Tuesday night, however, marked a first for Kohl. It was the first time he was booed by the announced crowd of 13,379 that watched the Bucks blow a nine-point lead to lose to the woeful Miami Heat.
The loss -- and the catcalls -- came just days after the Bucks were blown out by the Celtics and Kohl was approached by a group of fans wearing paper bags. The owner, who officially severed ties with general manager Larry Harris earlier Wednesday, addressed the media at the Bradley Center and said it was time for a change in the organization.
"My head told me the needs of our organization at this time were such that I believed we needed to have an outside person with a fresh approach to take a look at our basketball organization, to see how we can get better and get back to the playoffs," Kohl said.
Many have suggested that Harris' hands were tied, especially when it came to coaching choices and other personnel moves. Kohl has at times been accused of playing too great a role in hirings, firings and signings.
Though he admitted to nixing a proposed trade that would have shipped Bobby Simmons, Dan Gadzuric and Charlie Bell to New York in exchange for Zach Randolph and Fred Jones, Kohl denied rumors that he is a meddling owner.
"There has been a minimum of second-guessing, if any," Kohl said. "The only time I stepped in to differ with him to some degree was on this recent rumor of a trade for Zach Randolph. I personally thought that was not the right thing for us to do."
The three players that the Bucks would have given up in the deal represent some of Harris' bigger failures as general manager. All occurred during the tumultuous summer of 2005, which began with Harris putting his arm around head coach Terry Porter and telling the media that the two would "sink or swim together."
Just a few weeks later, Harris fired Porter. The Bucks, winners of the draft lottery that season, selected Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft and introduced Terry Stotts as head coach a week later.
Harris started working over the roster during a 10-day span in August. He began by signing Simmons, the league's Most Improved Player in 2004-'05, to a five-year, $47 million deal on August 8. Four days later, Harris re-signed Gadzuric to a six-year contract worth $36 million. The next day, Michael Redd was signed to a maximum contract worth more than $90 million. All the signings raised eyebrows, as did the trade on the eve of the season which sent popular sixth man Desmond Mason to the New Orleans Hornets for Jamaal Magloire.
Kohl showed his support at the time by picking up an option on Harris' contract, keeping him on the job through the 2006-'07 season. The team would make the playoffs in 2005-'06, but lost a 4-1 series to the Detroit Pistons and haven't been back since.
Kohl denied standing in the way of Harris' efforts to improve the team.
"He's had the freedom to do what he's wanted or needed to do," Kohl said. "It doesn't mean that any general manager anywhere has total freedom to do anything they want to do."
Kohl said that the losses and the years of losing have taken a toll on him, but that shouldn't be confused with giving up on trying to win. He said that winning remains a priority for the Bucks organization.
"It is very painful," Kohl said. "I'm in this thing as a fan. And I'm in this business to satisfy our customers. I'm not in this business to make any annual profits I'm in it because I love the sport. I love the competition and I love winning. I think that's what our fans want.
"When we lose a game like we lost last night, it hurts more than I can describe and when we go through a season like the one last season and the now this season -- it's not yet over -- it hurts... deeply."
The search is underway for Harris' successor and Kohl said he is open to hiring a combination president / general manager. In the past, former head coach and broadcaster Doug Collins was considered to be high on Kohl's wish list, but the Senator wouldn't elaborate on the process.
"Doug Collins is a man of great knowledge and wisdom in this business," Kohl said. "I'd rather not say anything about anybody except that it's wide open for the best person we can find at the earliest possible date we can find that person."
In the meantime, the team's director of player personnel, Dave Babcock, will handle the day-to-day duties as interim general manager. Despite having what Kohl considers adequate knowledge and ability for the job, he will not be a candidate for the position.
"He's very experienced and knowledgeable," Kohl said of Babcock. "I think we need an outside person that will take a fresh look; that's my inclination right now."
Kohl also avoided questions about the future of head coach Larry Krystkowiak, who has led the Bucks to a 23-44 record in his first full season as an NBA head coach.
Harris had joined the organization in 1988 as a scout and video consultant hired by his father and then-head coach, Del Harris. He was promoted to director of scouting in 1996, director of player personnel in 1998 and assistant general manager in 2001. Harris spent two days as interim GM following Ernie Grunfeld's departure in 2003 before being named to the position full-time on July 1.
When Krystkowiak took the position permanently last summer, Harris' contract was not extended. His deal was set to expire on June 30, but both Harris and Kohl agreed to end the deal early to allow Harris to pursue other opportunities.
The Bucks compiled a 162-233 record in Harris' four-plus seasons as general manager and a 2-8 record in playoff games.
"It was for me a very difficult decision," Kohl said. "Larry Harris has been a very good and highly valued member of the Milwaukee Bucks for 20 years. My heart and my head were at a different place."
