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Long overdue for Krause to be in HOF

I consider Jerry Krause to be the most successful general manager in the history of Chicago sports, excluding Bears owner/founder George Halas, who deserves a category of his own for all his accomplishments.

Krause, who died Tuesday at age 77, delivered an exceptional supporting cast to Michael Jordan, from Scottie Pippen to Dennis Rodman, and helped to build the path that led to the Bulls' dynasty of six NBA world championships.

Krause battled the media and his players over the perception of a sloppy-looking executive who appeared to lack some social skills.

Well, it didn't seem to matter to Krause as he went about his duties, and I truly believe he should have been put in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 15 years ago. Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was inducted in 2016, and I think it's about time Krause gets inducted, too.

Basketball fans should compare the disorganization, issues and lack of success the Bulls currently are experiencing to what Krause encountered — from Jordan's unflattering “Crumbs” nickname to the abuse that was delivered by the organization, the media and even the fans.

Krause somehow managed to rise above the fray and do his job.

It couldn't have been easy.

Now we have executive vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman running the Bulls and they are not even coming close to accomplishing what Krause did.

The little man was a giant, and hopefully he will be rewarded soon for his achievements. My condolences to the Krause family.

Sox no different from Bulls

Spring training will soon be ending, and the man who apparently won't let general manager Rick Hahn be his own man, Kenny Williams, is making comments again. Williams apparently is excited that manager Rick Renteria has his camp in a really great teaching mode.

Well, the official White Sox carnival barker, Williams, makes me then ask the logical question: Wasn't the environment under your reign as GM a good teaching mode? And if it wasn't, why wasn't it?

Of course it was, but he's just trying to hype the product. Can't they find a better way to promote this team?

Look, I know Kenny Williams is “semi-retired,” but he's letting everyone know he's still around, leaving the impression that Hahn remains his understudy.

Hahn might have the title, but nothing passes without Reinsdorf and Williams giving a nod.

The While Sox resemble the Bulls, Reinsdorf is the head of both, and Williams and Paxson both still call the shots for their respective teams while Hahn and Forman can't do anything without an OK from above.

• Follow Mike on Twitter @north2north. Check out his podcast Monday-Friday at podcastarena.com, iTunes or audioboom. His column appears each Friday in the Daily Herald. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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