Two things are eminently clear about Jerry Reinsdorf’s reign over the Chicago sports scene. He brought seven world championships to the city; and he brings his fist down on the boardroom table whenever he wants. Reinsdorf is known as “The Chairman” around the Windy City, and nobody needs to wonder why. His heavy-handed statement while dismissing Tom Thibodeau yesterday confirmed that, at 79, he isn’t going to let his Bulls or White Sox slip out of his grip.
The Bulls fired Tom Thibodeau. So what? Another NBA coach bit the dust. True, but this firing was an ugly reminder of Reinsdorf’s touch. In the past decade it resembles a Joakim Noah brick or a White Sox error more than the hand-in-glove finesse apropos of a major sports owner.
After the Bulls brought home their sixth title in 1998 Reinsdorf unleashed the full fury of Jerry Krause’s bitter memory and blunted vision. Krause was most famous in Chicago for his quote, “Organizations win championships.” Yes, but that’s a little short-sighted when you inherit a team with Michael Jordan. To Krause’s credit he drafted Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. He traded for Bill Cartwright and signed Dennis Rodman. Krause filled the Bulls’ bench with capable role players. He hired Phil Jackson. And he put up with all their insults and back-biting.
After 1998 Krause shattered the fragile franchise with a sledgehammer and created his Frankenstein. Gone were Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson. Krause hired his buddy Iowa State Head Coach Tim Floyd. At the “apex” of the new Krausean era the Bulls drafted high schoolers Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler in 2001. Krause mercifully retired in 2003. The Bulls posted a .254 winning percentage in five years and proved that organizations win nothing without superstars.
The Bulls supposedly won the lottery when they drafted Derrick Rose in the 2008 NBA Draft. In 2011 Reinsdorf looked on as VP John Paxson and GM Gar Forman dished out a 5-year $95 million contract to Rose. Since then Rose has pouted through three seasons after tearing his ACL. Reinsdorf and Bulls’ management gave the hometown kid a chance, and now they’re paying in cash and credibility.
Reinsdorf stood by Krause, Paxson and has stood by White Sox Executive Vice-President Kenny Williams. Yes, the White Sox won a World Series in 2005. Yes, that’s a decade ago; and they haven’t been a real threat ever since. Reinsdorf watched as Williams emptied the farm system for aged veterans at futile trade deadlines. Reinsdorf had to step in between childish temper tantrums between then GM Williams and mercurial manager Ozzie Guillen. Reinsdorf watched as Guillen pimped the organization for two years before taking an ill-fated opportunity in Miami. And Reinsdorf watched Kenny Williams oversee an embarrassing kick-back scheme in Latin-America involving a White Sox executive. Reinsdorf energetically supported the hiring of questionably competent White Sox alum Robin Ventura. Last year the Sox handed out a useless one-year contract to the beloved Paul Konerko. They wasted a much-needed roster spot and spent and additional $2.5 million.
Jerry Reinsdorf is legendary for his loyalty. Is Reinsdorf’s loyalty now the albatross that guides the Bulls and White Sox squarely and yearly to middle of the pack? Krause, Paxson, Forman, Williams, Guillen, and Ventura are all management beneficiaries of The Chairman’s largesse. “All in the Family” works when you have Michael Jordan, and you invest the time and money to build a franchise. But when things break down and people start getting old pettiness creeps in. Not far behind is mediocrity. The question for Chicago fans now is how loyal can they be to an owner who has bossed and blundered his way through the last ten years of Chicago sports? The Bulls and White Sox show no signs of winning anything soon. The Chairman can slam the gavel anytime he wants; but someday, and maybe soon, he’ll have to give it up.
