Two former Bulls greats passed away Thursday as Johnny "Red" Kerr lost his fight with prostate cancer on the same day Norm Van Lier was found dead.
Red was a special guy, one of the nicest guys I ever met.
He dedicated his life to basketball. From starring at Tilden to Illinois to the NBA, Red was a fierce competitor. The former All-Star and NBA champ set a league record for consecutive games played.
And as a coach, he took the Bulls in their first season of existence into the playoffs to win coach of the year honors.
We all remember his enthusiasm for the Bulls as an announcer.
It was a touching tribute the Bulls had for him recently. Thankfully, it was moved up to February because of Red's declining health.
It was obvious how much that night meant to him. It was well-deserved.
Sad day for Chicago.
Probably the saddest day in Bulls history, even sadder than the dismantling of the dynasty in the late 90's. These two men are prime examples of what the Chicago Bulls are all about. Mr. Bull, Johhny "Red" Kerr and Stormin' Norm Van Lier will be missed greatly by all Bulls fans.
Listening to Red during game broadcasts you were able to feel his genuine love and admiration for the team, regardless of their record, same goes for Norm after the game. Sometimes I couldn't wait to hear what he had to say, good or bad but you always knew he was honest and blunt in his assessments.
I consider myself to be a genuine Bulls fan, I never stopped watching games, no matter how bad they have been since the dynasty was dismantled. That being said I was truly disappointed in the organization as a whole that Norm was not invited to Red's ceremony a few weeks back. I attended the game, and even asked myself during the ceremony where Norm was. Now this happens, he deserved to be there. The tribute to Red and his contributions to the Bulls was almost too late, unfortunately now it would be too late for Norm's.
RIP
Storm and Red
Bulls 4ever
I tried to fight back tears for Norm yesterday, but I just couldn't. I traveled through all the thick fog, darkness and rain yesterday. And it seemed like the funeral processional of traffic slowed to a crawl as I listened to all of the touching stories of Norm and callers revealing what kind of guy he was on ESPN. A great show btw. And as I thought about Norm, I began to think about Red and how the Bulls let that great moment get away from Norm, even though he was in the studio begging to get to the floor. All I could imagine is the feisty Norm fighting through security trying to get in to see Red and security blocking him while recanting some company statement they got from the top "Norm we have our orders". And then I thought about how the Bulls did honor Kerr, without him knowing that Norm was not invited. I'd bet you all that I have that this was NOT the wish/request of Red. And the longer I sat, the heavier it weighed on me and I cried. Cried about a man I didn't even know personally. I couldnt even explain it to people I know. They just didnt and couldn't understand. And I just had a horible evening because of this sad sad news. And I don't know how I knew it, but I knew that Red would take this news extremely hard. These were two different men, but the same on the inside. They both LOVED the Bulls. Their voices were synonymous with the history and blood-life of the franchise and this city. They made it even more SPECIAL than just Michael and Championships. They some how connected us to that Chicago "thing" that you feel coursing through the concrete of this city. Our spirit our attitude our style. Somehow Norm KNEW he was supposed to be there on that floor to be celebrated, and to pay homage to his counterpart. And now two giant voices of an era are gone on the same day. Both voices silenced forever. Big Red and the Storm thank you for teaching us and showing us how to LOVE the Game, this franchise, and this city.
I was nine when Red became coach of the Bulls. It was my first year in organized basketball, I went to my first Bulls game, and I got HOOKED on the introduction of BOB BOOOOOOOZER. When you're a kid growing up in the inner city in the sixties, it was sixteen inch softball, Frank Quilici Little League, and football, but I gotta say that's the year I fell in love with basketball, and the honeymoon is as strong as ever.
Thanks for the memories.
R.I.P. Johnny 'Red' Kerr ...
@Keith Lifetime Southsider
"They some how connected us to that Chicago "thing" that you feel coursing through the concrete of this city. Our spirit our attitude our style."
From one south sider to another, well said.
Keith - what a fitting tribute from a lifelong fan. You summed it up. Thanks
Man.
What a one-two punch for Bulls fans and fans of the NBA.
What a shame that the Bulls did not retire Norm's number before this.
Keith that was the best post you've ever submitted and I share your sentiment. I was unaware of Red's and Norm's death until I woke up this morning and was greeted by the head-line when I brought the Sun-Times up on my computer. My first reaction was OMG! As I read through the article I couldn't help but tear up knowing an entire era of Bulls basketball had passed away. Then the irony hit me that Norm after being left out of the tribute to Red died on the same day as his friend Red Kerr. I can picture the two of them in the big sports bar in the sky enjoying a cigar and a bottle of Jack Danials while discussing the best plays and players the saw or played against and arguing over who contributed more to american music, Jimi Hendrix or Hank Williams.
Rest In Peace and God Bless you Red you are sorely missed.
I love to see Norm Van Lier broadcast on Comcast sports net for bulls post game live. I love to here Johnny's voice when he was a broadcaster for the bulls. He just retired of that and it made me sad, it made me sadder when I found out he passed away along with Stormin Norm. I am a huge Die Hard Bulls fan I will miss them both. My friends and principal thinks the bulls suck just because of there record of where they are. My friends say to give up on the bulls they will never win. I will never give my bulls and hope to see them take the 7th or 8th spot of the playoffs in the eastern conference. GO BULLS!
Dylan Vitiello
Man Keith...and all this time I thought you were stupid..
I was way off..;)~
I bequeath 10 of my myspace kudos to you, man...that's like 5 rockin blogs worth of those things...
you really earned it, tho...best thing you've written...you should cry more;)~....ya freaking baby:)
Hey Dylan its, danny b. from school. I'm on my parents account. I liked your speech on Stormin Norm and john redd kerr. Its pretty tragic and sad that both of them died on the same day. I kind of think the Bulls do have a spot for the playoffs and keep your hopes up.