I typed up a bunch of shit explaining the rationale for why this is necessary then deleted it because it should be self-evident to anyone who’s been paying attention to the Bulls for at least a few years (and even more so to someone who’s been paying attention for decades) and I’m bad at formulating arguments. (edit: I guess I ended up typing a bunch of shit anyway. whatever)
The Reinsdorfs are terrible owners and care more about profit than winning. Yeah obviously it’s a business, but if the product sucks then why are we supporting it?
Remember, we’re talking about the guy (Jerry) who threatened to move the White Sox (which he’s said he cares about way more than the Bulls… can’t find the quote someone pls halp) to Tampa in the 80s unless the city and state helped him fund a new stadium.
We’re talking about the guy who will NEVER go into the luxury tax to fund a winning team (which is almost necessary in today’s NBA) or spend a dime more than he has to.
We’re talking about the guy who famously advised another baseball exec to finish in second place every year and [recently echoed that sentiment](https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/5/3/23709810/jerry-reinsdorf-truth-make-an-appearance-as-white-sox-struggle-rick-hahn-world-series-david-samson):
> The most striking statement had to do with what he thinks the fan base wants in a team.
> ‘‘I think the important thing to fans is, while they want you to win championships, they want to know that when they get down to the last month of the season, you still have a shot,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re still playing meaningful games. If you can do that consistently, you’ll make your fans happy.’’
> The discerning Sox fan will see in that quote shades of the advice former Marlins president David Samson said Reinsdorf once gave him.
> ‘‘I was 32 years old, in baseball for my first of 18 years,’’ Samson said in 2019. ‘‘And [Reinsdorf] said: ‘You know what? Here’s my best advice to you: Finish in second place every single year because your fans will say, ‘‘Wow, we’ve got a shot, we’re in it,’’ but there’s always the carrot left. There’s always one more step to take.’ ’’
> Samson’s quote caused a huge stink. The Sox moved quickly to deny that Reinsdorf ever said such a thing, knowing that an owner who settles for second-best isn’t a good look for a franchise. But Reinsdorf’s comments Monday in front of a group of witnesses at the Milken Institute Global Conference sounded very much like what Samson insisted he once said.
Literally nothing is going to change until the Reinsdorfs sell the team. AK will get thrown under the bus. Billy will get thrown under the bus. The players will get thrown under the bus. Are they blameless? Are they faultless? Obviously not, but they’re playing for an organization that does not care about winning and ultimately will not support them in doing so. The Bulls will either find a new GM (EVP of basketball operations whatever), a new coach, new players who will all meet the same resistance. (or maybe AK can go the GarPax route and get spared just for displaying loyalty to the throne)
Anyway, what the fuck? Why is anyone supporting this? The Oakland A’s fans had a massive grassroots campaign recently urging their owner to sell the team. It didn’t work, and the jerk-off is moving the team to Vegas anyway, but it got a lot of traction and visibility. We gotta at least try.
by aintnosecrets
19 Comments
Waste your money trying this. Not gonna happen.
Stop going to the games! Stop watching!
I’ve been saying this and getting shut down, “it’s not worth it” “nothing will happen til attendance drops”
Well attendance has dropped and it’s the worst it’s been
It’s long over due to point this directly at Jerry & the Reinsdorfs by boycotting games and targeting them with some hashtag, #RidOfReinsdorf or something we can all get behind
We did this already with the white Sox. Fans Bought a billboard outside of the stadium that said “sell the team” and Jerry threatens to sue the advertising company since they used the “S” in the southside jersey in the word sell.
He saw, and didn’t give a flying fuck. Only thought was how he could make more money off the billboard.
Jerry won’t sell either team, he’s taking them to the casket with him.
Just gotta wait for time to do it’s thing.
I understand the impulse from frustrated fans, but any billionaire is just never gonna give a fuck about the plebs feelings
can you take signs outside the stadium or in it to show off to the cameras? paper bags like the browns team? billboards are expensive but as others said jerry sees it and does not care. but if signs can be made wwe style asking to sell, paper bags, stuff, or people standing and turning their backs in the arena for a several minutes in silent protest you would think something has to give? maybe chants too loud and clear in unison for cameras to pick up. fans have to try something and think outside the means we cant just sit and accept it from jerry. f it any english football fans want to come to chi town to teach some chants and choreography in the stands hahaha
White Sox fans should jump onboard.
Jerry’s kids will sell the team when they go broke.
Yeah idk. Ive lived thru Snyder and Jerry isnt anywhere in that league. Selling the team really wouldnt change anything. Just going to have to be patient to get back. Garpax movement happened in large part to scandals swept under the rug and the FO being way too hands on, trying to low ball and limit jimmys minutes, to the overall culture that was allowed to brew. I mean dude, we are only a few years removed from when we had fo spies in the coaching staff. Jerry has shown willingness to pay the tax and if both Rose doesn’t go down, and Deng doesn’t severely regress the following year, we probably would have been repeat payers.
I dont think jerry’s the best, but hes no Joe Tsai, no Michael Jordan, and definitely not worse than James Dolan.
when has protesting an owner ever worked? They normally only sell due to scandal or death.
Finally the rest of Chicago understands Sox fans’ pain
I’m down with this. Just tell me how to help
No team in the league is ass and is in the luxury tax, that’s not true. Also they have been in the tax before (not saying they do this often). And also, another 10 millionish per year player is not going to make this team a playoff team much less a team that gets past the first round.
We gotta try to get them to sell to someone who might move the team? Do you want to be the next Seattle?
And I get that they probably won’t move out of the Chicago market, but they could move to Arlington or Rosemont if they can’t strongarm the city into a new arena. Realistically Jerry needs to sell both teams, but I’m kind of terrified that it’s going to mean the end of the Sox in Chicago. Plus a new owner is no guarantee of change. In order to turn the team around they’re going to have to dump a bunch of money into it. Plus it’s no guarantee of success, just look at the Clippers.
This season sucks, but it could actually get worse.
Owning a professional sports team is one of the few white whales out there, for men who can (or already have) everything. You are part of an exclusive club.
The way team values have appreciated, and the leagues are set up, it’s also an investment that’s just about can’t lose (assuming you’re not someone buying in now way past valuation…then…could be a bit of uncertainty)….
Point is, there’s really nothing that can be done by fans to allow the franchise to be an albatross to Reinsdorf.
That said, I realize it’s an even more frustrating situation because there’s an attachment to the team and a helplessness that you can’t actually help…so this is let to dissuade doing this sort of thing if it makes someone feel better about the situation….
Just speaking to the reality of the situation.
“Fire Garpax” billboard didn’t work, just FYI. They lasted another 3 years until Paxson had to step down himself because he finally realized the league had passed him by and Jerry was never gonna fire him
Where are my Oakland A’s fans at?
Why bro? That’s his business. He can buy and sell when it suits him. Don’t live and die by a professional basketball team. Go for a walk or read a book. Get a different hobby, this ain’t working for you. It hasn’t ever worked for anyone else. The Bulls are a tremendously successful and profitable business. End of story.
Is it sad that the only way for the Bears, Bulls and White Sox to ever succeed is ALL of them have to be sold to new owners?
At least the Rickets and Wirtz want to win