It was announced in a press conference in Detroit today that Michael Jordan will be inducted into the basketball hall of fame along with John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, and C. Vivian Stringer.

The biggest disappointment is that Chicago Bulls legend, Johnny Red Kerr, failed to make the Hall of Fame once again.

This is an interesting class for Jordan to be inducted into because it includes two members of the Utah Jazz, John Stockton and Jerry Sloan, who Jordan denied a championship to in the late 1990’s.

This is going to be a great day for basketball and a great day for the NBA.  Michael Jordan is by far the greatest player in the history of the NBA.

Jordan just had it all.  He was a great scorer, but also a great passer and a lockdown defender.  Some critics will argue that Michael Jordan is the better player and that Kobe Bryant is the better scorer.  This is simply false.  Jordan averaged more points on a higher scoring efficiency in the hand check era.

What made Jordan so great, is that he was great every step of the way, he did it all.

In 1982 he won a national championship with North Carolina.  In 1984 he was named the AP College Player of the Year while winning the John R. Wooden Award.

He jumped into the NBA hot, becoming the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1985.  In February of 1988, he would win his first Allstar Game MVP, and then finish the year becoming the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and securing his first MVP.  In 1991 he led the Bulls over the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals and became an NBA Champion as well as the Finals MVP.

In 1992, Jordan had done it all, becoming an Olympic Gold Medalist as the Dream Team won the gold in the 1992 Summer Olympics.

In total Jordan had won 6 NBA Championships, 1 NCAA Championship, 1 Olypmic Gold Medal, won 2 college player of the year awards, was a 14 time NBA Allstar, was a 3 time Allstar Game MVP, 6 time NBA MVP, 1 time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 6 time NBA Finals MVP.

His other honors include being a McDonald’s All American, being a 2 time NCAA AP All American.  He made the NBA All Rookie First Team, made the All NBA Second Team once, made the All NBA First Team 10 times, and made the NBA All Defensive First Team 9 times.

His gaudy stats and endless lists of awards, honors, and championships made Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player ever, but his flair for the dramatic is what allowed him to transcend sports.

Michael Jordan had to do everything big and do everything great.  He led the greatest basketball team ever to 72 wins.  He hit 25 game winners throughout his career, including the famous jumpshot over Craig Ehlo.  He led the Bulls back from 16 down in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, scoring 38 points while playing 44 minutes with the flu.  In 1998, his final game as a Chicago Bull, Jordan scored 45 points and hit the game winning jumpshot over Byron Russell to lead the Bulls to their second straight Finals victory over the Utah Jazz.

It will be a big day when Jordan is inducted into the basketball hall of fame.  I don’t think Jordan should have his own day being inducted into the hall of fame.  That diminishes the accomplishments of other players, such as John Stockton, who leads the NBA in career assists.  But I do think that the NBA and the sports world need to play this up as a big day, because it’s not everyday that you get to see the greatest athlete of all time inducted into his sports’ hall of fame.

This past week, John Paxson appeared on Lunch With a Legend to discuss various issues surrounding the Bulls. Here is a recap of what was said during the radio appearance.

