Friday at the United Center was intended to be a celebration of the Chicago Bulls' rich franchise history via a Ring of Honor ceremony. Unfortunately, what should have been a joyful halftime celebration of Bulls nostalgia devolved into inappropriate fan anger directed at former general manager Jerry Krause.
I watched the televised broadcast of the Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony and witnessed audible booing during the recognition of Krause, while his widow, Thelma, was visibly upset by the experience.
Why Did Fans Boo Jerry Krause During the Bulls Ring of Honor Ceremony?
ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary highlighted the conflict that persisted throughout the Bulls' dynasty years, with Jerry Krause being portrayed as a central figure in the organizational rift that ultimately dismantled the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman three-peat roster in 1998.
As a Bulls fan in the 1990s, I certainly experienced resentment toward Krause's front-office decisions circa 1998. But today it's 2024, and Krause is worthy of forgiveness. He has a right to redemption.
What Emotions Do You Feel Regarding Jerry Krause?
Twenty-six years later, I have an open question for Bulls fans. Do you still feel resentment toward Jerry Krause? If you do, what's holding you back from forgiving him? To boo a person no longer on this earth, while their widowed spouse represents them in a public ceremony, is fundamentally disrespectful.
It's understandable if you held critical views of the basketball decisions Krause made in 1998. However, you have to respect the moves Krause made in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 to set the roster foundation that created your six-time NBA champion Bulls.
As sports fans, we get a wonderful invitation to experience joy, fun, and community when we go to games. We shouldn't surrender that invitation because of unprocessed anger. If you're angry at Krause, I encourage you to forgive him and respect his Bulls legacy.
As Bulls fans, I hope we can come together after the shame of the "Karma Game" and process obsolete resentment into redemption for our former general manager, who transformed the franchise from a perennial runner-up into eight years of pure NBA domination.
More must-reads: