PHILADELPHIA -- Who would have thought Jerry Krause's regime would topple before Saddam Hussein's? In power since March of 1985, the bellicose Chicago Bulls GM took a well-deserved, long overdue hit Monday -- five games before his five-year-old rebuilding permit (following six championship Michael Jordan-emblazoned runs) expired.
Notorious for his megalomania statement, "Organizations win titles, not players," Krause finally was brought to court by the building inspector. After a half decade of positioning loyalty above the consumer, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf penalized his most trusted employee for some awfully shoddy construction.
Fresh from a Saturday night OT victory over the Bucks, the Bulls sat at 27-50. Meaning Krause can hang his oversized hat on his ex-team's achievement not to lose at least 61 games for the fourth straight season . . . small consolation for one of the NBA's most mismatched militias.