Cubs Fall 2-1 to Giants in 10 Innings After Kevin Alcantara's Baserunning Blunder

Q: After a fatal fall claimed a Bulls icon, how will the team replace the voice that defined a generation of Chicago basketball?

The Bulls have not announced how they will replace Stacey King, and there is no public timeline or named successor for the television analyst role he held for nearly two decades. What is clear is the scale of the loss. King, who died Sunday at 59 after what ESPN Chicago’s David Kaplan reported was a fall at his home, had been the Bulls’ full-time color commentator since 2008 and a broadcaster for more than 20 years. Team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called him an “unmistakable voice,” while team president Michael Reinsdorf said his impact and legacy would remain part of the franchise forever. That makes any replacement decision especially difficult. King was not just an analyst; he was a former No. 6 overall pick, a three-time NBA champion with Chicago, and an Emmy-winning broadcaster whose catchphrases and humor became part of the team’s identity. Jason Benetti, who worked with him on Bulls telecasts, described him as welcoming, genuine and deeply committed to fans and the craft. For now, the organization’s focus appears to be on mourning and honoring King rather than filling the seat immediately. The Bulls have said they plan to honor him throughout the 2026-27 season, but the available reporting does not indicate whether Chicago Sports Network will promote from within, use rotating guest analysts, or conduct a broader search. In practical terms, the Bulls can replace the role, but not the voice that defined a generation.

Q: He was championship royalty who became a beloved voice. Which part of Stacey King's iconic legacy will be hardest to preserve?

The hardest part of Stacey King’s legacy to preserve is the live, human quality of his broadcasting presence — the voice, timing, humor and warmth that made Bulls games feel personal. His playing legacy is secure in the record books: a three-time NBA champion, a key member of the Bulls’ first three-peat, a former No. 6 overall pick, and an Oklahoma great whose jersey was retired. Those achievements are documented and easily passed on through statistics, video and team history. What is far less durable is what Jason Benetti and others described after King’s death: his instinctive generosity, his ability to make a one-game partner feel like a true teammate, and his habit of staying long after games to sign autographs for fans. Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf pointed to King’s “unmistakable voice,” while Michael Reinsdorf emphasized his gift for bringing people together. That combination of candor, joy and connection is difficult to archive in full. Recordings will preserve the famous calls, catchphrases and highlights. But they cannot fully recreate the experience of hearing King in real time — the spontaneous laugh, the playful singing, the emotional lift he gave a broadcast, or the way he made even ordinary moments feel shared with Chicago. That is the part of his legacy most likely to live strongest in memory rather than in any permanent record.

3 articles · Updated · Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 7

A 2-1, 10-inning loss to San Francisco turned on the eighth, when Cubs pinch runner Kevin Alcantara was doubled off third after breaking for home too early on Alex Bregman’s liner.
Alcantara had put Chicago in position by taking third on Erik Miller’s errant throw to first after Michael Busch’s dribbler, but Rafael Devers caught the liner and completed the easy double play.
Ian Happ then struck out to end the inning, wiping out one of the Cubs’ best late chances in a game they ultimately lost in extras.
The mistake underscored how a single rookie baserunning error can erase a scoring opportunity in a tight one-run game.