Chicago Bulls Fire Phil "Xeneise" Jackson
Jun 22, 2015 23:22:55 GMT -6
Berlin and Phil Jackson like this
Post by Chicago on Jun 22, 2015 23:22:55 GMT -6
Chicago Bulls Fire Phil "Xeneise" Jackson from Consultant Role
CHICAGO - (AP)
Late breaking news out of Chicago Monday night has stunned the ABCA world. The Chicago Bulls have fired their former general manager and current consultant Phil "Xeneise" Jackson. While rumors of tension between Jackson and new general manager Dave Seer had run rampant for months, the dismissal still comes as a surprise.
After leaving the club to pursue a break and non-basketball activities, 'Xeneise' returned to the team in the role of a consultant within a few months. Almost immeadiatly after his arrival the blueprint and overall vision for the team became a point of contention between the former GM and the newly appointed Seer. Seer favored a complete teardown and youth movement while Jackson had built a long running contender and two time champion on the foundation of veterans and experience.
Jackson seen visibly upset with Seer after a disagreement during a recent practice
Following an unsightly brawl at a season ticket holder brunch in May, news began to leak that Jackson was pursuing new opportunities in Indiana and possibly on the West Coast. With Jackson ready to cut ties any day now, General Manager Dave Seer wasn't going to let a lingering goodbye muddle an important off season for the club.
Speaking to the media via conference call tonight, the front office of the Bulls was short and terse. "Honestly, it's done and already forgotten. We have a draft, free agency and training camps to prepare for in what is a key offseason for us. Anything or anyone that was going to be a distraction is gone and we can move forward." - Seer.
To add some extra insult to what appears to be a rocky separation, reports have already surfaced that Jackson wasn't even informed of the decision by Seer, but rather had to learn of his dismissal via 'Goodbye' tweets from other Bulls staff tonight.
All attempts to reach Jackson tonight for comment were unsuccessful, however a solemn and dazed-looking Jackson was seen with his head in his hands outside of the team's practice facility this evening. Surely parting ways with the only ABCA franchise Jackson has ever known is bound to be painful, no matter how contentious the relationships were on the way out.
Jackson seen outside the Bulls facility earlier tonight
With his championship resume and respected professionalism, Jackson will have no shortage of suitors. Whether he moves to another consulting role, or possibly returns to the General Manager position at a new club, we'll be seeing plenty of Phil in the near future.
As for the Bulls, dismissing a local and national ABCA icon in this manner won't be looked upon favorably. General Manager Seer will have to put together some semblance of a winning team to even begin calming the waves he made today with fans, peers and players.