• The roster is better since the deadline deals.
• He would like to see an 8 or 9 man rotation with Luol Deng in there.  He is not sure what will happen with Deng for the rest of the year.
• The Bulls have a scouting staff.  It is Jay Hillock’s job to go out and identify players in the league who are a little undervalued.  The Bulls were on John Salmons since the beginning of the year.
• The key to making the trade happen was the willingness to take on Brad Miller’s contract for next year.
• There is still some work to do to prepare the Bulls for 2010.  The Bulls have options on their roster to allow them to do it.
• Paxson likes what Salmons can do off the dribble.  Longterm, he can play either at the 2 or 3.  He doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him because he didn’t play a lot of minutes so far in his career.  Salmons can be really good for a number of years.
• There is a definite injury in Luol Deng’s leg.  They have chosen to take activity away from him.  He is starting to run a little bit.  They have a treadmill that takes his body weight off of him.
• Luol Deng is the only one who can give an answer to why there is an organizational divide.  Paxson would have liked for Luol to tell the organization which doctors he wanted to talk to first.  However, the Bulls still got on board with the doctor Luol chose.  The Bulls’ diagnosis was right from the beginning.
• The problem with the Big Mac booing was that Kirk Hinrich had an unbelievable game.  Wishes that people would get in their cars saying what a great game it was, but they booed Kirk instead. You’d like to see the fans up on their feet cheering, especially when you beat the Pistons.
• Paxson has never claimed his free Big Mac after the game.
• He is not fearful that Luol Deng will not become the player they thought he would be.  He thinks that Deng is more of a system guy who plays off the strengths of others.  He still thinks that Deng will become a very good player.  He evaluated last year that the small forward position is a really valuable one.  He believes that Deng will have value and has value now.  Down the road you may have Deng to move in a deal, to which Paxson recovered with, “We don’t have any intention of moving Luol Deng.”  He has talked to teams around the league, and Deng does have value.
• He thinks that Neil Funk and Stacey King have a nice rapport.
• The Bulls have always battled the small backcourt.  John Salmons gives the opportunity to play with a bigger backcourt.  he thinks with Derrick’s size that can be a formidable backcourt, and that’ without talking about Ben Gordon, who Paxson thinks can play a terrific role for the Bulls.  He feels tha tthe Bulls now have some real scorers on the team with John Salmons, Ben Gordon, and Derrick Rose.
• Some of Ben Gordon’s future is financial.  Money deals aer becoming a reality in the league right now.  He would love to keep Gordon.  They tried the last two years, made substantial offers, and for whatever reason it didn’t work out.  He doesn’t assign blame to anyone for the failed negotiations.  They will have a chance to look at the big picture this summer and try to get him back.
• Again reitererated that he is the GM now and plans to be the GM.  If anything changes he will let everbody know.  Peter Vescey, the Suntimes, and David Aldridge were bogus and so out of reality.  The health stuff especially, he has no idea why Aldridge would bring that up.  he feels no obligation to lend credibility to these uys.  He thinks he proved that he is committed to the job at the trade deadline.
• Being able to break Larry Hughes big contract into two smaller pieces could help the Bulls make a trade in the future.
• When the Bulls got John Salmons they knew Thabo Sefolosha wasn’t going to play.  Of course, they could not have foreseen Luol Deng’s injury.  Having Sefolosha’s contract on the books next year would have caused some problems.
• They have another promotion going where they are going to be wearing a different color of green.  An environmental green.
• They are going to wear Los Bulls against the Heat.  Los Bulls and El Heat is the way the Hispanic speakers say it, not Los Toros.
• He thought Derrick Rose was terrific off the bat.  Has seen significant improvement in two areas: 1.  His shot has gotten more consistent, especially from the elbows.  2. His decision making has gotten better.  He thinks that Rose will probably be a higher turnover guy, but the greatest assist guy, John Stockton, was a high turnover guy as well.  He needs to grow on the defensive end.  he gets caught watching the ball a lot of the time.
• There was never a mandate for Vinny Del Negro to put Derrick Rose on the floor in clutch time.  They all know that Rose is the b iggest part of their future.  The whole organization wants to see him learn at the end of games.
• Had a preference for Rose to be in the game in the first Miami game.  Have to allow learning on the job when you hire someone with no head coaching experience.  The goal is to try to help Vinny become the best head coach he can be.  He is beginning to grow into that role.  Vinny is under contract the next couple of years, you don’t just give a guy a contract and then just get rid of him.  There is so much pressure to win, that decisions are made.  But if you do something like that, you have to ask yourself, what are you going to do.
• Paxson thinks we have a great opportunity to make the playoffs.  Maybe the biggest reason to make the playoffs is to get Rose some playoff experience.
• He can’t do anything about Noah and Thomas’ age and maturity.  The biggest thing for those guys was getting consistent time when the injuries occurred.  Noah is a guy who just cares about winning.  He thinks that Noah has played very well since getting consistent minutes and the starting job.  He thinks Thomas is similar.  When Drew Gooden got hurt, Tyrus Thomas got the minutes.  His ability at times has shown.  If tThomas would run the floor more, he would get a few more dunks a game.  Him and Noah have a nice thing going and Brad Miller is helping those two.
• Paxson throws things during games.  He kicked in the panel by the TV in the lockerroom.  He fins it frustrating that with all the things done to make players’ lives easier that you don’t see them recripocating what your doing for them.  There stll seems to be a distrust of the organization’s intentions which he cannot understand.
• The White House day was odd.  He first heard about Norm Van Lier when they were getting on the bust to the White House.  People were drawn to Norm because he was going to tell it like it was and people liked to hear it.  Norm was part of those Bulls teams that were endeared by the city for the way they played.  He remembers when they won their first championship that Norm felt a part of it.  The Bulls were so fortunate to meet the president, especially with the historical significance of President Obama.
• Paxson showed a picture of his son Ryan to Obama.  Paxson’s son Ryan, joined the military.  Paxson has great respect for every young person who decides to join the military.  Ryan’s path was a little bit different becauseh e was playing basketball, but felt it in his heart to enlist.  It shows that there are young people out there willing to take something more difficult on.  He is proud that Ryan, as a person coming from an affluent situation not having a sense of entitlement.
• Johnny Red Kerr was in a lot of pain for the last several weeks.  He was a good man.  He did just about everything for the Bulls outside of playing.  You can call him a homer ,but that’s because he loved the Chicago Bulls.  Today, it’s more analysis, but Johnny was going to tell you how much he loved the Bulls players.

