"I think the biggest question that you think about has to be loyalty," said Wade, a Richards grad who added he has been a Bulls fan for a long time. "I know one thing about Miami: It is a very loyal organization. I see what they do with their players when their players get done with the game of basketball … how loyal they are. I don't know about the Bulls." "I see Michael Jordan is not there, Scottie Pippen is not there. … You know, these guys are not a part," Wade said. "Things like that. So that is probably one of the biggest things for me, because I am a very loyal person." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...s-dwyane-wade-chicago20100526,0,1531138.story
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty yes and besides that, the Bulls have many former players still working for them.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty He probably doesn't want to play in Chicago because his crazy ex-wife lives there.
GM Gar Forman defends loyalty of Bulls organization “Anyone who would question our loyalty is obviously misinformed,” said Forman. “It ignores our record, which speaks for itself. We have a number of former players who are or who have been employed in the organization in a variety of capacities ranging from the front office to the coaching staff to the business office and part of our broadcast team. “We take great pride in not only how we treat our current players, but also how we treat our former players,” said Forman. “In regards to the summer, what the players are saying is winning is most important,” said Forman. “We believe with our talented young nucleus of players and the flexibility we’ve created to add to that core, we’re set up to have great success here for many years to come.” Forman declined to say whether the Bulls would do anything regarding Wade’s incendiary and accusatory comments. Wade Thursday squirmed some about his comments in telling the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel his comments that, "I see Michael Jordan is not there, Scottie Pippen is not there… So that is probably one of the biggest things for me, because I am a very loyal person" were taken “out of proportion.” Wade said it was the childhood Bulls fan in him that led to the concerns about Jordan not remaining with the organization. "I only know, as a fan, from the outside looking in and so I don't know what's going on," he said. "All I know is that my favorite player of all time is not there, so I'm wondering why, as a fan. Besides that, I think everything was maybe taken out proportion. "I don't know about their loyalty because I haven't been in their organization," Wade said of the Bulls. "The only organization I have been in is in Miami, so I do know the front office, I do know the loyalty of this team and that's what's big to me. It's not just about basketball, and what can I do for them. It's about when this game is over, what kind of relationship are we going to have? That's what I'm speaking more so than anything, so the question was posed to me about Chicago, and . . . I said I don't know about Chicago, because I don't know the organization, I only know as a fan, from the outside looking in." "I'm not taking shots at the Bulls, and the organization," Wade said. "I respect the organization, I respect every organization in the NBA. It's just that my opinion when the question was asked about what's most important to you, I said one of the most important things is loyalty. It's not that I'm taking shots at the Bulls, or I'm taking shots at any organization." The irony, of course, is the Heat seems to be one of the least welcoming organizations to its former players. Only three former players remain part of the organization, and in minor roles. There is no former Heat player in a significant or high profile position in the organization. They’re mostly minor contributors, like Alonzo Mourning, John Crotty and Keith Askins. Plus, despite the work he’s done the last few seasons, coach Eric Spoelstra already is being discussed for jobs as team president Pat Riley again said he may come back to coach. Plus, it was no secret how Riley ran out coach Stan Van Gundy after a 59-win season so Riley could have a shot to take the team to a championship once Shaquille O’Neal returned from injury. If you compare it with the Bulls, there seems little obvious comparison of which franchise has been more loyal and supportive of its former players. Randy Brown and Pete Myers are on the coaching staff. Stacey King is the main TV analyst. John Paxson is the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, probably the highest ranking official in the organization in a true decision making position, of which the Heat never entrust any former player. Bill Wennington is the radio analyst. “Anyone who would question our loyalty is obviously misinformed,” said Forman. “It ignores our record, which speaks for itself. We have a number of former players who are or who have been employed in the organization in a variety of capacities ranging from the front office to the coaching staff to the business office and part of our broadcast team. “We take great pride in not only how we treat our current players, but also how we treat our former players,” said Forman. “In