More than 25 years after the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s came to an end, some of the wounds surrounding its ending have not healed.
The Bulls officially introduced their Ring of Honor at halftime of Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors. The inaugural class included former owner Dick Klein, former assistant coach Tex Winter, former players Artis Gilmore, Chet Walker, Toni Kukoč, Dennis Rodman and Michael Jordan, as well as the 1995-96 championship team that went a then NBA record 72-10 en route to the franchise’s fourth NBA title and first since Jordan’s return from his first retirement.
It wasn’t only players from the 95-96 team inducted. The inductees include coaches and executives. One of the executives was Jerry Krause, the team’s general manager. Krause had a difficult relationship with some members of that team, namely Jordan (who did not attend the ceremony) and Phil Jackson. At the time, it was said to be a big reason why the team dissolved after winning the 1997-98 championship.
Krause passed away in 2017. His widow, Thelma Krause, was on hand on Friday night to receive the honor for her late husband. And when her husband was introduced to the crowd at the United Center, he was roundly booed.
Jerry Krause. Fans booed. Not cool pic.twitter.com/RqMhsfoY1f
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) January 13, 2024
Those who booed Krause came under a lot of criticism for doing so.
Absolutely criminal that people booed Jerry Krause.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 13, 2024
YOU BULLS FANS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED. Booing Jerry Krause, and with his widow Thelma there?? GET LOST.
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) January 13, 2024
I get that Bulls fans weren't big fans of Krause, but read the room y'all. Bad look to make the man's widow have to hear boos during his announcement at the Ring of Honor. pic.twitter.com/S0NwGaB0Hj
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) January 13, 2024
I’m still in shock by that booing at the United Center tonight.
We all know how things were with Krause … but he’s gone. You can’t let it go in front of his wife? I mean, that really was remarkably embarrassing and uncomfortable.
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) January 13, 2024
The Thelma Krause moment was the saddest, most awkward thing I’ve ever seen at a sporting event.
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) January 13, 2024
So much sadness involved in this ring of honor ceremony.
Short changing Phil’s standing O.
Booing Krause & Thelma crying.
No MJ or Scottie.
No individual intros for other
members of 95-96 #Bulls like Kerr, Harp, Luc, etc.
Only the Bulls.— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) January 13, 2024
[@_MarcusD3_ on Twitter/X, Photo Credit: NBC Sports Chicago]
