Carol, how could you? Plenty of readers take offense after defense of Krause

I had my say about Jerry Krause. Today it's your turn. Here's asample of your e-mail responses, edited for length but not much else.

How much did Krause pay you?

Krause has an extremely tarnished reputation around the league,especially with players. He is cheap, big-headed and stubborn.Perhaps rebuilding was not a bad idea; he sure as (heck) did not needto burn so many bridges while doing so.

You give him too much credit. Anyone could have attracted playersto Chicago during the championship years. Everyone wanted to playwith Michael Jordan, and Chicago is a big market. Krause had nothingto do with it. Once (Krause) is gone, (the Bulls) can startrebuilding.

I hope you enjoy the $5 Krause gave you. I know he is too cheap tocough up more than that. (Unsigned)

I am hoping you are not a woman sportswriter because if you are,you have just set women in sports back 20 years. I have never seen somuch misinformation in one article. Let's clear up some of thisnonsense.

Krause is an idiot. Horace Grant tried to warn Bulls fans yearsago. Then, of course, Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan later agreed.

Let's compare Tim Floyd to (Orlando Magic coach) Doc Rivers. Bothcoached teams not expected to win 20 games (last season). Riversrefused to believe that and made his players refuse to accept that aswell. Floyd not only accepted it, his team played like it.

As far as (Magic general manager) John Gabriel not being perfect,the difference is he learns from his mistakes.

Jordan probably wouldn't have retired as soon as he did if itweren't for Krause. He needed to prove he could build a team withoutJordan. His ego couldn't wait to dismantle the Bulls.

You stated there is no quick way to rebuild a championship team.You're right. You said you're choosing patience. Under Krause you'llneed it. But then, I expect someone with your IQ has a lot ofpatience. (Betsy Chavis)

I had to laugh at your opinion on Krause. How long have you beenin Chicago? When did you become a Bulls fan? Who is to blame if notKrause? Maybe it's both Jerrys? (Unsigned)

I want to know why Krause still has a job. This man not only is abad people person, but he sounds like a bigot. How long will thiscontinue? He is bad for the Bulls. How can you explain no one wantingto join the Bulls? The reason seems clear. Krause is not a verypopular man. It's time to let (him) go and hire a man like JohnPaxson. It seems so long since the Bulls were a dynasty. One man hasdestroyed all that! (Unsigned)

All those reasons you gave for why (free agents didn't sign withthe Bulls) are Krause's fault. He figured that athletes were allabout the money, and he was proven wrong. Hasn't he noticed that noone wants to play for the Clippers? (That's because) they are losers,and that's what Krause has turned the Bulls into. Anyone who doesn'tbelieve that he chased Phil Jackson away, which chased Jordan away,needs some screws tightened.

Look at his draft picks-Mark Randall, Byron Houston, Corie Blount.Krause is always trying to prove he can discover gold where no oneelse is looking instead of taking (a proven) player. This, and theway he treated Jackson, Jordan and Pippen is the reason why he's aturnoff to Bulls fans and to free agents. (Unsigned)

If you're prepared to accept Tracy McGrady's choice of Orlando asbeing a result of simply building a house there, then you have tocome to grips with the fact that Shaquille O'Neal wanted to play inL.A. The Lakers were the team he idolized as a boy. Plus, he had hismovie and rap music things. Where else but L.A.? No, Gabriel didn'tlet him escape. Shaq was already going. (David Pool)

Finally, some sanity regarding Krause and the events of thissummer! Your article was a balance to the incredibly unfaircriticisms of Krause. Like you, I am no apologist for Krause. He hasmade his share of knucklehead comments and moves, but to blame himfor things out of his control is stupid. (Mike VerWay)

Personally, I have been amazed at how Krause could keep the team awinner through such a long run without any high draft choices. He didit by plugging in players nobody else noticed or wanted. To be sure,he had an exceptional nucleus with Jordan and Pippen, but otherteams have had a strong nucleus and couldn't reach the top, or staythere. (The Jazz comes quickly to mind.) (Ed Cohen)

Your column about the excessive Krause-bashing was long overdue.

Let's face it, all of Chicago is disappointed because Krause, thepublic-relations disaster that he always is, raised our expectationsof getting Tim Duncan or Grant Hill. But Duncan is a loyal guy andstayed put. Hill didn't want to come here and repeat his Detroitexperience (though I'm not sure Orlando is all that good).

Nobody questions you or me if we want to choose the city we callhome, but athletes somehow aren't allowed to go home or go to a warmclimate? Oh, yeah, it's all Krause's fault. So is the weather. (MarkFishbein)