The Chicago Bulls announced today that they will honor Johnny Red Kerr and Norm Van Lier by wearing tribute patches on their jerseys for the remainder of the season.

March 3, 2009 - The Chicago Bulls announced today that in remembrance of the late Johnny “Red” Kerr and Norm Van Lier, the team will wear a tribute patch on its jerseys for the remainder of the season.

“This is the right way to honor the memories of both Johnny and Norm,” said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. “Every time our players put on their uniform the rest of the year, they will be reminded of what Johnny and Norm meant to the Chicago Bulls. Johnny and Norm’s inspiration and legacy will forever be a part of our franchise’s fabric.”

The two-inch square patch is bisected into two halves. One half of the square patch is red, with Kerr’s famous nickname “Red” in white block letters. The other half is black, with Van Lier’s number 2, also in white.

John Paxson appeared on Monsters in the Morning to discuss a lengthy list of topics regarding the Chicago Bulls.  Here is a recap of what was said in the interview.

• The trade deadline passed and Paxson is still here, therefore the rumors weren’t true.  Paxson is always going to be loyal to the Bulls.  As long as Jerry wants to keep him around, he will be here.  Will always have some position in the organization.
• The job is getting bigger and bigger.  You don’t just have a GM, you have other people who carry a lot of responsibilities.  Gar Forman is the player personnel director.  Irwin Mandel has been the cap guy for years.
• The league is going in a different direction.  There are some issues that the league is going to be facing in the next year or two.  The star players are always going to get paid waht they deserve.  In the last CBA, the average player got paid more than they probably should have.  The MLE has probably ballooned some salaries.  These are some things in the next CBA that might be addressed.
• When you have to make a deal, you’re matching salaries.  You have to take on a player you maybe don’t want to in order to make the deal.  Lots of things prohibit trades, such as trade kickers.
• Lots of teams dancing under the tax.  The teams under the tax receive a portion of the tax money from the teams that are over and pay.  There are a lot of teams out there that are losing money.  He doesn’t care how much money certain owners have, you don’t want to conduct your business in a manner where you lose money.
• Gets emotional when he sees the team play and that’s why he can never coach.  He gets frustrated with himself and everybody, but that’s in the moment of watching the game.  He doesn’t get frustrated with individuals, but how they play as a group.  Would like for the Bulls to compete hard every night, defend, and share and move the ball better.
• He thinks that they are a better team than they were 2 weeks ago.  John Salmons is a very good player.  Their pro personnel guy was on him all year.  They took on a little more money next year to make it happen.  Going to be looking to sign some free agents or make some trades, pointing out Tyson Chandler getting traded.
• It was Paxson, not Skiles, who made the decision to send Tim Thomas home last time.  Thomas had a personal issue with his wife in an acident.  Just made the decision, since Thomas was in the last year of his deal, that they were just going to use him as a trade chip at the deadline, and play the young players, that Thomas should stay home.  So far, Thomas has been great.
• All players get a little antsy at the trade deadline, more so now than ever.  Back in his day they didn’t have the internet.  Now when these rumors come up, they have their friends and agents calling them.  He doesn’t know how it doesn’t affect them.
• Luol Deng had an MRI yesterday and it came back negative.  He’s day to day.  He was battling the injury for awhile and was wearing a sleeve on his shin.  He felt something a little bit different when he came down in the Houston game.  The X-ray showed what could have possibly been a line.  The MRI showed it being soft tissue.  Stress fractures take a little time to show up, so the Bulls are going to monitor it.  They won’t know for awhile.
• Talks to Vinny Del Negro about things.  It’s a team game, bt Derrick Rose is a big part of what they’re going to be doing in the future.  They have discussed some of the end of game playing time issues.  In Houston, Rose played and was phenomenal.  He’s going to have some successes and failures.  Even Michael Jordan missed some shots once in awhile.  Rose has to be in there to continually learn.
