Johnny "Red" Kerr: Proud Ambassador of the Chicago Bulls

I don't usually write about basketball.  This isn't a normal piece to write on here. I am a fan of basketball, but I love the simplicity of the game. I don't follow the stats or the numbers game like I do with NASCAR.

I grew up in Chicago and was able to watch some of the best basketball this sport has seen in the '90s, as  Michael Jordan and Co. won six championships and dominated the decade.

I watched many of those games on WGN with Johnny "Red" Kerr. Sadly, Kerr died Thursday night after battling prostate cancer.

Kerr represented the simplicity of the game. He just wanted to play basketball.

I could talk about his career both in college and in the NBA, but we know he was a great player.  I could talk about his coaching career and being the first Chicago Bulls coach, but we know he excelled at that.

What I want to talk about is his broadcasting career.

In Chicago, we have had some legendary broadcasters, from Jack Brickhouse to Harry Caray. Kerr is one of the best this city has ever had.  His passion for basketball is what he should be remembered for the most.

He was never afraid to call out a player when he did something both on and off the court, but he was always the first to pat that same player on the back.

As a fan of the Bulls, I have watched this team try to find its identity for the last 10 years.  Kerr was never afraid to voice his opinion about the lack of effort  occasionally displayed by some Bulls teams.

Kerr was the voice of the Bulls for my generation of fans. He represented the grit and the dedication this city has. Although he may not have been as sharp as he once was, his love and passion for the Bulls shined through.

He was a perfect fit. The organization fit him more than the other way around. His "get to it" attitude pushed not only his former players and teammates, but today's Bulls players as well.

He will be missed not only because he was a great broadcaster and player, but because he represented our city with pride.