Chicago Bulls Fans Boo Widow Of Legendary GM Jerry Krause At Ring Of Honor Ceremony

Getty Image / Jamie Sabau

I don’t think it’s a controversial opinion to say that sports fans have become much more reactionary since sports news and debate discourse moved to social media rather than the local watering hole. And, the booing of the widow of legendary Chicago Bulls General Manager Krause during his Ring of Honor induction shows just how bad sports fans have been.

Krause should be treated as a legend in Chicago, as he helped build the rosters around Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen that led to six championships in eight seasons.

Krause also hired legendary coach Phil Jackson, who coached Chicago to all six of those NBA Championships, and insisted on Chicago running the triangle offense that Jordan and company made famous.

But, for some reason, aided by the The Last Dance docuseries that came out in 2020 that was mostly told from Michael Jordan’s perspective, Jerry Kraus has been viewed as the person who broke up the incredible Pippen-Jordan-Jackson trio after the 1998 season. Krause’s rebuild failed, and that has left a bad taste in the mouth of many Bulls fans.

But, none of that excuses what happened Friday night. Krause, who died in 2017, was being inducted into the Bulls’ Ring of Honor posthumously, with his wife in attendance to accept the honor. But, Bulls fans viciously booed Krause, and the in-arena camera showed his wife crying due to the booing. Take a look.

Yeah, that’s completely unacceptable. The boos did eventually turn to cheers, but there never should have been any booing to begin with. Krause was the architect of six championship teams! Presumably, it was a bunch of young fans who don’t even remember what the Bulls were like prior to Krause and were influnced by The Last Dance.

Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf released a statement following the booing incident.

The Bulls lost to the Warriors, 140-131. Karma rules.