By Robert Brady

Krause has been thwarted. He set the stage for a quick turnaround for the 
Bulls. He slashed payroll, dropped veterans, and found himself with 2 
lottery draft choices in 2 consecutive years. He wasn’t late in figuring 
out the best new way to build an NBA team. His analysis and timing were 
precise. 

Quality young players and enough salary cap room to pay 2-3 free agents in 2 
years time suggests that Krause knew the quickest way to rebuild in today’s 
NBA. What’s more, he laid the groundwork for all of this to take place. 
Krause didn’t just think it, he set it up. Krause, the ultimate bureaucratic 
policy wonk. 

Something, and someone got in his way and foiled his plan. That someone was 
Jordan, but the something was Krause’s ego. Krause refused to give credit 
to Jordan and Jackson for the Bulls championships, instead, insisting that 
the championships were the result of the hard work and diligence of the 
organization. Jordan has always had a zero-tolerance policy for others 
disagreeing with his point of view, especially Krause. 

Jordan: Memo to self, in the future humiliate Krause. 

The world is not ready to meet the real Jordan, after falling in love with 
Madison Ave.’s version of MJ. Jordan, the basketball player risked 
tarnishing his image, but he couldn’t resist attacking Krause. Jordan 
resented Krause so much that he allowed the public to see a petty side of 
his own personality. Jordan publicly ridiculed Krause. Now, Jordan is 
an NBA exec. And probably because he no longer has the ability to erase 
negative publicity with winning jump shots, Jordan is somewhat reluctant to 
take credit for badmouthing the Bulls. Which leads me to believe that 
Jordan is running a whisper campaign against the Bulls and more 
specifically, Krause. It’s conceivable that Jordan is doing a smear job on 
Krause, but refusing to take credit for the work. 

Most, but not all of this year’s free agents had a compelling reason to stay 
put or go somewhere else besides Chicago. Chicago might not have been a 
better fit than San Antonio for Duncan. It probably was a long shot for the 
Bulls to think they could get Hill either. The whisper campaign theory 
takes shape with free agents Tracy McGrady, Eddie Jones, and Tim Thomas. It 
made sense for McGrady to join the Bulls. In Chicago, he could step in and 
be THE MAN. Instead he chose Orlando. I know he is originally from 
Orlando, but he is simply trading his role on Toronto for the same role on 
Orlando. A lateral move at best. Chicago is a better fit, unless he heard 
something critical of the Bulls organization. Eddie Jones thought about the 
Bulls, but later cooled on the idea. His only comment to the press had 
something to do with consulting Jordan before making a final decision. 
After that comment, Bulls fans haven’t heard a thing about Jones. But the 
situation that puts flesh on the whisper campaign skeleton is Tim Thomas 
electing to stay in Milwaukee. Less money, no guarantee he will start, let 
alone play a whole game, and a small market franchise? Since when did being 
deputy of Mayberry become a better job than Chief of Police for Chicago? 

Part of the problem is that Krause is out of touch with todays players. He 
must be saying the wrong thing to these guys. However, I no longer want to 
know what Krause said to Thomas, or McGrady or Jones. I don’t even want to 
know Thomas, McGrady or Jones said to Krause. I just want to know what 
Jordan is saying.

Submitted 7/28/2000

(Printed late, because we're busy touring the world looking for basketball players in the 6-8 year old range with potential NBA ability.)
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