I know it's long, but here is the story from chicagosports.com by Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune:
The news that Johnny "Red" Kerr will have a reduced role on Bulls telecasts next season did not come as a big surprise Tuesday.
The Bulls' decision to revamp their entire broadcast lineup did, however.
Out are play-by-play voices Wayne Larrivee, who handled Bulls games for WGN-Ch. 9, and Tom Dore, who worked the games for Comcast SportsNet. Neil Funk will move over from the radio side to handle the television call for both outlets.
Chuck Swirsky, a former sports personality for WGN-AM 720 and current television voice for the Toronto Raptors, will replace Funk as the play-by-play man on WMVP-AM 1000. He will team with analyst Bill Wennington.
Kerr, meanwhile, will be host for the Bulls' pregame and halftime shows on television for games at the United Center. He also will serve as the team's official ambassador.
Kerr, 75, felt the rigors of NBA travel and a full schedule were more than he wanted. As a result, Stacey King will work solo with Funk as the television analyst.
Kerr has been with the Bulls as a coach and analyst for 36 years.
"I'm 75," he said. "You wear down. I got a little tired last season. I think the season we had also had something to do with it."
Steve Schanwald, the Bulls' executive vice president for operations, said the decision to make a change with Larrivee and Dore was based on a desire to have one play-by-play voice for all the television games.
"We have wanted it for a long time," Schanwald said. "We just decided to pull the trigger on it now. I think it's very important that one individual be identified as the voice of the Bulls on TV. I can't say enough good things about Wayne and Tom. But we wanted one voice and didn't want to choose between them."
Instead, the Bulls went with Funk, who is regarded as one of the best play-by-play men in the business.
Dore, a Chicago-area native who had been with the Bulls for 17 years, was extremely disappointed. He had hoped to finish his career with the team.
"I had a great run, and I got to work with a guy (Kerr) who has been my best friend for a long time," Dore said.
Swirsky never expected to be with the Bulls. He is extremely popular in Toronto, where he has a three-hour Monday-through-Friday radio show in addition to his TV duties for the Raptors.
Swirsky said the decision to accept Schanwald's offer was all about coming back to Chicago, where he worked at WCFL, WLUP and then WGN from 1979 to 1994.
"I'm leaving money on the table in Toronto," Swirsky said. "This wasn't about finances. It was the Chicago Bulls. When they call, you listen."
Schanwald said he has had his eye on Swirsky for a while.
"Chuck has a very energetic and enthusiastic style of calling a game," Schanwald said. "He has become an icon in Toronto. He is an extremely hard worker who knows the NBA cold."
Speaking of icons, Kerr has become one with the Bulls. Besides being the team's first head coach, he also has been its biggest supporter. His emotions always were front and center, providing the perfect complement for an era that included Michael Jordan and six NBA titles.
The Bulls have decided to honor Kerr's years of service with a sculpture that will be on permanent display at the United Center.
"I have always felt he is Chicago pro basketball the same way Ray Meyer was Chicago college basketball," Schanwald said.
Kerr said he was overwhelmed when he learned of the honor.
"I bleed red and black," Kerr said. "It's all very humbling." I'm going to miss those three guys doing the games. I have A LOT of memories of Bulls games where they were announcing. It's nice to see that Red Kerr will still be around for pre and postgame stuff.
Larrivee will be missed just a little. I won't miss Dore at all, as iv'e grown tired of him. When the Bulls are down, his broadcast seemed depressing to me. Kerr will be missed at courtside, but will still do pre-and halftime gigs.
I am excited to know that Funk will do play by play on tv, he is one of the best. I hope Stacey King will be with him.
wow this will definately help the Bulls win next year.. much needed moves to shake this team up.. maybe they should move benny the bull from mascot to center,, he might give us a better low post presence..
ok seriously now... ill miss listening to big red, but ill admit he's been getting a bit stale as of late..old age will do that to you... dore was boreing and yes he is depressing to listen too when their down and it seems like all he wanted to do was pick on kerr with king..
king will remain on with funk.. i like stacey Kings stop and go insight of the game, he shows the Tv audience whats going on with the movements of players without the ball and he somewhat reminds me of how steve stone did his color commentary..
funk will add excitement to the game on the Tv side, i did enjoy listening to him on the radio.. especially his ka ka kaboom.. and stop-shot and pops for 2..
Good lord! Its about time. I just wonder if the Bulls execs were surprised to find that Red Kerr has actually been dead for the past 5 years. Stacey King does good job and I'm excited to see him not have to fear stepping on Red's toes. Also, the Neil Funk thing is really the best. I actually have preferred him over the TV guys for years. Good move by the Bulls all around. Now I just hope the team is improved similarly.
Yea this is a sad story. So many memories with Larrivee, Dore, and Johnny "Red" Kerr. Larrivee does so much announcing elsewhere. He does some Big Ten football and basketball. Works on the Packers radio network and other stuff. It's going to be very different, but Funk did a nice job on the radio and he is enjoyable.
It is sad to see this change. Maybe it is just because I have so many memories of the Bulls broadcasts with these guys. I am happy Red Kerr will still do the halftime show. He did seem a little lost at times on the broadcast, and Stacey King was really outshining him. Big Red used to be a great listen, but in resent years he seemed to be slipping. I will always have fond memories of the Jordan years and Kerr on the broadcast.
Tom Dore was a pretty good play by play guy. Nothing flashy, but very sound, just like the city of Chicago. I thought he was a good fit, but maybe it was a time for change. I hope he lands somewhere else and does well.
Wayne Larrivee was a little more professional then Dore in the way he broadcast, but I really enjoyed Tom Dore and Red Kerr as a pair better then Larrivee and Kerr. You could just tell they were great friends and that shined through during broadcast.
Good Luck Stacey King. I am sure you will continue to do a great job.
Stacey King will be with Neil Funk. But, I think he was better as a third color guy. He seemed to just analyze and make a few comments rather than talk alot like Bill Wennington or someone of that sort. However, I hope they do well and I'll miss Tom Dore and Red Kerr together.
