The Bulls opened their Ring of Honor tonight by introducing the entire 1996 championship team as its first members. The ceremony was unfortunately marred by whistles from some fans when honoring former General Manager Jerry Krause, now deceased.
We can say without too much difficulty that Bulls fans are certainly not going to come away from this first Ring of Honor ceremony. At the start, a great party with a large part of the 1995-1996 squad present, including Steve Kerr who coached the Warriors that night in Chicago. If Phil Jackson was present with his former protégés, three faces and not the least of them were absent. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were missing. The first two sent videos to thank the franchise for the honor done. Rodman, for his part, had planned to come but transport problems due to the weather prevented him from joining his former teammates in time. He also sent a film to share his love of the Bulls and his joy at being included in Ring of Honor.
Michael Jordan sent this message ahead of our Ring of Honor celebrations: pic.twitter.com/0HjOFFpXUj
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 12, 2024
Unlike Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen, you can tell how badly Dennis Rodman wanted to make it to the #Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony.
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) January 13, 2024
If the absence of the three leaders was obviously a bit of a blemish, we could only be satisfied to see so many glorious alumni of Chicago being celebrated as they should. And then…the time has come to congratulate Jerry Krause, the former GM who built (and then ended) the Bulls dynasty. Except that when hearing the name of the leader, who died in 2017, part of the public whistled. Enough to make Krause’s widow, who came specially to receive the tribute due to her former husband, cry.
Absolutely brutal reaction from Chicago fans, booing the late Jerry Krause at the Bulls’ Ring of Honor ceremony. His wife representing him was in tears.
Just awful. pic.twitter.com/fA1eRs2TCn
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 13, 2024
Obviously, such an image could only spoil the party and the whistles were condemned in unison by the organization, the 1996 players but also several personalities attached to the Bulls or who knew the former GM. Small anthology of reactions.
“I didn’t hear it. I was in the locker room, but someone came to talk to me about it, and it’s shameful. It’s absolutely shameful. I can’t believe it…I’m devastated for Thelma and the Krause family. What can we possibly be thinking? You have to understand that when you hear boos, because not everyone does. The fans who booed know who they are, and to me, it’s absolutely shameful, and I’m devastated by it.” –Steve Kerr
“What we saw today when Jerry Krause’s name was called, and the people who booed Jerry Krause and his widow, who was accepting this honor for him, it was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I felt bad for this woman. I saw him crying. And those who booed her in this room should be ashamed. – Stacey King, Bulls commentator
The franchise responded through its owner, Michael Reinsdorf, via a press release. This recalls the importance of Jerry Krause in the history of the franchise and its successes and condemns the whistles against him.
Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf gave this statement to @NBCSChicago about Jerry Krause pic.twitter.com/MqcoxKyhP2
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 13, 2024
Suffice it to say that the expected beautiful celebration did not end exactly as we hoped, to the great misfortune of those mainly concerned.
Source texte : NBC Sports Chicago / Chicago Bulls / Legion Hoops / Die Hard Chicago Bulls Fans
2024-01-13 09:06:00
#team #honored #whistles #Jerry #Krause #spoil #party
