ceremony bringing back the legends, and I'll tell you what: Chicago is a sports town. What we saw today when Kerry Krause's name was called, and the people booing Jerry Krause and his widow who accepted the honor on his behalf, it was the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. This lady hurt me. Brought her to tears.
“Whoever booed her in that arena should be ashamed of themselves. This isn't Chicago, this is New York, Philly. Chicago is not like that. We don't have a reputation for being like that. Whether you like Jerry Krause or not, that man won six championships here. He didn't score a basket or get a rebound, but he won six titles in this arena. There are many teams that only have one. That was really classless. I was disappointed with the people who booed. It was a sad thing.”
Unfortunately, it seems entirely possible that Chicago now has a reputation for being this way.
It obviously wasn't all Bulls fans booing Krause, and it's not like criticism of Krause isn't warranted. But the man's Ring of Honor ceremony is not the place for that, especially if his widow is there and not him. It's probably worth remembering that Krause drafted two players (Pippen, Kukoc), traded for another (Rodman), and hired two of the coaches (Jackson, Winter) who were taken.
If these Bulls fans really wanted to complain about the direction their team has taken over the last 25 years, team owner Jerry Reinsdorf was right there.
Reinsdorf's son, Bulls team president Michael Reinsdorf, did not criticize the taunts a statement after the ceremonybut Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, a Bulls player under Krause and the Bulls' opponent on Friday, had some very harsh words:
“It's embarrassing. Absolutely shameful. I can't believe it – I'm devastated for Thelma and the Krause family. What can we possibly think? I can't believe the fans – and you have to understand when you hear boos, that's not the case.” All of them, right? So the fans who booed know who they are. …
“What do we do? Whether people liked Jerry or not, whether they disagreed with the decision to move on, we are here to celebrate this team. Jerry has done a great job building this team. Tonight and last night were all about the joy.” I think it's great that this team shared with the city and I'm so disappointed in the fans and I want to be specific because there are certainly a lot of fans that didn't boo. Both who booed should be ashamed.”
Bulls star DeMar DeRozan was also critical, saying it “sucked” that Krause's family had to hear his treatment Julia Poe from the Chicago Tribune:
“Give him a soul, he played a huge part in the success of the Bulls and created one of the greatest teams of all time. You have to give him credit. “This man had family and friends that are still here that we should cherish,” and should not be disrespected in any way by booing or anything like that.
“It’s just a shame that her family had to endure something like that. You can never take away what he created. Without Jerry, the history of the Chicago Bulls would not exist. You have to give him credit as long as basketball exists.”
The Bulls lost to the Warriors 140-131.