• Paxson has a very good relationship with Del Negro and they are on the same page.  The whole purpose is to help Vinny and maybe offer thoughts that he hasn’t had.  They knew when they gave Vinny the job that he never coached before, so he was going to make mistakes.  That’s the reason why they got him a really veteran staff to help him organize practice and game situations.  Vinny has a very open mind about everything.  He’s learning that the hard part when you’re on the outside is you have so many ideas, but you can’t implement them all.  For him, less is more.  When he just focuses on a few things, what he wants to be as a coach, that will come in time.
• Young guys need consistent minutes.  Right now, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas are getting consistent minutes and now they’re seeing who those players are.  Getting some real consistency out of them.  Thought that Joakim Noah played very well at the end of last year, but was set back this year with a couple injuries.
• Does not fall in love with the guys that he drafts.  Everybody istalked about in trade talks.  He just doesn’t want to make a bad trade.  Lots of times he talked about certain players, the trades made absolutely no sense to him.
• The Kobe Bryant thing came about from a youtube video where the Bulls got mentioned.  With Paul Gasol, the Bulls didn’t have the expiring contracts that Memphis wanted.  With Kevin Garnett, look at what Minnesota got for Garnett in Al Jefferson, and Paxson says he’d be pretty happy if he was them.
• Ben Gordon knows that Derrick Rose is a great point guard.  Gordon is such a unique player, he can help you win games by putting the ball in the basket.
• Would love to see the ball in Derrick Rose’s hands off of rebounds.  Thinks that they will be a better running team with some of the moves they made.  Thinks that it’s evolving, the mindset always looking for Derrick on the outlets and getting the other guys to run.
• The league changed the contact rules and that’s why you see so much of the screen and roll action because you really can’t do anything to contain a good point guard’s speed.  The mantra in the league office is freedom of movement.  The new game evolved from the game getting too physical and also from scoring going into the low 90’s.
• The Bulls will not be active in this summers free agent market.  Starting to position themselves to have some flexibility for 2010.  Hard to get the good players to leave their own team since they can make significantly more money with their own team.  Don’t see the great players moved that often.  Lots of it has to do with whether they’re winning.
• The Bulls still need an inside scorer.
• Thinks that Rose can be the go to guy.  Thinks the Bulls need more than one though.  Derrick’s getting that midrange shot because of his ability to drive to the basket.  It’s not a signature shot, but that little floater in the lane is effective for Rose.
• 72% of fans said No to question, “Should John Paxson resign as GM?”
• Paxson’s son Ryan told his mom that he was joining the marines before him.  He waited to tell John until after the trade deadline, and wrote down his intentions for his father.
• Most of the players who don’t get iit don’t have the right counsel around them.  Paxson is in the best interest of the players, but a lot of times the players think that management is out to hurt them.  There is a natural conflict between agents and management.  Some great relationships with agents.  Some not so great relationships with agents when things get unrealistic or you can’t do anything, things can get pretty heated.  The dollars have gotten so big and everyone wants a piece of the pie.
• Thinks that Mike D’Antoni felt a little bit underappreciated in Phoenix.  New York threw so much money at him, that we all would ahve taken that offer over night.
• Norm Van Lier was a unique character.  He was a tough minded, hard playing guy.  Listening to him was the treat.  He would tell it like it is.  It was all born out of that he wanted the Bulls to do well.  Just really sad that he went so unexpectedly.
• Johnny Red Kerr was sick for a long time.  Insiders knew how bad he was.  He lived every day and had a lot of fun.
• Paxson was only bothered by the booing at Johnny Red Kerr’s ceremony because of what the night represtented.
• Michael Jordan was once playing blackjack against the entire team on a plane trip.  John was betting like $5 while the other guys were betting big money.

