Jerry Krause's Wife Cries During Ring of Honor Ceremony

Some Chicago Bull fans booed as the late general manager Jerry Krause was announced during the team’s Ring of Honor ceremony. As the boos rained down, his widow cried and looked visibly shaken. In a statement to Inside Edition, Thelma Krause says: "I was totally unprepared for the reaction. I can't call them fans because a fan would know better. You don't have to like Jerry. That is your choice, but to not acknowledge and celebrate his contribution to the organization is astonishing."

[@jacksonhart5961]

To boo at a dead person with their wife present is classless, cruel and heartless. Do these people have any shame?

[@skoop651]

I'm sure they weren't thinking of that

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

Did Jerry have any shame?

[@wraynephew6838]

@@TheRealCaptainFreedom That is not the point

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

@@wraynephew6838 Yes actually it is the point.

[@senben9180]

They're Chicagoans...what did ya'll expect?

[@SagittariusQueen1980]

As a lifelong Chicagoan and Chicago Bulls fan, I was never fan of Jerry, but to boo him, where his living widow is present and hearing it is classless and evil. She loved her husband, we gotta do better as a society.

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

I think it’s funny as hell.

[@christopheralmazardejesus7138]

Yeah,,, but it's not about her... their relationship matters,,, not her husband's job...

[@penelopephelange]

Who cares this is funny 😂

[@NatrollJM]

What's funny? Booing a deceased man and deliberately making his widow (who did absolutely nothing wrong) burst into tears?@@penelopephelange

[@jeremys7231]

Only a sociopath would think it is funny.

[@grahamimal8336]

She and jerry deserve better! The bulls should make a point of having another induction ceremony for jerry where he can be celebrated for his contributions to the team properly. My heart goes out to his widow

[@Topic_34443]

who cares about merry Jerry was very rude back then

[@Topic_34443]

Jerry was very rude

[@Kingvvs98]

Regardless if he was rude or not when you die you still have ppl that love you that deserves respect

[@flyingchimp12]

Yes, I say bring them back and announce it before and hand right before that everyone should give a big applause to redeem the city

[@kingleo1791]

You can’t have a f the world attitude and expect admiration , even after your death

[@leoneforte444]

The disrespect these people have is disgusting

[@debrabecoats3171]

Totally, the entitlement

[@loveforeignaccents]

That's awful for his poor widow.

[@putrapratama-sq8hu]

blame his husband ego for that...

[@CITIZENANTONY1984]

How cruel can people really be?

[@legendver]

GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID HUH BROKE THEM UP JORDAN COULD HAVE 7 RING NOT 6

[@ashrocksplays523]

@@legendver so you were booing him too.

[@VonHohenstaufen]

Welcome to Illinois.

[@Notimportant959]

​@@legendver zero class

[@HeatherRadcliffe-pb1vj]

​@@ashrocksplays523and?....got any other rebuttal?...

[@GigaHellblaze]

As a Bulls fan and Micheal Jordan fan, I say this was disrespectful and I'm sure MJ would say the same thing, whether he didn't like Jerry, at least you don't boo in front of his widow while she was there. But I agree with MJ on Jerry, Jerry did bring down the downfall of the Bulls after winning the 6th championship and since then, the Bulls have not won another championship or had great players like in the Jordan era. No one can be like Jordan or others on that team, kids these days don't know how to play good and they need to get better if they want to win championships. As for the fans booing, they should be ashamed of themselves, they don't represent true Bulls fans like me and the team.

[@Sizdothyx]

Jerry both built the bulls and tore them down ... but he wasn't responsible for the '98 parting. Everyone was just old, tired and jaded. Jackson actually did want to retire, Rodman was beefing with both Pippen and Jordan on a personal level, the two Jerrys had to decide on whether to hang on to the team or start fresh because the team barely made it out of the East to win it. I hold Jerry accountable for blowing up the young Bulls in '01-'03 because he didn't want another Jordan situation where he had to rein in egos and ended up putting the team in a state where there was no player good enough to HAVE an ego in the first place. Elton Brand, Jamal Crawford and Tyson Chandler would have been rivals to the Lakers if they'd developed right.

