Johnny "Red" Kerr- the man, the myth, the legend.

I am writing today's blog with a very heavy heart. While I was writing last Thursday's blog about Norm Van Lier, Johnny "Red" Kerr was passing through this basketball life to basketball heaven. It is ironic that both men passed away on the same day and the impact it has left on the basketball world and Chicago is tremendous.

Johnny "Red" Kerr was a basketball legend. Most people knew him as a University of Illinois basketball standout, three time NBA all-star that played in the same conference as George Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain, first Chicago Bulls head coach and legendary Chicago Bulls broadcaster. As the Chicago Tribune's Chicago Bulls sports writer Sam Smith wrote, "Johnny "Red" Kerr was the original iron man." He packed his lunch pale and went to work every single day like most Chicagoans do.

My connections with Johnny "Red' Kerr were through working for the Chicago Bulls. I was the Coordinator of Player Marketing for the Chicago Bulls and I handled the appearance and endorsement opportunities for the current and former basketball players. Mr "Red" (is how I referred to him) was the MC for a Chevrolet event for the Chicago Bulls top draft pick, Elton Brand. It was Elton's rookie season and Chevrolet had offered him and the Bulls the same endorsement deal that Michael Jordan received as a rookie. Ironically, it was a Scottish holiday and Mr. "Red" made sure that everyone knew it. Mr. "Red" wore a kilt and a hat to represent his Scottish heritage. A six foot ten inch man with a kilt on! He asked me had I seen better legs on a 6"10 guy and I quickly said no. Mr."Red said that he knew he didn't have pretty legs but didn't care. He was not trying to please us anyway! We had a ball laughing with Mr. "Red" that day. I also found out that Mr. "Red' was a south sider and grew up on 67th and Racine. He went to Tilden High School, which had rich basketball tradition that Mr. "Red helped create. He was and remained true to his roots that carried through his playing days and broadcast career.

I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to work with and know Johnny "Red" Kerr. He is Chicago Bulls basketball and I will miss him dearly. He is the grandfather of Chicago Bulls basketball and a cornerstone of the NBA. Mr. "Red" and "Stormin" Norman are looking down from basketball heaven rooting the Bulls on forever!!!

Yours in Basketball,


Coach Stewart