The Chicago Bulls embarassed themselves so badly tonight that the president of the United States didn’t bother to stick around for the finish, as the Bulls were blown out by the Washington Wizards 113 to 90.

A large part of the Bulls problems tonight came from their starting backcourt. Ben Gordon had 11 points on a horrific 3-14 shooting. He also had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. His shot was just off tonight, and he was getting blocked on some of his drives to the basket. Gordon had some difficulty guarding Nick Young in the second quarter. Derrick Rose only had 10 points, 3 assists, along with 5 turnovers. He, like Gordon, could never get anything going.

I think that those two had some problems as the result of the offense, or to put it more accurately, the lack of offense. The Bulls really never had a set offense in place tonight. They didn’t run that curl play for Gordon at all. Rather, the Bulls just moved around the perimeter, looking for their guards to create something. That’s not really a very effective offensive strategy. Del Negro has to step up his coaching.

John Salmons, however, off the bench played great. He had 25 points on 8-13 shooting. He was scoring in a variety of ways. He stroked it from long range, going 2-4 from three, and scored on some nice drives to the basket.

Unfortunately Salmons’ scoring outburst was no match for that of the Wizards’ Antawn Jamison. Jamison had 27 points and 11 rebounds and could not be stopped by any of the Bulls defenders.

The Bulls big men as a whole were terrible tonight on the defensive end. They provided little resistance in the paint and gave up 19 offensive rebounds to Washington.

Brad Miller had 9 points and 11 rebounds and Joakim Noah added in 9 points and 9 rebounds as both were solid overall tonight. Tim Thomas had 5 points on 1-5 shooting and Tyrus Thomas had 7 points on 1-6 shooting. Both played terribly tonight.

The Wizards just played all around great team ball tonight, having eight players in double figures. Jamison had 27 points, Caron Butler and Mike James had 14 points, Darius Songaila, Nick Young, and Andray Blatche had 12 points, and Dominic McGuire and JaVale McGee both had 10 points.

When you allow eight players to score in double figures, you are most likely going to lose the game.

Kirk Hinrich had 7 points on a solid 2-5 shooting, and Luol Deng had 4 points on 2-8 shooting.

Anthony Roberson played his first game with the Bulls. He had 0 points on 0-3 shooting.

The Bulls wore black patches to honor Norm Van Lier and Johnny Red Kerr. The Wizards honored Kerr and Van Lier with a moment of silence before the game.

It’s hard to tell what exactly is wrong with the Bulls. Maybe the mix of Barack Obama being present and the deaths of Johnny Red Kerr and Norm Van Lier was just too much for them to handle. Maybe they just don’t have good chemistry after the trade, as they are now 1-3 with the new players in the mix.

But one thing is for sure, when you are playing a 13-44 opponent, and you’re trying to make the playoffs, you have to find a way to win the game. Losing a game like this is inexcusable.

With the loss, the Bulls fall to 26-33 on the season. Luckily, they likely will not be affected in the playof race tonight as Milwaukee looks set to lose in New Orleans tonight.

Bulls Get Presidential

The president of the United States invited the Chicago Bulls to the White House yesterday. Barack Obama has been a long time Bulls fan. Tonight was Barack Obama’s first Wizards game since being elected president. He is the first president to attend a Wizards game since Bill Clinton. Joe Biden, his vice president, attended a Bulls game earlier this year at the United Center. The officials waited to start the game until Obama entered the stadium. Obama ended up in some courtside seats on the edge of the court. He left the game with a few minutes left to standing ovation as the Bulls were amidst in getting blown out.

Two Bulls legends passed away yesterday. First, Norm Van Lier, and now, Johnny Red Kerr. The Bulls sent out the following press release regarding Kerr:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2009

The Chicago Bulls are deeply saddened to announce that Bulls legend Johnny “Red” Kerr has passed away at the age of 76.

“The entire Bulls organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Johnny “Red” Kerr. Johnny spent his entire life around the great game of basketball. His name was synonymous with basketball, both here in Chicago, and throughout the entire NBA,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “Those that were fortunate enough to have known Johnny were touched by both his tremendous compassion for people, and his life-long passion for the game of basketball. We will miss him greatly. Our sincere condolences, and our thoughts and prayers, go out to the entire Kerr family.”