[@wheel_1026]

MJ is a pitiful man in terms of hating someone, he’s like that with pip, isiah and barkley. I will not be surprised if he will do the same like his fans.

[@arunraju4964]

I think it’s laughable that you claim that MJ would say the same thing. MJ has publicly discredited and made fun of Krause for decades. MJ is the person most responsible for this behavior. Fans would probably barely know who Jerry Krause was if it weren’t for MJ‘s frequent public criticism.

[@frankcastle3971]

As an owner I would have gotten on the microphone and told the fans there's no need to be doing that. No matter if you like him or hate him he's still one of the main reasons the Bulls won 6 titles. But to do that knowing his wife was receiving this honor for him, is tasteless and heartless as a Bulls fan. This is why your franchise has gone down the toilet after the Bulls fell apart.

[@yeon723]

nobody cares what you would have done

[@elaikehler6030]

actually Jerry Krause has more to do with the Bulls being in the shitter than those fans do but…ok

[@NatrollJM]

@@elaikehler6030 That doesn't make it okay to blame everything on his crying widow and boo her.

[@paulashley3732]

@@NatrollJMwere they REALLY booing her OR the name Jerry Kraus? Use logic and reasoning and try and cope

[@NatrollJM]

@@paulashley3732 Cope with what? I'm not upset about it; his poor wife is. Whether it was directed towards her or not, they should have stopped when they saw her sobbing.

[@zerimar26]

Say what you want about Jerry Krause but he deserves recognition for building those Bulls team as much as Jordan led them. It was Krause that picked an unknown Phil Jackson from the CBA and fired Doug Collins. He traded drafted Scottie and Horace. Granted he broke up the Bulls, but they did win 6 titles. That must never be forgotten.

[@McGoogger]

No Krause no rings. Seriously. You can have Michael Jordan but you need a team around him to win, just look at his early career.

[@andresorellana7125]

He would of won 3 or 4 regardless but yes Phil Jackson Scottie pippen suited Micheal perfectly for the 6 he got

[@trevon_thedragon4034]

@@andresorellana7125how do you win without a good team? You don’t that’s the point. The defensively stacked team around Jordan was on of the key to them winning. People forget about poorly ran organizations.

[@MitchellBahamas]

Stay classy Chicago

[@xfactor3000]

This is the world we live in today. Disgusting.

[@AndersonTenecela]

This is something that has been suggested to the wwe hall of fame as well fans have made, and that’s for ceremonies like this, the fans shouldn’t be allowed to attend. Yes you pay money to go to a show, but there’s a time and place to be a fan and to be respectful and these events shouldn’t be open to the public

[@breakgangclay]

Don't matter how u feel, he got yall the tools to have so many championships...hope they never see another one again for decades

[@wraynephew6838]

In all honesty most of the people there probably did not know she was in the audience. However, it is still very petty. The problem with society today is people just react, they never think twice about their own actions and behavior. Sad times

[@adamsamuel8593]

Fans supposed to praise Jerry Krause. He gave them six championships not just MJ and the team. He gave MJ the players he needed to win and MJ just didnt want to be apart of Rebuilding which would have helped Chicago get another star or two to make them future contenders. Jerry plan only failed because MJ said he was leaving. He would have loved MJ Pippen and Toni Kukoc to stay to build aroun those three.

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

They don't need to praise him. But at the very least, they need to show some respect for what he did for their organization. There's a reason why the organization included him in this ceremony.

[@NatrollJM]

Nor do they need to boo him whilst his widow is sitting in the corner.@@adingdingdiiing6740

[@stephenstine3049]

I respect Jerry, and they definitely should not have booed and insulted his memory to his widow. It was not right. But what you were saying about Jordan, not wanting to be part of the rebuilding process is really quite misleading. Jerry and Jerry Reinsdorf refused to give Phil Jackson, a competitive salary, despite his incredible record. They refused to work with Pippen to bring him back. They literally had a threepeat team, who had a bare minimum, would’ve been extremely competitive in the following years, if not winning more championships. And they even had a lockout season, which was been much shorter, and given the bulls players more chances to rest in 1999, which would’ve only increase their odds of winning. As good as San Antonio was that year, they were very inexperienced, and I think the Bulls would’ve likely won a hard fought series if Krause brought everyone back. We will never know, but to act like this was all Jordan‘s fault is totally erroneous. Jerry Krause had a huge part in breaking up the Bulls dynasty.