regards to the summer, what the players are saying is winning is most important,” said Forman. “We believe with our talented young nucleus of players and the flexibility we’ve created to add to that core, we’re set up to have great success here for many years to come.” Forman declined to say whether the Bulls would do anything regarding Wade’s incendiary and accusatory comments. Wade Thursday squirmed some about his comments in telling the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel his comments that, "I see Michael Jordan is not there, Scottie Pippen is not there… So that is probably one of the biggest things for me, because I am a very loyal person" were taken “out of proportion.” Wade said it was the childhood Bulls fan in him that led to the concerns about Jordan not remaining with the organization. "I only know, as a fan, from the outside looking in and so I don't know what's going on," he said. "All I know is that my favorite player of all time is not there, so I'm wondering why, as a fan. Besides that, I think everything was maybe taken out proportion. "I don't know about their loyalty because I haven't been in their organization," Wade said of the Bulls. "The only organization I have been in is in Miami, so I do know the front office, I do know the loyalty of this team and that's what's big to me. It's not just about basketball, and what can I do for them. It's about when this game is over, what kind of relationship are we going to have? That's what I'm speaking more so than anything, so the question was posed to me about Chicago, and . . . I said I don't know about Chicago, because I don't know the organization, I only know as a fan, from the outside looking in." "I'm not taking shots at the Bulls, and the organization," Wade said. "I respect the organization, I respect every organization in the NBA. It's just that my opinion when the question was asked about what's most important to you, I said one of the most important things is loyalty. It's not that I'm taking shots at the Bulls, or I'm taking shots at any organization." The irony, of course, is the Heat seems to be one of the least welcoming organizations to its former players. Only three former players remain part of the organization, and in minor roles. There is no former Heat player in a significant or high profile position in the organization. They’re mostly minor contributors, like Alonzo Mourning, John Crotty and Keith Askins. Plus, despite the work he’s done the last few seasons, coach Eric Spoelstra already is being discussed for jobs as team president Pat Riley again said he may come back to coach. Plus, it was no secret how Riley ran out coach Stan Van Gundy after a 59-win season so Riley could have a shot to take the team to a championship once Shaquille O’Neal returned from injury. If you compare it with the Bulls, there seems little obvious comparison of which franchise has been more loyal and supportive of its former players. Randy Brown and Pete Myers are on the coaching staff. Stacey King is the main TV analyst. John Paxson is the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, probably the highest ranking official in the organization in a true decision making position, of which the Heat never entrust any former player. Bill Wennington is the radio analyst. “Anyone who would question our loyalty is obviously misinformed,” said Forman. “It ignores our record, which speaks for itself. We have a number of former players who are or who have been employed in the organization in a variety of capacities ranging from the front office to the coaching staff to the business office and part of our broadcast team. “We take great pride in not only how we treat our current players, but also how we treat our former players,” said Forman. “In regards to the summer, what the players are saying is winning is most important,” said Forman. “We believe with our talented young nucleus of players and the flexibility we’ve created to add to that core, we’re set up to have great success here for many years to come.” Forman declined to say whether the Bulls would do anything regarding Wade’s incendiary and accusatory comments. Wade Thursday squirmed some about his comments in telling the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel his comments that, "I see Michael Jordan is not there, Scottie Pippen is not there… So that is probably one of the biggest things for me, because I am a very loyal person" were taken “out of proportion.” Wade said it was the childhood Bulls fan in him that led to the concerns about Jordan not remaining with the organization. "I only know, as a fan, from the outside looking in and so I don't know what's going on," he said. "All I know is that my favorite player of all time is not there, so I'm wondering why, as a fan. Besides that, I think everything was maybe taken out proportion. "I don't know about their loyalty because I haven't been in their organization," Wade said of the Bulls. "The only organization I have been in is in Miami, so I do know the front office, I do know the loyalty of this team and that's what's big to me. It's not just about basketball, and what can I do for them. It's about when this game is over, what kind of relationship are we going to have? That's what