After reading a recent article by Chicago Sun-Times' columnist Jay Mariotti and visiting numerous Chicago sports-themed blogs and chat rooms, we all had the same consensus.
The notoriously-cheap Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf better compensate his coach and manager or lose what little fan base his teams have.
Reinsdorf runs his teams, in the exact opposite manner that George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, rules his.
You've heard of the Evil Empire?
Now, enter the Frugal Empire.
Reinsdorf had already screwed Chicago back in 1998. He has no credibility left.
The City of Big Shoulders can forgive that kind of transgression only once.
In 1998, Phil Jackson and the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls won their final championship together. At the time, the general manager of the Chicago Bulls was Jerry Krause, while Reinsdorf loomed over all, as if he were the Patron Saint of Cheapskates.
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Jackson all agreed that they should keep this juggernaut together until they lose. But, the "Brothers Jerry" disagreed, not wanting to shell out the cash to keep them together for one more run.
Jackson retired, Jordan retired, Rodman retired and Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets.
Suddenly, the House that Michael built was missing the man that built it.
You'll note that Reinsdorf bought the team for less than $20 million midway through Jordan's rookie season. Jordan, both on and off the court, propelled the team's worth to well over $200 million.
Jerry is a shrewd businessman, but a terrible owner when it comes to making decisions that affect the fans.
Now, we have come to the end of a surpise NBA season and an equally shocking start to the MLB.
Both, of which, likely will have the Frugal Emperor up in arms.
Why?
Because the unsuspecting success of his franchises, in the same year, will cost him money.
The question is will he pay it?
I say, yes.
Why?
Because the unsuspecting success of his franchises, in the same year, will make him money.
The Emperor figured by having a basketball team full of rookies and sophomores, they wouldn't win.
The Emperor figured he would remove all the power (along with their salaries) from the White Sox, coupled with the decision not to offer salary arbitration to Magglio Ordonez, the South Siders wouldn't win.
Think again, Jerry.
The Bulls reached the postseason for the first time since 1998 and the White Sox, who not only have the best record in the Majors, but, arguably, may also have the best pitching staff in the league.
The reason for both teams success is in the coaching.
Scott Skiles, nominated for Coach of the Year, has guided his team to a playoff berth, developed Ben Gordon, the Sixth Man of the Year winner (and was close to winning Rookie of the Year), has a fiery, old-school method of coaching that works well with the Baby Bulls.
Skiles is entering his option year and can bolt to another team next season, if he so desires.
The Frugal Emperor had better pay him.
Ozzie Guillen, is currently managing the best team in the majors, developed a pitcher who went 8-0 to start the season, in Jon Garland. Mark Buehrle and Freddy Garcia round out a solid staff and have a closer, Dustin Hermanson, who hasn't allowed an earned run all season.
Guillen, who started the season making hypocritical statements about former Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez, along with his propensity to use profanity in every other word in his press conferences, is also fiery and old-school.
Even though HypcrOzzie has shown no signs of mincing his words, there is no disputing that he is what the South Siders sorely needed, not only to dethrone their division rival Minnesota Twins, but to finally upstage the perennial "Lovable Losers."
The Chicago Cubs.
The buzz in the Windy City about their baseball teams has traveled from the intersection of Addison and Waveland to 35th Street and Rhodes.
HypcrOzzie, who, after this season will then enter his option year, which means, if the Frugal Empire doesn't exercise it, he will take his loathing for parking at McDonald's elsewhere.
If sanity still reigns in the Frugal Empire, the Emperor will bring HypcrOzzie back, mouth and all.
Still, it would be remiss not to credit the real engineers of the Frugal Empire's current success.
The Emperor's general managers John Paxson and Kenny Williams.
Paxson not only convinced the Emperor to waive and pay off the contracts of former Bulls' players Eddie Robinson and Scottie Pippen, but is adamant about keeping his young team together, intact and that includes retaining Skiles.
Paxson will succeed with the latter, whether the Emperor likes it or not.
Williams, who has no such influence over the Frugal Emperor to spend money, has to work with the little cash he is allotted.
Still, Williams has made the right trades and free agent pickups.
Although it seemed like a bad idea at first, Williams' philosophy of switching a team geared around power to adopt one of speed and defense, turned out to be a successful venture.
We don't expect the Frugal Empire to ever become the Evil Empire, but at least make sure the Generals are satisfied, lest they defect to the enemy.
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