chicago – The Bulls celebrated the debut of the organization’s new Ring of Honor at halftime of Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, but that was not the case when some fans loudly booed former Chicago general manager Jerry Krause, who died in 2017. When the sound was heard, the ritual changed.
The first Ring of Honor class included 13 men and the entire 1995-96 team, which won the NBA championship with a 72-10 record.
The Bulls were missing several key members of the team, with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman missing from the festivities. Rodman was scheduled to attend, but his travel plans were canceled due to bad weather. Both he and Jordan submitted video messages recognizing the honor.
“I’m sorry I can’t be here tonight,” Jordan said in a recorded video to fans. “But I don’t want to stop you from having fun.”
In addition to Jordan, Pippen and Rodman, the first 13 members also included Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, who received the warmest cheers from the attendees, and Krause, who served as the Bulls general manager from 1985 to 2003.
Krause’s name was announced by the United Center crowd, and his widow, Thelma, who represented him at the ceremony, was visibly emotional during the reception. Krause was the architect of the Bulls’ six championship teams but was often blamed for the disintegration of a dynasty that had been a big part of its construction.
Read more from 2017 | Former Bulls GM Jerry Krause dies
Former Bulls forward Stacey King, now an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago, said at the end of the third quarter that he was disappointed with the boos from the fans, calling them classless.
“I tell you, Chicago is a sports town, and today when Jerry Krause’s name was called, we witnessed people booing Jerry Krause and his widow, and his widow To accept this honor for him, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” King said. “I feel bad for that lady. She was brought to tears and anyone who booed her on this stage should be ashamed of themselves.”
Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf addressed the situation in a statement to NBC Sports Chicago, in which he praised Krause as “an important part of our history.”
“His legacy deserves to be celebrated and respected,” Reinsdorf’s statement read in part. “We are honored to have Selma join us tonight in recognizing Jerry as a member of the inaugural Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who played five seasons in Chicago from 1993 to 1998, was grateful the Bulls’ schedule allowed him to play Friday’s game. He said he was in the locker room but listened to To the boos, I condemned as “absolutely disgraceful”.
“I’m devastated for Thelma and the Krause family,” Kerr said. “I can’t believe the fans – you have to understand when you hear the boos it’s not all about them. The fans who are booing, they know who they are. To me it’s absolutely disgraceful , I was shocked by this.
“Whether people like Jerry or not…we’re here to celebrate this team. Jerry has done a great job building this team…I’m very disappointed in the fans — and I want to be specific about that. , because of them I’m sure there were a lot of fans who didn’t boo. But those who did should be ashamed.”
Jordan, Pippen and Jackson sometimes feuded with Krause, which was one of the subjects of the documentary “The Last Dance” about the 1997-98 season, the final season of the Bulls dynasty Krause helped build.
“You can never take away what he created,” Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan said of Krause. “Without Jerry, there would be no Chicago Bulls history.”
DeRozan added: “The family and friends who are still here should be appreciated and should not be disrespected.”
Except for the 1995-96 team (called “the greatest team in NBA history.”
Chicago celebrated its inaugural class at a private soirée at the United Center on Thursday, then acknowledged it in front of a packed crowd during the extended halftime of Friday’s game against Cole’s Warriors.
“I’m flattered that they did this during our game so I could be here,” Kerr said before the game, which saw the Warriors come back to win 140-131 thanks to a second-half comeback. “We had a great night, not only at the party but connecting with the team afterwards. Lots of stories, lots of fun. It was just a really, really good night.
“As far as everyone getting together, it probably started a few days after the ’98 Finals, when the team disbanded, and we knew that. One night, we all got together and smoked cigars and had a few drinks. Have a cocktail and tell us a story.”
The Bulls will add Rings of Honor every two years, with the next level of honor to be announced in 2026.
This report contains information from The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2024 ESPN Internet Ventures. all rights reserved.