Last week, Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf made a rare public appearance at the Intersport Brand Engagement Summit in Chicago. He gave a brief interview to Abraham D. Markour of Sports Business Daily, and openly discussed his penchant for being loyal to his employees within both organizations.
Here’s what Reinsdorf had to say:
“I try to be loyal only to people who deserve the loyalty. I hope I’m not loyal to people who don’t deserve it. We try to run this place like a family business. In our employee manual, people are directed to call everybody by their first names, no Mr. or Mrs. We want everybody to feel free to talk to everybody and go into any office to talk, any time they want. When you do that, you get good people, you get people who like their jobs. So the fact that somebody might be here 25 years is not because I’m loyal, it’s because that person is doing a good job and enjoys the work environment.” – Jerry Reinsdorf
Very curious words from Jerry, especially considering the recent history and present state of his two teams. White Sox fans wondered what took Reinsdorf so long to replace Robin Ventura as the team’s manager. It finally happened, but only because Ventura and the team “mutually agreed” it was best for the team moving forward. Most fans and pundits believe it should’ve happened much sooner.
As for the Bulls, fans are kicking and screaming for GM Gar Forman and VP John Paxson to be fired. Several seasons of middling success, uninspiring draft picks and questionable moves in free agency have Chicagoans wondering how both men are still employed.
Reinsdorf suggesting that his long-tenured employees are still around not because he’s extremely loyal, rather they’re “doing a good job”? I hope you weren’t eating while reading this, because that nonsense probably caused you to choke with laughter.
Still, part of Jerry’s words sound almost like he’s beginning to wonder if he is too loyal.
“I try to be loyal only to people who deserve the loyalty.” That’s great, Jerry. Try harder.
Earlier this week, Jerry’s son Michael – who’s taken over most of the business as his father ages – came up in a conversation Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley had with Mully and Hanley on 670 The Score. Cowley suggested that Michael won’t carry over his father’s blind loyalty once he has full control of the Bulls.
“I definitely think that the lifetime scholarships that have been handed out under Jerry Reinsdorf are about to be revoked under Michael Reinsdorf.” – Joe Cowley
Is Jerry too loyal? His son might think so. And his son might do something about it as soon as he takes the reigns of this aimless franchise.