[@morgantough]

Some fans these days have zero respect for anyone .

[@matthewdejoy-wm6mr]

Stay classy chicago

[@Mylasvegasvacation]

If Jordan was a man, he’d come out and defend Jerry. Do it for his wife, do it for Chicago, do it for the bulls!

[@captjohnson5452]

If jordon was a man he would not stand behind them shoes that kids kill each other for.

[@otepdotnet]

"They would have won a seventh," is the dumbest reason to hate Krause when they wouldn't have won ONE without him.

[@J-thugg]

MJ is to blame for this!

[@JLoveLamour]

Love him or hate him, he brought y’all your only 6 chips

[@SamizzleFrizzly]

Jordan and Scottie did. Not him

[@andresorellana7125]

@@SamizzleFrizzlywho drafted Scottie ??? Who took Phil Jackson out of the Puerto Rican basketball league ? who bought Rodman in ? Jordan would only have 3 or 4 rings with out the team was assembled by jerry give the guy some credit

[@Shirtlessstevie2016]

After watching the last dance 20 times I think Jerry’s a goat

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

I think he’s a gorilla.

[@mickee06]

You're the goat for watching it 20x

[@iishyxvietxboyii1]

@@mickee06lol

[@NoamPitlick-bg8kw]

The fan’s reaction should surprise no one. We live in a very hateful and uncivilized society, the primary culprit is the internet.

[@Former_Pastor]

Total facts

[@johnnyroberts3761]

You didn’t have to like Jerry Krause, but you don’t boo him when his widow is there for him being honored.

[@Texas_ice]

Y’all did her dirty with that thumbnail.

[@Former_Pastor]

Yeah, another low blow

[@fargoth391]

Looking like the Grinch 💀

[@roberthurley6860]

No class, no respect, no manners. Unfortunately this is very common behavior in our society right now.

[@user-ny3zh6kd3l]

I wish that I could hug her 🙏

[@trep40]

As a Cavs fan originally from Cleveland, those Bulls fans were pathetic for booing. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[@wantspizzadaily1316]

Go back and listen to the original audio, the announcer did not mention that Jerry was being represented by his wife, once the announcer mentioned her name and her face was shown most people in the audience stopped booing and began applauding. I bet a lot of people imagined how their mother would have felt in her situation and shut up!

[@AX5Terminator]

The organizers and the announcer is at fault for not announcing the wife's name first as a recipient of the award before mentioning Jerry's name.

[@wraynephew6838]

@@AX5Terminator None of that matters! What kind of people boo a dead person? Even if Ms Krause was not there, where is the basic human decency? That is the whole point

[@AX5Terminator]

@wraynephew6838 I agree with you. But those people obviously exist. So knowing that they exist, the organizers should have mitigated the problem by doing exactly what I suggested.

[@Jkemp437]

I don't know what people expected. Announcer should have mentioned that his wife was there first. Fan's in chicago remember how he was the reason Phil and Michael left which broke up the dynasty.

[@AX5Terminator]

@Jkemp437 not only that but since they already messed up and caused a crowd to boo. They shouldn't have even mention the poor woman, yet alone show her face and embarrass her more. They should have promptly moved on to the next recipient.

[@tarzan343]

I mean if he wasn’t popular with fans why would the Bull’s Org do it in front of fans

[@gotggamers]

the wildest part is the show portrayed him as crazy for breaking it up towards the end but that’s literally a pertinent move a GM would make.

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

That's what happens when a lot of the fans only know about the Bulls because of a documentary.