I'm speaking more so than anything, so the question was posed to me about Chicago, and . . . I said I don't know about Chicago, because I don't know the organization, I only know as a fan, from the outside looking in." "I'm not taking shots at the Bulls, and the organization," Wade said. "I respect the organization, I respect every organization in the NBA. It's just that my opinion when the question was asked about what's most important to you, I said one of the most important things is loyalty. It's not that I'm taking shots at the Bulls, or I'm taking shots at any organization." The irony, of course, is the Heat seems to be one of the least welcoming organizations to its former players. Only three former players remain part of the organization, and in minor roles. There is no former Heat player in a significant or high profile position in the organization. They’re mostly minor contributors, like Alonzo Mourning, John Crotty and Keith Askins. Plus, despite the work he’s done the last few seasons, coach Eric Spoelstra already is being discussed for jobs as team president Pat Riley again said he may come back to coach. Plus, it was no secret how Riley ran out coach Stan Van Gundy after a 59-win season so Riley could have a shot to take the team to a championship once Shaquille O’Neal returned from injury. If you compare it with the Bulls, there seems little obvious comparison of which franchise has been more loyal and supportive of its former players. Randy Brown and Pete Myers are on the coaching staff. Stacey King is the main TV analyst. John Paxson is the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, probably the highest ranking official in the organization in a true decision making position, of which the Heat never entrust any former player. Bill Wennington is the radio analyst. http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/smith_forman_100527.html
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) Someone needs to remind them where PJax is coaching these days.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) A loyal Wade wouldn't be testing the free agent waters, he'd sign before July 1st so that his front office could negotiate from a position of strength with the other free agents. This is such a stupid, self serving comment that I question whether he's a good person. Jordan is bigger than the bulls and Pippen is too, but to a lesser extent. They gave Pippen a $10 million dollar farewell tour. Given that Jordan wanted to be an owner and Pippen wanted to be the head coach without even being an assistant or even in the front office somewhere, I don't think Wade is even close to the truth here. Even when they broke up the championship team, they still took care of all the players by working out sign and trades so they could get more money. This is just dumb.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) I agree with everything you've said. But the real issue is how the Bulls negotiated contracts with the championship teams. Horace Grant was let go (wisely). Reinsdorf made those infamous comments about regretting Jordan's contract. Pippen and the Bulls were always at odds, after his second contract which paid him way too little (again, not the Bulls fault and they were not able to renegotiate.) Add on Phil Jackson, who the Bulls continually underbid relying on his commitment to the team and you have what people perceive as a pattern. Now we're paying the piper.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) How do you let a coach who got you 6 championships leave and go elsewhere to coach for another 10+ years? Seems to me that for 6 championships, the guy should be our coach for life. Heck, Ex-Bull Jerry Sloan is coach for life and he hasn't won a single championship.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) But, I could list about 15 former players that are working or have worked for the Bulls in the past. As for pippen. The bulls resigned him once he was done and paid him well. As for Jackson, come on guys...once Jordan was saying he wasnt coming back, jackson was leaving anyway. As for loyalty, Jordan left the bulls twice! Once to play baseball. Bulls took him back.
Wade's Twitter http://twitter.com/dwadeofficial Woke up to a new word to use on the brain...SMM(shutting my mouth) I had to land in indiana and wait a while b4 TSA got here to search me.. jus to get into chicago. SMH and SMM... L2MS Finally in the city that made me. Chi city. Our president is back home in town as well so itz tough to get anywhere right now.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) How was this wise? Grant knocked us out of the playoffs his first year away and played very good ball.
Re: Wade questions Bulls' loyalty(Forman responds) He also became the highest paid player in the league, and the Bulls ended up doing better by retooling with Rodman.
And the bulls were up 2-1 in that series and would have won if not for a few atypical late Jordan TO's. The bulls swept that same Orlando team in the playoffs the next year. For what they needed at PF, rebounding and defense, Rodman was a better fit. Grant was a good player, but not highest paid player in the league good. Signing him would have just caused even more problems with Pippen.
