Rodzilla Recap

The Chicago Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony, held during the halftime of the Bulls vs Warriors game, was meant to celebrate inductees into the 2024 class which includes past players, coaches and front office members who’ve helped define the organization throughout its history. Among those honored: Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, the 1995-96, 72-win team, Tex Winter and Jerry Krause — the only inductee to get booed by the audience.

Perhaps it’s the wrestling fan in me, but I’m of the opinion that fans pay for their tickets and, within reason, can react to sporting events however they choose. Booing is certainly within reason whether it’s viewed as “classless” or not. Was it right for members of the Chicago Bulls audience to bring widow, Thelma Krause, to tears by booing her late husband, Jerry, during the ceremony? Absolutely not. But was the minority booing as morally reprehensible as some are making it out to be? Absolutely not.

Former Bulls General Manager, Jerry Krause, has been vilified in the media for years, most notably in ESPN’s Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance”. Yes, Krause is responsible for bringing 6 championships to Chicago, solidifying the Bulls as an NBA dynasty, in just 8 seasons, but he is also remembered for dismantling the franchise’s core. And while a decision from the 1990s can hardly be used to explain the dismal play of the Bulls in recent decades, it has lead to a quarter-century championship drought. Likewise, “The Last Dance” pit Krause against Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player who ever lived and the eternal MVP of both the Chicago Bulls franchise and the city of Chicago. The fact that Michael, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman all missed the ceremony was, in my opinion, like adding fuel to the ‘we hate Krause’ fire.