[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 175 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JERRY KRAUSE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO BULLS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
remarkable Chicagoan, Jerry Krause, Executive Vice President of 
Basketball Operations for my hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. I would 
like to congratulate Jerry Krause on eighteen successful seasons as 
General Manger and as the architect of the Bulls' six World 
Championship Titles. Since 1985, Jerry Krause has played a major role 
in building domineering teams for Chicago and has twice been named NBA 
Executive of the Year by his peers in the 1987-88 and 1995-96 seasons.
  Jerry Krause brought with him a vision of how to build a championship 
team and he proceeded to create one of the most dominant champions of 
all time. No basketball fan in America can begin to imagine the Chicago 
Bulls without his imprint. When Jerry Krause arrived on the scene, 
Michael Jordan was the only present piece of what would become the 
foundation of the Bulls' dynasty. Two years later, he began surrounding 
Jordan with the key players who would help turn the Bulls into 
champions. Jerry Krause drafted such renowned players as Scottie 
Pippen, Charles Oakley, Horace Grant, B.J. Armstrong, Will Perdue, Toni 
Kukoc, Elton Brand, Steve Kerr, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford, Jerry 
Sloan, Clifford Ray, Brad Davis, Trenton Hassell, Jay Williams; signed 
key players Ron Harper, John Paxson, Scott Williams, Ron Mercer, Eddie 
Robinson, Corie Blount, Donyell Marshall; traded for Bill Cartwright, 
Dennis Rodman and a host of others who wore the Bulls uniform during 
those championship seasons.
  Jerry Krause has a skillful eye for spotting basketball talent and an 
insightful mentality of how to build a winning team. He helped to build 
the dominant NBA team of the 1990s. With Jerry Krause as GM, the Bulls 
won six titles behind the play of Michael Jordan. One of Jerry Krause's 
most brilliant moves was bringing the man who could possibly be the 
greatest coach in NBA history into the league. During the summer of 
1987, he hired Phil Jackson as an assistant coach and later on as head 
coach. Jackson has since tied Red Auerbach with nine NBA titles, the 
most in NBA history. He then hired replacement Tim Floyd, and current 
head coach Bill Cartwright. Jerry Krause also influenced drafting Hall 
of Fame players, Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld, and four NBA Rookies of 
the year with Monroe, Unseld, Alvin Adams and Brand. Jerry Krause 
effectively laid the foundation for the Chicago Bulls' decade of 
dominance.

  Jerry Krause became the Bulls' GM in 1985 after working for Bulls 
owner Jerry Reinsdorf as a scout with baseball's Chicago White Sox. He 
made a reputation in the NBA as a super-scout for the Baltimore Bullets 
in the late 1960s. With over 34 years of experience in professional 
sports, Jerry Krause has served as a scout for Baltimore, Chicago, 
Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers. For 16-years before the Bulls, his 
career soared as scout and special assignment scout with the Cleveland 
Indians, Oakland A's, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox.
  After 19 years and six championships, Jerry Krause is stepping away 
as the General Manager of the team that he loves. All of the moves paid 
off as Chicago won six titles from 1991-98, setting an NBA record with 
72 victories in the 1995-96 season. The Bulls honored Jerry Krause 
during a halftime ceremony on Oct. 31, 2003, raising a banner to the 
United Center rafters in homage to their former general manager.
  The NBA, team, and fans alike will greatly miss Jerry Krause upon his 
resignation. It is my pleasure to recognize Jerry Krause for his love 
for the game and passion for winning. I extend my heartiest wishes and 
warmest regards in all his future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, as Jerry 
Krause leaves behind a long and rich history with the Chicago Bulls, I 
would ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this great man.

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