Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  23 responses

R.I.P, Johnny ‘Red’ Kerr

by Marcel Mutoni

It’s been a terrible week for the Chicago Bulls franchise, even more so than usual. The team continues to be awful, and its legends are dying.

Mere hours after Norm Van Lier’s death was announced yesterday, it was the legendary Johnny “Red” Kerr’s turn to shuffle off of this mortal coil.

From the Sun-Times:

The saddest day in the 43-year history of the Bulls concluded late Thursday night with the passing of team legend Johnny Kerr. Kerr, 76, died at approximately 9:50 p.m. at his west suburban Riverside home surrounded by family after a year-long battle with prostate cancer. His death came hours after the announcement of the unexpected death of all-time Bulls point guard Norm Van Lier.

‘‘He was the world’s most wonderful brother and a godsend to basketball and the city of Chicago,’’ sister Joanie Kerr said late Thursday evening. ‘‘I was so proud of him, from the time we were little kids down on South May. I looked up and admired him, not just because he was 6-foot-9, but because he was such an outstanding man. He was a man who was raised without a father, who went out and made something great of himself and who brought so much joy and laughter to the lives of so many people. I am very sad right now, but I am so thankful that at least his suffering is over.’’

Kerr, arguably the most beloved personality in franchise history, is survived by his five children (and ten grandchildren), and Bulls fans everywhere who consider him a part of their own families.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: ,

  • Moose Posted: Feb.27 at 9:02 am
    Rest In Peace. My condolences go out to his family and the entire Bulls franchise.

  • Eboy Posted: Feb.27 at 9:14 am
    Damn. I’m glad he was able to enjoy his tribute, though. Prayers to his family and godspeed to him. The Bulls will never be the same.

  • mike Posted: Feb.27 at 9:39 am
    Two great pieces of their history gone so quickly

  • Rich Posted: Feb.27 at 9:47 am
    It was shocking to get the sad news about two Chicago legends, IN THE SAME DAY. But we all gotta leave here, and yesterday was both their days.

  • Malik Posted: Feb.27 at 10:01 am
    Yesterday was a sad day for state of the Chicago Bulls. Van Lier and Kerr died on the same day. But, like Eboy said, I’m glad that he lived long enough to see the tribute to him.

  • Malik Posted: Feb.27 at 10:02 am
    My prayers & condolences go out to both Van Lier’s and Kerr’s family as well.

  • Ryan Posted: Feb.27 at 10:05 am
    wow.im so mad how could this happen? so quick it was just a couple days ago seeing norm and he was healthy and johnny was doing well but it was still unexpected it was a bad blow and we will all mis them and the bulls will have to make the play offs and win it all for them when paxton made those great trade norm van lier did say”we are back in buissness.” we will never forgot you guys and i will keep your family in my prayers and good luck derrick rose and every one else derrick rose is amazing and i know he probably loved johnny and derrick i cant belive ur already in the nba i mean just two years ago u were in high school and now im in high school good luck bulls and r.i.p norm and red we all love you both

  • slamfan4life Posted: Feb.27 at 10:16 am
    Damn Chi lost 2 great legends, RIP Red and Norm

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Feb.27 at 10:26 am
    Awful. Smart of the Bulls to have moved up his tribute.

  • Cizzo Posted: Feb.27 at 10:44 am
    Chi-town keep yall head’s up!

  • overtime Posted: Feb.27 at 11:06 am
    RIP to both great men

  • Mavus Posted: Feb.27 at 1:03 pm
    PUT HIM IN THE HALL OF FAME, NBA!!! This is nuts.. he has been the face of the Bulls since the start. This is a messed up day in Chicago… and I’m going to miss both of them, now I’m stuck with Stacy King.. wow, that’s bad.

  • Tommy Patron Posted: Feb.27 at 1:34 pm
    R.I.P., Red. I’m not certain I would have become such a hoops fiend without him.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Feb.27 at 1:41 pm
    Man, that really hurts. I’m thankful I got to talk to him once. R.I.P., Red, the Chi won’t be the same without you.

  • SLAM ONLINE | » The Storm is Over Posted: Feb.27 at 2:43 pm
    [...] NBA basketball. For all the similarities he shared with fellow Bulls icon Red Kerr, who ironically passed away on the same day as Norm, his introspectiveness and iconoclastic nature contrasted with the typical [...]

  • Justin Adler Posted: Feb.27 at 2:59 pm
    R.I.P. His tribute was touching and I’m glad he was around for it. The Bulls and WGN broadcasts will never be the same.

  • jose Posted: Feb.27 at 3:17 pm
    R.I.P. to both Kerr and Norm

  • memyselfand9 Posted: Feb.27 at 4:11 pm
    peace and blessings.

  • Diesel Posted: Feb.27 at 5:03 pm
    I’m glad Red got a proper send off to see how much this city truly appreciated him. Its a shame that after years of giving his life to this team and city, Norm died alone in his apartment. Bulls, step up and give this man the love he deserves and retire his number.

  • malak33zy Posted: Feb.27 at 7:59 pm
    Kerr and Norm RIP

  • OneStep Posted: Feb.28 at 6:55 am
    As a kid in England in the early 80s the only way to catch Da Bulls in action was to ship in Pontel videos. The voice of Red was the soundtrack that accompanied the marvels of Jordan & co on screen. Still got the videos. Still got Red recounting those good times. Thanks for the memories Red. R.I.P.

  • airs Posted: Feb.28 at 3:00 pm
    i remember norm van lier expressing how sad and hurt he was that he wasn’t invited out on the court during johnny redd kerr’s ceremony. he was talking about it during the post game show and to know that both of them are gone really sucks. RIP norm and red, they’ll always be part of my childhood.

  • Yassi Posted: Feb.28 at 5:11 pm
    @OneStep: same here….Pontel ;-) ….only Germany, I still got all of them too RIP – to both of the classy guys

Comments




The comments section is a place to further discuss the topics in this post. Commenters who seek to accomplish any of the following may be banned: - Personally attack other commenters. - Make derogatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation or religion. - Troll, or comment with the intention of creating problems. Trolling includes, but isn't limited to, baiting people to flame at you, encouraging people to leave the site, spamming and using alternate IDs.