The San Antonio Spurs’ legendary head coach Gregg Popovich chimed in on the controversial booing of former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause during the franchise's celebration of the inaugural class of the Ring of Honor last Friday.
Krause, who passed away in 2017, was represented by his widow, Thelma, who was brought to tears by the relentless wave of boos that cascaded down on the floor when Jerry Krause’s picture was shown on the big screen.
Scathing critique
Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since 1996 and has led the team to five NBA titles, did not hold back in his critique of Bulls fans who booed Krause, who many believe was responsible for breaking up the Michael Jordan-led dynasty in Chicago. In a pre-game interview before the Spurs took on the Bulls, Popovich said, “It’s unnecessary; it’s impolite; it’s ignorant.”
“If anything, it’s like a snapshot of the world that we live in today where meanness seems to be a lot more condoned. I guess I’m naïve, but I never knew that there were that many people willing and ready to act that way in our country, and even more people doing things violently like it’s acceptable. I think that’s just the by-product of it. It’s the mood that we’re in,” Pop continued.
Thelma was visibly shaken by the booing as several Bulls legends tried to console her.
Krause was the chief architect of the team that dominated the 90s, winning six titles in eight years. However, he and the team’s stars, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and even Phil Jackson, often didn’t see eye to eye. This led to a lot of tension and drama within the organization.
Michael Jordan is partly to blame
To be fair, Krause didn’t endear himself with the Bulls players, especially when he said, “Players and coaches don’t win championships, organizations do.”
Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times points the finger at Jordan, arguing that his statements about Krause, especially in the documentary “The Last Dance,” added more fuel to the fire of dissension.
“The cause of that is part Jordan, who hasn’t mellowed in his need to dominate everything and everybody, and part the cult of Jordan, which is filled with fans, media members, and other sycophants ever working to stay on the good side of the best to ever play the game,” Morrisey wrote.
“Jordan was no fan of Krause while both were pursuing championships in Chicago, and he went out of his way to let everyone know it, including during his 2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech.”
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