The Bulls "have recruited" White Sox 1B Frank Thomas
and Oprah Winfrey to help the team "attract quality free
agents," like Raptors free agent G Tracy McGrady, who
recently visited the city, according to Brian Kersey of the
AP. Thomas and Winfrey appear on "individualized videos,
which were part of elaborate packages" the team has sent to
the "top prospects, that sell both the team and the city"
(AP/NATIONAL POST, 7/8). In Chicago, Roman Modrowski wrote
that the Bulls were "pampering McGrady with limousines,
gourmet meals and a presidential suite" at a local hotel.
In meeting with McGrady, Bulls Chair Jerry Reinsdorf "may
have articulated the peripheral financial opportunities
Chicago offers" in marketing and endorsements. Modrowski:
"It's believed McGrady's apparel deal with Adidas includes a
clause with a bonus, perhaps as high as $1 million, for
playing in a major market" (see THE DAILY, 6/21). McGrady's
agent Arn Tellem said, "There's no doubt Chicago has a lot
to offer, but for Tracy, it's not about endorsements or
marketing" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/9).
GIVE HIM HEAD OF HAIR: SI's Ian Thomsen cited agent
David Falk as saying that Bulls Senior VP Jerry Krause told
his client, high school player Darius Miles, that Miles
"would not be permitted to wear his hair in cornrows if he
played for the Bulls. Falk, noting Krause's appearance:
"Are we going to pass a rule now that says NBA executives
can't be overweight because they are an embarrassment to
their team? It was an inappropriate thing to say in the
year 2000" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 7/10 issue). Also in
Chicago, Jay Mariotti noted Krause's comments and wrote,
"What an old, old man he has become. What an out-of-touch,
I-live-on-the-North-Shore thing to say, condemning the demon
cornrows, thinking they automatically connote poor character
and gang activity" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/9).
