Still Hope for Jerry-Built Team

A giant toppled last week, if one who stood only 5 feet 4, when Chicago General Manager Jerry Krause resigned suddenly, citing health reasons, but in fact because owner Jerry Reinsdorf, his patron of 18 years, told him it was (finally) time.

By normal standards of conduct, it was past time, not that I’m trying to put a last dart into Krause before he gets out the door, because this gnome with the bared-teeth personality cast a large shadow across the NBA.

It wasn’t only his part in the ‘90s dynasty, which was shared and debated by so many. Let’s just say Krause’s contribution was more than Michael Jordan said and less than Krause said.

(The original error was getting on the wrong side of Jordan, but that was inevitable, unless they were going to let him run the operation. Jordan was always a handful, as when he insisted on returning after a broken left foot in his second season and brought a tape recorder to a meeting with Krause, announcing this time, there’d be no disagreement about what was said.)

It was after they dismantled their dynasty that Krause distinguished himself, this time with no one else around to share the credit or take the blame.

Like the organization’s imperious tone, the breakup was Reinsdorf’s call, although Krause endorsed both ideas wholeheartedly in what can only be interpreted as the usual bad case of themselves, the result of being on top for so long.

Two forlorn seasons later, both Jerries were reviled figures, although that was less a problem for Reinsdorf, who wintered in Arizona until baseball season.

With insiders saying they had to turn it around immediately or the sport would die in Chicago, Krause dared to go back to Square 1, trading Elton Brand so he could get not one, but two high school players.

The preps then spent the better part of two seasons chasing their tails around like the puppies they were, while the local papers played Pin the Tail on the GM.

Now, as Krause leaves at the end of the second season, the promise of Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler has just begun to shine through, suggesting the Bulls not only have a future before them, but perhaps even a return to glory.

Of course, there are pitfalls, starting with the curse of so much youth.

This season’s cacophony undid Krause, with the kids going off on everyone and each other and the leaders acting like kids. Coach Bill Cartwright ripped the young guys. Dour Jalen Rose sniffed at the Jamal Crawford-Jay Williams tandem, the only alternative to sending one away, leaving unsaid his real objection: Fewer touches for moi.

Krause talked about character but lived to prove his preeminence among GMs, going on lonely, obsessively secretive forays -- he loved being called “Sleuth” -- looking under rocks for that forgotten someone who a) had talent and b) would remember his benefactor.

He hired Doug Collins, whose experience consisted of a season as an Arizona State assistant; the reformed hippie, Phil Jackson, and then-retired Tex Winter. Krause signed Dennis Rodman and Brian Williams and presided over an organization split by an upstairs-downstairs feud while winning six titles. Krause either had his own ideas about chemistry or never heard of the concept.

Possessed of a tenacity a Gila monster would envy, Krause moved only on his terms, not when the media alleged a problem, which he addressed in the meantime by yelling at the media.

A few weeks ago, one of the beat writers, Paul Ladewski of the Daily Southtown, which has a 48,000 circulation, walked into the United Center with one of the team’s broadcasters, encountering Krause at the door.

Ladewski had just written that the Bulls would shop Williams, citing a team source. (Krause hated leaks so much, he made some to see where they went -- and who was ratting him out.)

By way of greeting, Krause snarled, “ ... you!” in their direction.

“Me?” exclaimed the broadcaster.

“No, him,” growled Krause, going on his wounded-porcupine way.

Krause even froze his own people out, coaches included. With Jackson’s contract about to expire in his next-to-last season, Krause barred him from the practice site where they were working out prospects for the draft.

In a surprise, there wasn’t actual dancing in the streets when Krause stepped down.

Insiders, who (alone) knew a kinder, gentler Krause, were actually sad. Chandler broke up, talking about him. Curry wrote “JK” on his sneakers for the next game in which they honored Krause by putting their potential on display, whacking the Pacers by 12.

“He took a chance on all of us,” Crawford said. “For Tyson, he traded Elton Brand, his best player. Eddy came from high school. Nobody knew who I was. I played 17 games in college. This win is dedicated to him.”

The press opted for a nostalgic reverie. The Chicago Tribune’s Sam Smith, whom Krause had anointed his arch-nemesis, wrote a sensitive story about a little round kid who despaired of being accepted.

Krause probably really hated that one.

The heir apparent all along has been John Paxson, who is, bless their lucky stars, normal, which explains why he chose to serve his apprenticeship as their color commentator, where he didn’t report to Krause.

Now the Bulls won’t go around alienating everyone on general principles, so what may be possible?

“In two years, when we turn this team around, I’m going to make sure people know Jerry Krause deserves a lot of the credit,” Chandler said. “We won’t forget him.”

It might take a tad longer and there are challenges to be met, but if it happens, it started with (sniffle) the little guy.

Faces and Figures

Meanwhile in Washington, Jordan listed a return to the Bulls as an option, despite not having been contacted. Jordan is working Wizards owner Abe Pollin for a better deal as team president but if Jordan leaves, it’s likely to be for the new Charlotte franchise, where owner Bob Johnson covets him.... Oh, and showing he has his work cut out for him wherever he goes, Jordan said he’d consider picking Carmelo Anthony over LeBron James. Half the league’s GMs saw their meeting last season and, to a man, came back raving about James.... Helped themselves in the NCAA tournament: Anthony (he was already the projected No. 3 pick but took over the biggest games, a good sign); Chris Kaman (he was a regional phenomenon six weeks ago, is in the top half of the lottery now); Dwyane Wade; Nick Collison (think Mark Madsen with skills); Ricky Paulding and Jameer Nelson.... Hurt themselves: Kirk Hinrich (he wasn’t that bad but people were already worried the lottery was high for him); Brian Cook; Josh Howard and preps Travis Outlaw (raw) and James Lang (wide).... Warriors forward Troy Murphy: “There are some things you can’t understand -- the Kennedy assassination, where the aliens are hiding and our ups and downs. Oh, and Stonehenge.”

David Stern, who enjoys nothing as much as an international schmooze, invited Yao Ming to NBA headquarters on the Rockets’ recent trip to New York. Yao met Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Russ Granik; Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations Stu Jackson; Senior Vice President, Communications Tim Andree; NBA Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Adam Silver, Executive Vice President, Global Media Properties and Marketing Partnerships Heidi Ueberroth and Vice President, International Basketball Operations Kim Bohuny. “Unfortunately,” wrote the Houston Chronicle’s Jon Feigen, “by the time they all said their titles, there was little time left to talk.” ... Yao: “I wanted to ask if he planned to expand NBA basketball to the moon.”

Toronto’s Antonio Davis, on choosing the Raptors’ $9 million salary over $5 million in Orlando, where he had a home: “Looking back, my wife was in a great situation, my kids were in a great situation and now they’re not in that same situation. They made all the sacrifices for me to go to Toronto to try to be successful and where are we now? At this point, it’s just that I made a bad choice.”