Kerr, a native of Chicago, was a part of the Chicago Bulls organization in various capacities for 35 of the franchise’s 43 seasons, most notably as a team broadcaster for more than 30 years. He also served as the team’s first head coach in 1966, and earned NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 1966-67 season, when he directed the first-year Bulls to a playoff appearance. Kerr is the only head coach in NBA history to lead an expansion team to the playoffs during its inaugural season. As head coach of the Bulls, Kerr directed the team to a record of 62-101 (.380). “Red” was also the franchise’s business manager for two seasons (1973-74, 1974-75).

In addition to his Bulls ties, Kerr played 12 seasons (1954-1966) in the NBA for the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers and the Baltimore Bullets. During his 12 years in the NBA, his teams never missed the playoffs, highlighted by Syracuse’s run to the NBA Championship in 1955. From 1954 to1965, Kerr appeared in a then-NBA record 844 consecutive games. A three-time NBA All-Star, he finished his career with more than 10,000 points and over 10,000 rebounds. In all, he appeared in 905 NBA games and averaged 13.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 2.2 apg in 30.7 mpg. In recognition of his significant contributions, for over 50 years, to the game of basketball as a player, coach, administrator and broadcaster, Kerr received the 2009 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his five children, Ed, Matt, Jim, Bill and Essie, along with 10 grandchildren.

This is indeed ne of the saddest days in Bulls history.

On Tuesday, February 10^th, during a half-time ceremony at the Bulls-Pistons game in United Center, Chicago and the Bulls honored legendary basketball player and long-time Bulls announcer Johnny “Red” Kerr. In a moving ceremony Kerr was honored with the Basketball Hall of Fame’s John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award and a bronze statue by artist Julie Rotblatt-Armany that will be on permanent display at the United Center. The 78 inch tall bronze features Kerr with a goatee, speaking to an audience with microphone in hand. The statue joins one of Michael Jordan at the Center. The Jordan statue is one of the most photographed figures in all of Chicago. Red’s will undoubtedly attain that status as well.

Red has been associated with the Bulls for 35 of the 43 years the team has existed. He was the first head coach of the Bulls, becoming the first and only NBA coach to lead an expansion team to the playoffs in its first season. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in that inaugural 1966-1967 season for the Bulls. After another season of coaching the Bulls, he went on to coach the Phoenix Suns in their inaugural season in 1968 and 38 games of the 1969 season. He finished that year as a broadcaster in Phoenix, which was an omen of things to come. After brief stints in the front offices of the ABA’s Virginia Squires and the Bulls, Red became color commentator for the Bulls in 1975. Red just finished his “colorful” career with the Bulls last season, after 33 years broadcasting.

Kerr has certainly exceeded all basketball odds in his tenure with the Bulls. It is highly unlikely that anyone has ever had such a long involvement with any professional sports franchise, basketball or otherwise. Included in the fitting ceremony at the game were comments by such notables as Jerry Colangelo, Jim Durham, Michael Jordan, Dolph Schayes, Scottie Pippen, John Paxson, and even Red’s son Matt Kerr. Taped messages were delivered by NBA Commissioner David Stern and by the President of the United States, Barack Obama. The President said: “Hey Chicago. Like millions of others I feel like I know Johnny. I’ve spent so much time hearing him cheer and groan with the ups and downs of being a Bulls fan.

The truth is he’s not just the center with a deadly hook shot who took us to the Final Four, or the Iron Man who played 800 consecutive games, or the coach who took the Bulls to the playoffs in their inaugural season. Or the announcer who called every play of those championship runs. He’s the fan. He’s got the same passion for the game as he had six decades ago as a player at Tilden Tech. Like us, he hung on for every play of those seasons we came so close. Like us, he almost fell out of his seat celebrating those seasons when we won it all. Like us he will never lose faith in the Chicago Bulls. Thank you Johnny, we love you and we’re grateful to you.”

Johnny “Red” Kerr is a native of Chicago who has made his city proud: proud of him, proud of the high school team he played on, proud of the college team he played on, proud of the NBA team he played on, and proud of him as a coach and an announcer. He has often joked that he remembers James Naismith yelling down to him, “Hey, Red, hand me a nail.” The Bulls’ broadcasts don’t seem the same without his memorable vocal inflection carrying us through, win or lose. Thanks, Red… thanks for the memories.

Bob Bagley is a basketball betting analyst