Courtesy Chicago Tribune

(February 11, 2009) Johnny "Red" Kerr's 35 years of broadcasting is paying off Tuesday. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Johnny Kerr as the 2009 recipient of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award, originated in 1973, is the Hall's most prestigious honor outside of enshrinement. Many longtime basketball experts have bemoaned Kerr's exclusion from the Hall.

Aside from a video salute from President Barack Obama and in-person tributes from Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, perhaps the biggest surprise of Tuesday night's Johnny "Red" Kerr ceremony at the United Center was the presentation of a sculpture of his likeness.

The life size bust will be located in the concourse near Gate 2.

"There are few people who have committed their lifetime to the game as Johnny has done," said John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame president and CEO. "He has touched every facet of basketball and has done so with an unmatched passion, dedication, professionalism and respect for the game he loves."

Previous recipients include John Wooden, Ray Meyer and Red Auerbach.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said he hopes to handle halftime adjustments quickly so that players can witness Tuesday's halftime ceremony honoring Kerr.

"He's an icon," Del Negro said. "He always makes you laugh. He's got that old-school, tough mentality. There hasn't been one bad thing said about the guy from anybody. That's the respect he gets."

Added guard Kirk Hinrich: "He always really enjoyed being around the team. Everybody appreciates what he did for the organization."