During Monday night's NBA broadcast on TNT, commentator Charles Barkley said that the widow of longtime Bulls executive Jerry Krause was booed when his name was mentioned during the ceremony. Chicago Bulls fans were furious for making him cry.
The Bulls held a small event on the floor to celebrate the team's 2024 induction into the Ring of Honor Hall of Fame, and Jerry Krause's widow, Thelma Krause, was also in attendance to accept her late husband's induction into the Hall of Fame. But her fans booed when Krause's name was read over the speakers.
The hate fest left an 80-year-old woman in tears, but she thought it was a shameful attack on Berkeley.
“It was a complete disgrace to the legacy of the Chicago Bulls…Whether you like Jerry Krause or not, that man is dead…His wife is there and you're going to make that woman cry.” LOL…that was complete BS…it broke my heart to watch that.'' ” – Charles Berkeleypic.twitter.com/Ra53zne3KC
— Terrible announcement (@awfulpayment) January 16, 2024
“What happened in Chicago the other day was shameful,'' Berkeley said. Said, according to FOX News. “It was an utter disgrace. … It was wrong on so many levels to make my wife cry like that. Michael, Scotty and Dennis didn't show up – that was a mistake. It was a huge disgrace to the Chicago Bulls tradition. It was a disgrace. They've always been a great, great organization.”
Former Bulls GM Jerry Kraus was booed at the team's Ring of Honor ceremony at halftime.
His wife Thelma, who took his place, appeared emotional on screen amid boos.pic.twitter.com/7zLAtOTZvc
— Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) January 13, 2024
Barkley also criticized Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman for not bothering to attend the small event.
“You don't have the greatest players in the organization there. You won six championships and Dennis and Scotty won them too,” Barkley added. “First of all, I don't understand why you would put 100 players into Ring of Honor. It's just stupid. But what those fans did to Mrs. Claus is not cool. Everyone involved has an obligation to apologize to that woman.”
“Whether you like Jerry Krauss or not, that man is dead. His wife is there and you're going to make that woman cry and that was total BS. …That one. It was heartbreaking to watch,” Barclay exclaimed.
Krause was a key member of the Bulls' office that put together a team that won six NBA championships in the 1990s.
But Barkley isn't the only one blaming insensitive fans.
Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf also criticized the fans, saying that Krauss, who died in 2017, was respected.
“Jerry Krause is a six-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Executive of the Year,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “He has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and is an important part of our history. His accomplishments deserve to be celebrated and respected. Tonight, we honor Jerry as part of the Chicago Basketball Hall of Fame. I was honored to have Thelma join me to recognize him as the inaugural member of the Bulls Ring of Honor.”
On April 4, 2016, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class was announced during a break in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf stands on the court on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Streeter Rekka/Getty Images)
But many Bulls fans have been wondering since Kraus said in 1997, “Players and coaches don't win championships. Championships aren't won, players and coaches win championships.” , got mad at him. Organizations win championships when a team begins to wind down a year of big wins and players and coaches begin to leave.
Klaus is always claimed His statement was misquoted and the word “alone” was omitted from his statement. He claims that's what he meant. “Players and coaches alone don't win championships. Organizations win championships.” However, fans were excited about what was initially reported, saying that Kraus won all six NBA championships on his own. I felt like they were trying to take credit.
It wasn't just a quote. Krause was a key figure during the championship era, but he was also a key force in the dismantling of the team when coach Phil Jackson was fired in 1998. In fact, Krause reportedly told Jackson that his contract would not be renewed even if he led the Bulls to another championship in 1998.
In other words, in the eyes of many fans, Jerry Krause was the villain of the sports world. Of course, that doesn't justify making widows cry. But booing has a history.
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