I remember traveling when I was younger going overseas to the old country of Ireland. I’ve been to Ireland about a dozen times over my lifetime so far, as I have family there. I recall when I was younger many believing the town was still run by Al Capone types of characters. When I got older, Michael Jordan took the Chicago headlines. When Jerry Springer came up in conversation, it was embarrassing. The violence in the present day is worse than the Capone days. The Windy City does not have that legendary sports figure at this time to talk about. In Chicago, we love our past heroes, maybe a little too much, because the well dries up in the town’s sports landscape. Since the pandemic, & probably before the line in the Smashing Pumpkins song, “the world is a vampire.” Chicago Bulls fans plunged their teeth into the first ever Ring of Honor ceremony at the United Center, Friday night. The Bulls were hosting the Golden State Warriors and honoring the 1995-96 team that went 72-10 for the best record all-time at the time. The ceremony included 13 others, and when the former Bulls General Manager, Jerry Krause, had his name called out, the packed house sent down an orchestra of boos. Krause passed away in 2017 & his widow, Thelma, was there in his honor. She Cried!!! Another moment as a resident in the Chi-town burbs that I’d like to get back.

I hate the idea of making an innocent woman widow cry. From a fan’s perspective, the City of Chicago sports landscape & seeing all the owners we have to deal with, and their henchmen all these years, can make us angry. I know fans, buying that expensive ticket for the game with a ten dollar beer, have the right to express their opinions. Jerry Krause was the architect of the Bulls dynasty which resulted in six championships from 1991-98. Krause made savvy trades bringing in Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs. In the documentary The Last Dance, which was about the Michael Jordan and cast’s last season together in 1997-98, mentions the beef with Krause. Even though fans knew before the documentary that Head Coach Phil Jackson, Jordan, and Scottie Pippen did not see eye to eye with the GM Krause. Most fans see Krause as the guy responsible for the dynasty break up as he was a guy who thought he could build another one with a different cast. The puppet master himself, the miser owner Jerry Reinsdorf, could have vetoed Krause as well.

Steve Kerr, the Golden Warriors Head Coach who was part of the Bulls dynasty as a player from 1993-95, called what the fans did at the United Center, “Shameful.” Former Bull, Ron Harper, is consoling the Krause widow. Harper was a important pick up for the Bulls’ second three championships. Another savvy move by Krause. When play resumed in the 3rd quarter, Bulls television analyst Stacy King former Bulls player who was part of the first three championships, called the fans who booed, “classless” on air. The Bulls would lose this game to the Warriors, 140-131. I see this as very typical Chicago Sports as a fan, getting beat by a struggling Golden State team coming in. Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan said that without Jerry Krause there wouldn’t be a historic Chicago Bulls history.

These ceremonies teams have or jerseys being retired, are supposed to take you down memory lane in a good way. Phil Jackson was on hand and he received thunderous applause by the Bulls faithful. Besides the great 1995-96 team, the organization had other greats they were adding to this new thing the Bulls brass came up with. Other Bulls being inducted into this Ring of Honor follows: Artis Gilmore, The Great Johnny “Red” Kerr, Dick Klein, Bob Love, Toni Kukoc, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker and Tex Winter. Michael Jordan was not there but had a video on the jumbotron saying a few words. Dennis Rodman was in, but due to bad weather he could not make it. He sent a video saying some nice words. This was all about the past. This was all about the old memories of which in Chicago Sports we have so few. We have to hold on to or clutch these great moments like a baby with a bottle. We know we will grow out of it. The few bad apples could ruin anything. This night it was more of an orchard raining down the boos like a gladiator fight.

It’s common sense to not speak badly about the dead. Booing someone that can’t defend themselves. Present day people suck. People are angry. People are lashing out all over the world. It’s not just a Chicago problem. The sports owners bring on hostility, especially in Chicago. The Bears have not won a Superbowl since 1985. Why do you think fans clutch that team like if they let go, the memory will vanish. The owner of the Bears, Virginia McCaskey, says she wants to win another Superbowl before she passes away.

The Bears franchise that unites Chicago people is one of worst in sports, not just in Chicago. They still can’t find a quarterback. Sid Luckman was their best and his playing days were back in the 1940’s. Jerry Reindorf is the chairman of the Bulls and White Sox. He’s public enemy number one. Uncle Jerry got lucky having Michael Jordan in place already before he purchased the team. If he did not have him, that six pack of championships would have not been displayed in Chicago. The White Sox have done nothing since 2005. The miser that he is, Uncle Jerry is keeping idiots like Kenny Williams & Ricky Hahn way past their expiration date. Same with the Bulls. John Paxson and Gar Foreman are guys that would be fired from any other organization because they did a bad job. Uncle Jerry and his threats to move his teams. The Blackhawks dynasty came to an end with three Stanley Cups. The Kyle Beach sexual assault cover up and the way the team could not build another run around Patrick Kane is shameful. The franchise is still in the Wirtz family, the family where the old man Bill, who passed away years ago, always refused to put the home games on television back in the 1980’s. The Cubs were owned by the Tribune Company for decades during which they didn’t care what the team looked like because fans were showing up. The Cubs would get a new owner in Todd M Ricketts. The Cubs did win the World Series in 2016 under Ricketts. The Cubs, like the Chicago way, have followed the path of all the owners. Strolling down Miser Avenue without a care from it’s fan bases unless they stop showing up. We love our teams in the Windy City. We love going down memory lane with all those teams. We show up. We are angered. Maybe it’s time the owners of Chicago sports change their tune and show the fans they are classy for a change. We have been shit on long enough.