[@eh4252]

Nah, he deserves to get booed. He completely dismantled the team prematurely after their 6th NBA championship just because he didn't get much credit he deserved. His ego got the best of him. If it wasn't for his ego and just get along with his coach and his players, who knows they would've won their 7th or more NBA championship. What a terrible way to end the dynasty prematurely thanks to Jerry Krause.

[@donbailey831]

Just be happy he was a general manager for Chicago and not Philadelphia

[@amadislugo5334]

Or Detroit. Imagine how much more trouble the Bad Boys would have caused on the hardwood.

[@joshuafoster7931]

Smh he was that disgusting to his team. He left a bad tast in everyone's mouth. That stinch is just passing on. Idc. Fans have a right to be them. They paid for their tickets. They should listen to the fans more and maybe not honor a racist who wasn't respected.

[@jonathanhuerta7715]

that's disrespectful shame on those fans saying boo

[@cortezgardner5840]

They act like the media is not responsible for this

[@allen0088]

Aint that a face. She choose him

[@Xane_Dragon]

So pitiful 😂

[@nates9029]

Look, I get why Chicago Bulls fans would boo Jerry but he is dead and show some respect for his widow. He helped your team win 6 world championships. She certainly deserved better.

[@user-sr3wp3vg3e]

Reminds me of the last episode of Seinfeld when George’s father stands up in court to complain that the Yankees gave Hideki Irabu 7 million dollars😛

[@SylviaGraceCreator]

What kind of monsters would do that?

[@tylerpuszczewicz2535]

Luckly the Bulls got karma that night as they lost to the Warriors that night.

[@nas84payne]

As a Bulls fan, this was out of order. I was embarrassed. They could’ve kept quiet.

[@Austin.Kilgore]

I get how ya feel, I felt the same when Colts fans booed Andrew luck

[@maine904]

😔💔🙏🏿

[@MountainMan.]

They hurt the poor woman and so I think the fans suck for doing that.

[@tashakomaroff2982]

It would be nice if we could see the clip when the crowd was actually booing.

[@curlyg9925]

WHERE IS THE ALMIGHTY MICHAEL JORDAN?? Nowhere to be found What a disgrace

[@jeremiahwilliams7630]

So what?? That Man don’t owe None of you haters nothing, You guys should be praising Jordan cause Nobody in the world who watch the NBA knew who the Chicago bulls were until he got drafted there. Jerry Krause wasn’t playing on that court get over it.

[@curlyg9925]

@@jeremiahwilliams7630 lemme guess, you were one of the fans booing that poor woman His influence caused this Hell he even bashed him during his HoF speech Who does that Pretty petty to be carrying a grudge against a deadman

[@jeremiahwilliams7630]

@@curlyg9925 So What?? He made that team just to break it up, What GM does that? Jordan was drafted to a team full of drug addicts and alcoholics damn near. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

ROFL! The people have spoken.

[@aw1078]

LOL

[@Xane_Dragon]

🤣

[@jeronwashington1536]

Those Chicago bulls fans should be ashamed of themselves, booing at the late Jerry Krause, and they made her wife cried, that's disrespectful

[@dancinglady3849]

She deserved better than that. Respect your elders.

[@kallen868]

Dang!😣😥

[@coleyoutubechannel]

Just when you thought Chicago fans couldn’t be anymore classless:

[@SylviaGraceCreator]

Like these people have no respect how would they like it if that was their family member up on that screen Like my mom always says think before you say something

[@benmartin5714]

I never want to visit Chicago again.

[@ZenZill]

Hilarious they'd even postulate that Krause stole thunder from Jordan. Jordan is revered and unaffected by anything negative Krause could have imposed. Doesn't surprise me though, NBA has devolved into such a low-life event.

[@superben790]

It's really shameful to boo to the great late, Jerry Krause, for real!!!!

[@jeremiahwilliams7630]

He never was liked when he was alive, just because he’s dead that’s supposed to magically change that?

[@omegaman9988]

It's pathetic how low our society has sunk over the past 20-25 years...

[@kamikazekid94]

Smh 🤦‍♂️ Very disrespectful. People just don’t have any compassion anymore, what a shame.

