Former Bulls player, commentator Van Lier dies

[IE]

had great memories of the seasons he played for the bulls

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Former Chicago Bulls guard and broadcaster Norm Van Lier was found dead Thursday afternoon in his home, authorities said.

He was 61.

Firefighters went to his home, just blocks from the United Center, to respond to a request for a well-being check. They found Van Lier unresponsive shortly before 1 p.m. and he was pronounced dead at the scene, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis.

The Cook County medical examiner?s office confirmed his death.

Van Lier began his NBA career with Cincinnati in 1969. He later spent more than six seasons with the Chicago Bulls before finishing his career with Milwaukee in 1979.

The three-time All-Star played on five playoff teams.

Van Lier, from East Liverpool, Ohio, was drafted by Chicago in 1969, but debuted in the league with Cincinnati that year. He later spent more than six seasons with the Bulls before finishing his career with Milwaukee in 1979.

Van Lier was a defensive standout and a fan favorite who was given the nickname ?Stormin? Norman? because of his fiery play. Picked to the NBA All-Defensive first team or second team eight times, he retired after the 1979 season with 8,770 points and 5,217 assists.

 

[just cover]

WOW I loved to hear that guy do games. He came down to Peoria to do the high school class A and 2A basketball tournamnets. My hometown was in the finals 2 years in a row and he remembered kids names that were still on the team. I met him at a bar/food place in between games and talked with him for a couple hours. Nice guy. I offered to buy him a beer or something but he said hey man I am off the coolaid but I would like to buy you dinner. Died way to early probably from his boozy days and I think the last years or so he was back on the coolaid.

jc

 

[IE]

another bulls' icon passed away yesterday also just cover


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Ex-Bulls broadcaster, coach Johnny "Red" Kerr dies


CHICAGO?Johnny "Red" Kerr, the former Chicago Bulls coach who spent more than three decades as a broadcaster for the team, died Thursday. He was 76.

Kerr died at his home after a battle with prostate cancer, Bulls spokesman Tim Hallam said.

"His name was synonymous with basketball, both here in Chicago, and throughout the entire NBA," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "Those that were fortunate enough to have known Johnny were touched by both his tremendous compassion for people, and his lifelong passion for the game of basketball. We will miss him greatly."

Kerr's death is a double blow for the Bulls, following the death also Thursday of Norm Van Lier, one of the most popular players in Bulls history. Van Lier was 61.

"We're deeply saddened by the whole course of events today," Hallam said.

The Bulls unveiled a statue of Kerr at the United Center during an emotional ceremony earlier this month that included taped messages from President Barack Obama and commissioner David Stern and speeches from Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan.

Pippen said Kerr "makes Chicago Bulls basketball what it is," while Jordan called him "an inspiration to me as a basketball player and as a person."

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was informed of Kerr's death during his team's victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

"We traveled a lot together over the 11 years I was with the Bulls, nine as the head coach," Jackson said.
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"It's with a degree of sadness that we remember him. We knew he was failing, but we didn't know it would be this quick."

A Chicago native who served as the team's first head coach and received NBA Coach of the Year honors for leading the Bulls to the playoffs in the inaugural 1966-67 season, Kerr also received a photo collage from Bulls GM John Paxson and the Basketball Hall of Fame's John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from Jerry Colangelo during the ceremony.

"I want to thank everybody here in the audience who has seen the Bulls play not because of Red Kerr but because of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and all the other people in the organization," said a choked up Kerr.

Kerr played 12 seasons (1954-1966) in the NBA for the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers and the Baltimore Bullets. From 1954 to 1965, the three-time NBA All-Star appeared in a then-NBA record 844 consecutive games.

He is survived by five children and 10 grandchildren.

Plans to honor Kerr were pending, Hallam said.

 

[vinnie]

:sadwave: