July 17, 1932: Johnny "Red" Kerr was born. The main floor, divided into the Courtside room and the bar room, seats 150, and the upstairs dining room seats 135. Yet, take the talk beyond basketball and ask Kerr about food. The seafood de jonghe was a disaster. PHOTO : Above: Johnny `Red Kerr shows off mural of top-scoring Chicago Bulls players in his new restaurant. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. 3. I was down by the court getting ready to broadcast the game when I saw Julius warming up, says Kerr about that special reunion. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. And yet Red Kerr`s is easily the least impressive horse in the group`s stable. COLUMBUS, OHIO Dennis Lombardi, formerly executive vice president wit, Coffee: the standard breakfast drink grows up Beverages, Chefs participate in qualifier of first Chef of Year competition, Mortons inks leases for new branches in 5 states, CBS file Television City suit against restaurateurs; network cries trademark infringement as Liederman brothers prepare to launch eatery, Hard Rock Caf[acute{e}] launches chainwide image upgrades, nightclub additions, Blue Light special: a value among heavy hitters. Kerr would score a team-high 357 points in 26 games for an average of 13.7 points per game. The Bulls entered the NBA for the 1966-67 season after Chicago had experienced decades of disappointment with professional basketball teams. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. They moved to the tranquil suburb in 1978four years after Kerr landed his gig as color commentator for the Bulls. ''She had a pork chop she made that was sensational-with caraway seeds added,'' he says, savoring the memory, ''and a watermelon pickle that I still make every year.''. He later held several coaching and administrative positions before embarking on a thirty-three-year career as a television color commentator for the Chicago Bulls. [11] Jordan later said, "I don't know how it started. The 6' 9" center soon led his school's basketball team to the 1950 Chicago Public League Championship. The veal chop fairly bursts with flavor and is wonderfully moist-though the accompanying pool of mushroom gravy doesn`t add a thing. Barbecued ribs are fine; the sauce is rather sweet and the meat falls easily off the bone. Johnny Red Kerr amassed an impressive career as an NBA player, coach and broadcaster. During the Bulls rookie campaign, Kerr validated Stinkys signing spree by garnering NBA Coach of the Year honors while guiding the expansion Bulls to a 33-48 record and playoff appearance. At Tilden Tech in Chicago, he grew eight inches in his senior year, switched from soccer to basketball, and led his team to the city championship in 1950. !-----NBA Highlights Top Plays Regular season Playoffs 90s Retro NBAVault Throwback GOAT Greatest Games Hardwood classics Bulls Lakers Trail Blazers Suns Sonics Jazz Knicks Cavaliers Warriors Hornets Bucks Heat Hawks Clippers Celtics Raptors Magic Pacers Nets Rockets Timberwolves Nuggets Pistons Kings Grizzlies Mavericks Spurs 76ers Sixers Wizards NBATV HD 720p Youtube Official Channel Dunks Jumpshots Michael Jordan Top 50 All Time Plays Michael Jordan Top 10 Plays of Career Michael Jordan - The Greatest Ever. Finally, my father-in-law, Ed Nemecek, tried to climb out of the seats to get on the floor to go after Murphy. 2 in the nation. The Suns stumbled to a 16-66 record in 1968-69, and in the offseason they lost a coin flip to the Milwaukee Bucks for the right to draft Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Kerrs Courtside, with projected $7 or $8 check averages, is aimed at office workers on a limited lunch schedule and at early dinner guests en route to Bulls and Blackhawks games or other events. Who was going to check anyway?. Among a plethora of Bulls players and squads, Kerr reserves a special place in his heart for the inimitable Michael Jordan and the 1990s Bulls dynasty, which produced six NBA titles and worldwide celebrity. I cant think of too many things Id want to change., The lyrics of Johnny Kerrs life revolve around love, laughter, loss and loyalty. Support the Channel:https://www.patreon.com/mj23haf-----Which game do you want me to do next? . Johnny "Red" Kerr, former NBA center and Bulls coach, who played part of one season in Philly with Wilt and against him for six-plus years. It`s possible to get a good meal at Kerr`s; you just have to select carefully. Sweet-tooth food like key lime pie. During his year as the Vice President of the Squires, Kerr signed Julius Dr. Kerr broadcast the "first seven or eight games this season" before having to curtail his schedule due to prostate cancer. Feel free to make requests in the comment session.Like, Comment, Share and Subscribe for more!! He was the guy on the top. Open Daily 10am - 9pm *Temporarily Closing early on Sundays at 6pm* Catering Hungry? Although overshadowed by the more prolific Schayes, the 6-foot-9 Kerr was the steadiest of forces. Currently, though, many sports fans are coming because they like the man just voted the best sports color commentator in Chicago (for the Chicago Bulls), who became the first coach of the Bulls following his own illustrious playing career. Trouble begins when you enter the door. Best restaurant in Naperville! Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Years after their business transaction, Kerr met up with the Good Doctor when Erving made a house call to the old Chicago Stadium as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Kerr then moved into broadcasting, where he began a lengthy career as a wisecracking commentator for both the Suns and the Bulls. On Feb. 10, the Chicago Bulls did a good thing. He was named the starting center for the 1951-52 Fighting Illini and would lead the team to a Big Ten Conference Championship with a 12-2 conference record and a 224 record overall and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Kerr, on the other hand, would find his successes to be just as fruitful as the previous campaign. In 1975, the Bulls' play-by-play announcer, Jim Durham, suggested that Kerr provide commentary during games,[9] and Kerr remained as a color commentator until the end of the 200708 season. The team on the floor today is a reflection of what John values, and I really think its one of the best situations in the league.. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He also pulled down more than 12.0 rebounds per game in eight straight seasons from 1956 through 1964, with a high of 14.7 boards per game in 1961-62. Garnish with parsley and basil. It becomes apparent, not long after one meets Kerr, that he is a man as comfortable at the stove of his Riverside home as he is on and around a basketball court. Left: Kerr stands next to a replica of himselfin a mural depicting his playing, coaching, and announcing carrers. ''I didn`t want a shot-and-a-beer place,'' Kerr says. Satisfactory. When I attended the University of Illinois, I dated a girl, Betsy Nemecek, who was from Riverside, Illinois, says Kerr, who married her in 1954. With the Bulls off to a miserable 1-15 start during the 1967-68 campaign and Kerr feeling the escalating need to avoid another loss and more significantly his job, he received a technical one game from referee Don Murphy. Sports Memorabilia, Fan Shop & Sports Cards; Vintage Sports Memorabilia In 1963, the Nationals relocated to Philadelphia and became known as the 76ers. For this accomplishment, Kerr was awarded the NBA Coach of the Year Award. They would defeat Santa Clara in the third place game. 21 Wheeling, IL. Early in Kerrs broadcasting days, the Suns were down by one point with five seconds left, and they had the ball. Red Kerr`s is a very pleasant sports bar; it`s just not much of a restaurant yet. I didnt want to get into a sports bar with basketball shoot games and that kind of thing, Kerr said. I absolutely love him.. Do we wait to be seated? ''I didn`t want a shot-and-a-beer place,'' Kerr says of the two-level restaurant that boasts a casual, sports decor on the first floor, white tablecloths on the second. Clearly someone forgot to cook off the wine in the dish, but the explanation from the kitchen was simply that this is how the dish is prepared; that is, don`t order it expecting anything different. Betsy and my mother-in-law were able to hold him back. Those children, and their children, often show up for holiday meals at the Kerr home, each bearing a favorite dish. Although finding gifted young phenoms like Julius Erving and George Iceman Gervin (Kerr discovered him on a playground court) was rewarding, the 69 former Tilden Tech soccer and basketball star desperately wanted to come home. Collect, curate and comment on your files. After a successful 12-year NBA playing career with Syracuse, Philadelphia and Baltimore, highlighted by winning a championship his rookie season with the Syracuse Nationals and three NBA All-Star selections, followed by a short spell with the Bulls during the inaugural and second year of the franchise, Kerr moved on to brief coaching/broadcasting and administrative stints with the expansion Phoenix Suns and the ABAs Virginia Squires. ''And I do some precooking too.''. The Trophy Room does a fine job with steaks and chops, which are probably the safest entree options. Conversely, the earliest years of basketball in The Second City were run more like a three-ring circus. He told Bob Boozer to pretend he was the best scorer in basketball, Jerry Sloan to pretend he could stop anyone in the game, Guy Rodgers to pretend he was the top point guard in the league, and Erwin Mueller to pretend he was a rebounding machine. There are very few guys that have been around the game as long as Johnny has that still have the same passion that I remember him having when we first met some 30 years ago, says Bulls radio play-by-play announcer Neil Funk. Then came Betsy`s parents, Ed and Essie Nemecek, who nurtured Kerr`s culinary skills and taught him the finer points of a good platter of pork, dumplings and sauerkraut. What great customer service to fix a small issue!! It was like a traveling show.. Kerr would remain in the booth for the Bulls through the 2007-08 season. Earlier Thursday, former Bull and fellow Bulls broadcaster Norm Van Lier unexpectedly died at age 61. Illinois would defeat Dayton and Duquesne to earn a berth in the Final Four (only sixteen teams played in the tournament back then), but would lose to St. Johns, 6159. Formerly Cafe Bohemia. Red Kerr's Restaurant at 138 South Clinton Street, circa 1993. He was 76. Kerr spent 11 of his 12 seasons with the franchise nine in Syracuse, two in Philadelphia before playing his last year with the Baltimore Bullets. Kerr intends to be in the restaurant often and finds it convenient to do so, since his insurance and investment consulting firm is within walking distance, and so is his commuter train. Riverside, one of the first planned suburban communities in the country, ultimately served as an integral part of the Kerr family plan as well. Kerr prolonged the streak with his own brand of therapy: he packed his sprained ankles in freshly shoveled snow from his driveway. One of my favorites who used an interesting technique was Walt Bellamy. When I found out Chicago was getting another pro team and I had a chance to be the coach, it was a dream come true.. CHICAGO | Johnny "Red" Kerr, the former Chicago Bulls coach who spent more than three decades as a broadcaster for the team, died Thursday. When not spending time at home, Kerrs second residence ostensibly is located at 1901 West Madisonhome of the Chicago Bulls. 1973 Inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame as a player. It`s bound to be jarring for first-time visitors, expecting a sit-down dinner, to walk into the main room. In the midst of a losing streak, Kerr tried to pump up the team in a pregame talk in Boston. Select from premium Johnny Red Kerr of the highest quality. Support the Channel:https://www.patreon.com/mj23haf-----Which game do you want me to do next? To the people of Chicago, the basketball balladeer offers one special dedication: Thanks for the Memories.. The Trophy Room offers more leisurely dining and a fuller menu for a check average in the $17 range. Kerr was not only quick with a quip but quick with success in basketball. Beyond basketball, Kerr graciously sat for a tear-stained interview about his 46 years of marriage to Betsy after she passed away in October 2000. Add manilla clams. Former NBA player and coach Johnny Kerr, now an announcer and story-teller supreme, was . But he didnt always have to pretend. He was really good.. ''Any one of them can prepare a good meal; we weren`t part of the microwave era,'' says Kerr, who once served escargot to the youngsters for the sheer experience of it. The tomatoes are strictly hothouse bland, while the cheese couldn`t be more bland. The upstairs dining room-called the Trophy Room for its vintage trophy case-has its attractive points, including oak floors, handsome wood trim and wooden wide-slat blinds. Johnny's family is definitely one of a kind. Drafted by the Chicago Packers as the first overall pick in the 1961 Draft, Walter Bells Bellamy was one of Red Kerrs all-time favorite players primarily because of his clever on court antics as much as his considerable playing ability. Kerr was perhaps best known as a color commentator on Chicago Bulls broadcasts, a role he held since 1975. The roast duck has excellent flavor but is a bit dry, though its sweet plum sauce helps considerably. Johnny "Red" Kerr had the worst boss anyone could ever have. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. I want people to come here because they like the restaurant, not because they like the restaurant, not because I own it, Kerr noted. I said, Kid, last time I did that it cost me $300,000. What a steal that was to sign Julius.. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. An affable ginger-haired Scotsman, Kerr grew to be 6'9" and approximately 230 pounds in his prime. Kerr was a 3x All-Star ('56/59/63), known for his good skills & athleticism, very good rebounding (8x top-10), and phenomenal passing. Kerr's senior season was personally the best of his three varsity seasons, however, the team would be the least successful during the same time frame. After averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Bullets during the 196566 season, Kerr was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1966 NBA Expansion Draft. 41 & Rt. It wasnt like when Michael Jordan came along and people knew about him from his North Carolina days or certainly like today with LeBron James. Over the years, Kerr and Jordan developed a pre-game ritual in which Jordan would head to the broadcasting area and playfully clap talcum powder in front of Kerr. Unfortunately, the Suns finished with a 1666 record in 196869, and after starting the 196970 season with a 1523 record, Kerr was forced to resign. Back then, the team bus would pull in at a hotel around 3 a.m., and there would be 700 people waiting for us. In 2009, the Bulls unveiled a statue of Kerr during a halftime ceremony of a game that would stand outside the United Center in Chicago. That was our parade.. He was extremely consistent and durable (played 844 consecutive games). Hes been great to me. Over his three varsity seasons, Kerr scored 1,299 points giving him an overall average of 18.6 points per game. Lawry's The Prime Rib / 100 E. Ontario St. Chicago, IL. Dinner for two of appetizer, soup/salad, entree, dessert, tax and tip: $65. Add marinara sauce, clam juice, chopped clams, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. We had a very large complicated order, once we got home we realized they forgot the sauce on the side, I called out and they drove it to my house within ten minutes! With that, Kerr digs into a pocket of his neatly tailored suit and pulls out recipe cards. Bells used to say, The foul is always on Walter. We were trying to sell something in a city that was a failure for it. The Stags had lasted four years in the 1940s before folding; the Packers, who became the Zephyrs, had spent two seasons in Chicago, then became the Baltimore (later Washington) Bullets. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. Kerrs only omission during the impassioned rallying cry for his charges that night was mentioning Chicagos opponent: the mighty Boston Celtics, led by the ultimate winner, Bill Russell. Says Kerr: I told Jimmy Washington, pretend youre the greatest defensive rebounder in the NBA; Guy Rodgers, pretend youre the best point guard to ever dribble a ball; Jerry Sloan, pretend youre the best defensive player in the history of the game; Bob Boozer, pretend youre the best 15-foot jump shooter in the history of the game, and Erwin Mueller, pretend youre the premier center in the league.. He came over and we hugged. The Bulls are a no-nonsense, young team thats on the rise, he says. Private dining rooms seating 50 in the lower-level Locker Room and the third floor Skybox also may be used for overflow from the public eating areas. Kerrs death completes a dark day in Chicago Bulls history. Home News Broadcasters Johnny Red Kerr passes away. After turning down countless restaurant partnership offers for the last 25 years, Kerr teamed up with the Chicago Dining Authority to transform the old Cafe Bohemia across the street form Union Station into a restaurant where he hopes customers will come to eat a good meal rather than to see him or other sports celebrities. Considered the greatest forward of his era, Bob Pettit won one NBA championship and was a two-time MVP. Today, the Cafe`s building, at 138 S. Clinton St., houses Red Kerr`s, the two-year old restaurant he co-owns with partner Nick Kladis. Credit cards: American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa. The Syracuse Nationals selected Kerr in the first round of the 1954 NBA Draft. Like a proud father watching his children grow up, Kerr embraces the opportunity to critique his favorite team in his hometown. 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