[@tmac29nyc]

You cant tell fans what to do when they paid for their tickets Period.

[@bryanperalta740]

“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones” - Mark Anthony

[@fraerot]

But same happened with Kukoc, they booed him also and I don't know why

[@rodneyturner8077]

Senseless

[@beejeeezy7933]

Half the fans weren’t even alive then . They just seen last dance

[@georgeramirez4539]

All I see is a great example that you should be a good human being while you’re alive

[@knowaries]

I just hope, those that booed didn't know he had passed. If they did then, they all should be ashamed!

[@NatrollJM]

If they know enough about him to boo him, they know he died over half a decade ago.

[@zachparker4436]

I just don’t get how they couldn’t see this coming after the documentary?? I mean for real

[@samuellee5456]

As a lifelong bulls fan , always didn’t like Krause but this just cold by the bulls fan . Show some class bulls fans. Have a heart .

[@chon3493]

You might hate Jerry But Jerry made the Team Powerful !

[@AliSakurai]

And from what I can find, to this day MJ has remained silent about it. Not once is he condemning his fans for their misguided booing. Used to love him but now I can see his true character.

[@lovewolfsports]

He brought 6 championships. Why boo him. ❤️🐺

[@johncameron4194]

His poor widow

[@dionst.michael1482]

This was so frikkin cruel, sad and ugly. I’m speechless 😢

[@mariamalec965]

To boo a wife who just wanted to be there to represent her late husband is disgusting

[@jrobbin24]

The guy was a villain to the greatest basketball ensemble in the eyes of the fans. What did they expect was going to happen that the fans were going to forget how this man broke up their favorite team of all time you may as well have put one honoring Yoko Ono while you’re at it

[@MikeKollin]

That's so sad....

[@GTAnativeInXboxAndPlayStation]

Oh God. Inside Edition is making a big deal about this with a story?

[@accavanos]

That would NEVER happen in NY.

[@DidikaHmar]

For all those in attendance who booed. Listen, you ain't really a Bulls fan. Grow up

[@davidmeserole6566]

Absolutely OutRageous! There needs to be Accountability & Revoke access To Every Single Person Present in the Audience Using Facial Recognition! Words beyond the Deceased In a H.R. Public Relations Meeting 3 Times a Week! Singing The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance Everywhere Just because We Cherish America, The Great. 🇺🇸

[@CATAWBA_RIVER]

What should be shameful is that the greatest player in their history and some to believe in NBA history in Michael Jordan didn't show up Scottie pippen didn't show up Dennis Rodman didn't show that is what was classless let's really talk about it

[@davidrivera7867]

so sad , what a shame

[@Lisa-tt9hm]

That's when I quit being a fan of the Bulls.

[@BlaqBeanz]

What did he do to get booed?

[@JediTiga]

A lot of the "people" who live among us now adays have no sense of empathy or respect. Our country is doomed and this is just a small example.

[@AR4ace]

Absolutely horrible display! Jerry Krause built a great team. No need for that.

[@tayo17923]

Did her dirty with the thumbnail

[@st8teofmind93]

Hate him in silence no need to boo his widow have some class geez

[@RusstheTroubadour]

Closed captioning said " booze".

[@paulashley3732]

What else they expect when you hear that name

[@nonyobussiness3440]

Jerry Krause is the reason the bulls won six titles.

[@declancolwell5443]

I don't want confrontations!

[@dsstewbaby9]

We must reach what we sow

[@pollard068]

Shameful says steve kerr, the guy who named his son nick

[@DustyPelt_wcue]

It’s their right to boo ego was hurt it’s booing sticks and stones will break bones

[@cheldosarmiento2733]

Jordan wasn't even there lol

[@TheMpo1986]

as the boos rained down upon her she thought "there must be a better way"....

[@mikaelapollo6401]

I'm a real petty person myself....But damn....that's below the belt

[@mikelasjo6507]

I'm embarrassed to say i am a Chicago bulls fan

[@willn8664]

Most likely casual zoomer fans that were booing him who just saw the Last Dance. 🤣