During the Ring of Honor ceremony, Jerry Krause was honored but his widow was upset by the boos from Bulls fans.
CHICAGO
During a halftime ceremony to honor the Chicago Bulls’ legendary figures, the team’s former general manager Jerry Krause was met with boos from the fans. This appeared to bring his widow to tears and received disapproval from past players.
Krause, who passed away in 2017, was honored as one of the 13 members in the first group to enter the Bulls’ “Ring of Honor.” He was credited for building the team’s six championship winning squads. At the ceremony, Krause’s widow, Thelma, attended and was visibly distraught by the vocal disapproval of certain fans at the United Center. She chose to remain seated instead of acknowledging the crowd.
“Warriors coach and former Bulls player, Steve Kerr, expressed his disappointment in the fans who booed during the ceremony honoring his team. He was in the locker room with his team at the time and felt that the night was meant to celebrate the joy and love that the team shared with the city. Kerr wants to clarify that not all fans booed, but those who did should feel ashamed.”
After the third quarter resumed, Stacey King, a former Bulls player and current NBC Sports Chicago analyst, expressed disappointment in the fans who booed and called their behavior classless.
King stated that Chicago is a city passionate about sports. He expressed disappointment in the reaction of the crowd when Jerry Krause’s name was announced and his widow, who accepted the honor on his behalf, was booed. King described it as the most disgraceful thing he has ever witnessed and expressed sympathy for the widow who was brought to tears. He also criticized those who participated in booing her and stated that they should feel ashamed of their behavior.
Former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson, along with several other notable former players, received a warm welcome from the crowd. However, star players Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were not present at the event.
“The Last Dance” documentary, which focuses on the 1997-98 season and the end of the Bulls dynasty, highlights the occasional conflicts between Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson with Krause, who played a crucial role in building the team.
DeMar DeRozan, a forward for the Bulls, acknowledged the significant role that Krause played in the team’s success and praised him for creating one of the greatest teams in history. DeRozan also emphasized the importance of showing appreciation for family and friends who are still present and not disrespecting them.
Rodman’s appearance was planned, but his travel arrangements were cancelled due to bad weather. He and Jordan both sent video messages to recognize the honor.
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Source: wralsportsfan.com