The Bulls huddle during the 1992 Finals. It would be one of Krause's many championship seasons. Photo by USA TODAY Sports
His tombstone won't mention it, but Jerry Krause was immortalized to Chicago Bulls fans around the world as "Crumbs."That, of course, was the infamous nickname Michael Jordan once supposedly gave the team's portly general manager because Krause always seemed to wear what he ate on his sweater.It was not a term of endearment.Bulls mourn the loss of Jerry Krause: — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls)March 21, 2017
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It's unlikely that the three ever posed together for a photograph, even in their sunnier days—but if they had, Krause would have been the short, dumpy guy looking entirely out of place.The caption for that photo might have noted that Jordan was the one with the fierce presence and incredible talent, and that Jackson was the one with the motivational smarts and interpersonal cunning.And Krause?Well, Crumbs was the one with enough gumption to stand up to both of them. That stubborn fearlessness helped Krause twice earn NBA Executive of the Year honors. It's unlikely that he'll ever join the other two men in the Basketball Hall of Fame; if he ever does, the display might well be a huge set of cojones.Jordan, you may recall, was the most intimidating presence in the history of the game, on and off the court. That was his gift and his curse, all rolled into one. A gift because it propelled Jordan to basketball's pinnacle, scaring everybody in his path along the way—and a curse because it transformed many of those around him into fawning groupies and sycophants.Everywhere Jordan turned, he encountered people eager to tell him what he wanted to hear. Even Jackson, hugely intimidating in his own right, stepped softly and chose his words around His Airness.Read More: What Steve Kerr Learned from Getting Punched in the Face by Michael Jordan
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