Van Lier Not Invited to Red Kerr's night
by Sports2 on Mar 4, 2009 10:20 AM CST
16 comments
Christ.
From what I've pieced together, Kerr wanted Norm to be there on his night.
From the Trib
Kerr's sister, Joan, attended Sunday's wake for Van Lier and disputed the notion that Kerr did not invite Van Lier to be part of his special ceremony Feb. 10 at the United Center.
"Red loved Norm," she said of the mix-up. "He was on Johnny's list."
OK... mix up turns out to not quite be the right word, even if its the word the Bulls used:
A few days prior, the NW Herald reported:
Van Lier recently had not been on the best of terms with the franchise, which did not invite him to be part of Kerr’s halftime ceremony.
Bulls officials reportedly were upset by comments Van Lier made the month before to the Chicago Tribune. Van Lier said Bulls fans during his playing days were more passionate than today’s crowds.
Which got a response from, of all people, Neil Funk:
Van Lier was there that night. He stood in the wings among the masses watching the ceremony, trying to catch a glimpse of Kerr.
"I love Johnny like a brother," Van Lier said almost tearfully as he leaned over the press table. "I should have been out there with him."
Never afraid of speaking from his heart, Van Lier would repeat himself later on Comcast SportsNet.
Neil Funk, the master of ceremonies that night, said that in the rush to move Kerr's ceremony two months earlier in order to accommodate his failing health, he was certain the exclusion of Van Lier was a simple oversight.
"It wasn't intentional," Funk said. "Norm loved Johnny and Johnny loved Norm."
Yeah... they flew in dozens of guys from around the country, but somehow "forgot" about a guy who Kerr wanted there, and who was actually in attendence?
F that, and F this classless and incompetent organization.
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seems like a conspiracy
I was disappointed that Norm wasn’t there. I was actually in the building that night, so looks like I had as good a seat as Norm did.
I don’t know what kind of relationship Red and Norm really had… but just purely as coworkers on Comcast I would think Norm would have been sitting on the court during the ceremony. I mean, Bill Wennington sat there— and as far as I know they never worked for Comcast together (although may have traveled together for away games and been friends).
But Norm’s absence was suspect.
"Remember, I'm Italian".
by BCs71 on Mar 4, 2009 11:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I didn't think Kerr
had the final word on the ceremony from the get-go. It was an organization thing and when it came down to it the Bulls were in charge of what happened more than anyone else. Considering the number of people they did throw out there (many of whom I couldn’t even recognise) I was surprised Norm wasn’t among them. His time with the org and being one of the main faces for the fans for a number of years made his absence noticeable. If they had him in the peanut gallery that was a big mistake. The ceremony date was changed due to Kerr’s health so perhaps some things did fall through the cracks. They could get guys across the country the invite but the guy who works for them didn’t get one… meh. Someone screwed up but I doubt it was Kerr and his family.
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
by cranscape on Mar 4, 2009 12:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The organization said Kerr had his input on the guest speakers
Maybe something got lost in the date shuffle and they forgot about Norm. I’m more inclined to believe word came from the top that he was not to be included because of his harsh words for the Bulls.
Confusion breeds success. If they don't know each other, opponents can't have strategy. GENIUS.
by Ozzie Montana on Mar 4, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I find it pretty hard to belive anything got "lost in the shuffle"
If nothing else, does anyone believe for a second Norm didn’t say anything about it prior to not being out there?
It’d be incompetent if it were simply an oversight, but the man was right there in the building. That’s a very easy to correct oversight to bring the guy out on the court.
by Sports2 on Mar 4, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think he wanted to be on the court.
There were limited speaking bits, but sitting with the guys on the court would be very reasonable. Kerr might have picked the speakers, but there were still more people out there that didn’t speak but were visibly represented.
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
by cranscape on Mar 4, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It's just a shady organization
"Whenever Kirk/Ben are in together. Kirk turns into a crappy player, because he tries to freeze Gordon out of the offense." - Andrew7
by gobulls1124 on Mar 4, 2009 2:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
This may be pretty far out there
but anyone think the whole Pax resigning fiasco had anything to do with this? They were just a couple days apart. Whatever anyone thinks about his job performance, Pax is generally regarded as a really nice guy. If this was a blatant snub of Norm, and Pax knew what was going on, maybe he had serious doubts about his association with the organization.
by JeffD on Mar 4, 2009 6:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
All this crap is just pushing me away from the Bulls...........
and I’ve been a huge Bulls fan since 1984. Van Lier was dead on (sorry) right about talking about crowds back in the day and crowds now. They were so much more passionate!!! Ever since the Bulls moved into the U.C. the crowd and atmosphere SUCK! It’s hilarious that it would touch a nerve with the organization. The passion, the noise, the educated fan no longer are present in the building. Bulls fans these days are like Cub fans. I’m not talking about us blogabull peeps. We’re in the minority. It was just different back in the day. The reason I got into the Bulls in the first place was because of the intensity. But that no longer exists. oh well. Everything happens in 3s…..hopefully J.R. is next!
Hinrich + Gordon + Deng + Paxson + Del Negro = FAIL
by Johnny"B"ull on Mar 5, 2009 12:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
You mean like White Sox fans? (Brewers fans work as well)
Chicago Bulls Blog and Forums. NBA Power Rankings.
by Andrew7 on Mar 5, 2009 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Save it for talk radio
Confusion breeds success. If they don't know each other, opponents can't have strategy. GENIUS.
by Ozzie Montana on Mar 5, 2009 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
We're awesome, no matter what Matt says! ;)
I’m not talking about us blogabull peeps.
Maybe we can (but probably not)?
by Granny Waiters on Mar 5, 2009 2:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Ugh
Classless.
NVL was right about the crowds. It’s more corporate today. How many corporate seats are getting handed out as favors or handed down to their kids just to put bodies in the seats?
12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.
by NBA Observer on Mar 6, 2009 12:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It's not to put bodies into the seats, per se
The corporate seats holders are the guys giving them to their kids or handing them out as favors because they’re already paid for and there’s nothing else to do with em.
The real bleeding will start when it’s time to renew.
by Sports2 on Mar 6, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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