Even Bulls fans take it ‘personally.’ They showed their bitter feelings run deep at the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony tonight. Among the 13 honorees including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman was also Jerry Krause. The late general manager was known to butt heads with his star championship-winning players. And after The Last Dance, those feelings resurfaced in the ceremony.

His wife, Thelma Krause represented him at the event which most of the players themselves skipped. But she had to endure the negativity in the United Center on behalf of the former NBA executive. It’s not a good look for Bulls Nation right now.

Jerry Krause’s honor tarnished by fans

It was supposed to be a spectacular night celebrating the success of the Bulls franchise. The team unveiled the Ring of Honor by inducting its first class of honorees on January 12. Along with Jordan, Pip, Rodman, Toni Kukoc, and even Luc Longley all the way from Australia, honorees included Phil Jackson, Bob Love, Ron Harper, and Jerry Krause.

As Krause passed away in 2017, his widow, Thelma was present on his behalf. Unlike the rousing reaction Phil Jackson righteously received, Thelma Krause was visibly shaken by the jeers and boos of the crowd for her late husband.

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She was reduced to tears from the torrent of boos that contrasted starkly with the cheers every other honoree received. The entire incident has elicited a way of criticism for those present in the United Center on Friday.

While the Bulls acknowledge Krause as the architect behind the six championships in the ’90s, he’s now remembered for someone repeatedly clashing with Michael Jordan. Irrespective of his relationship with his players, Twitterverse is unforgiving of the crass behavior. Even Bulls center and commentator, Stacey King went off on the crowd. And he has company online.

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NBA community rips into United Center crowd

As soon as evidence of this treatment to Jerry Krause’s wife surfaced, United Center fans were on the receiving end of the same harshness online. Calling them “awful” was among the kinder words. Some even compared them to Utah fans who are still bitter about losing the ‘Flu Game’ to MJ&Co.

Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman were absent from the event. Only Jordan and Rodman had video messages that received cheers. Scottie Pippen’s negative commentary on Jordan has also been the subject of criticism but it’s hard to say he’d get the same treatment as Krause and his wife.

Internet denizens are directly pinning the blame on Jordan and The Last Dance. As Scottie and some other players alleged, the 2020 documentary done from MJ’s lens showed some of them, especially Krause in poor light.

The aftermath showed in the United Center on January 12. A historic occasion in NBA history now remains marred by fans going this low.

Irrespective of bitter feelings, everyone watching this ceremony agreed the Ring of Honor ceremony was not the place to take it out. It was already bitter due to the Jordan-Pippen feud and both being no-shows for unspecified reasons. (Rodman skipped due to bad weather.) It not only hurt Thelma, but it also soured it for every honoree present.

Stacey King said on the mic, “That’s not Chicago.” Indeed no one in civilized society would associate with the spectators present in the United Center on January 12, 2024.

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