K.C. Johnson of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that the Chicago Bulls are ready to name Vinny Del Negro as their new head coach.

(Hope George Karl [background] has taught Vinny well)

After Mike D’Antoni declined and Doug Collins called it off, the Bulls have offered the job to the 41-year-old Del Negro, who’s currently the Suns’ assistant GM. But sources say Vinny is ready to vault from the Valley of the Sun to the Windy City, with an official news conference expected later this week.

Although he’s never coached before, Del Negro does come to Chicago with a pretty good basketball pedigree.

He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts - the birthplace of basketball. His father had played under the legendary Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. Vinny himself played college ball at North Carolina State under the legendary Jim Valvano.

Oh, and he spent 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.1 points and 3.2 rebounds. So he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

The most intriguing part of Del Negro’s proposed hiring is to see what kind of insensitive apparel Chicago fans can come up with, a la those “Horry Kow” t-shirts. How about a red shirt featuring Vinny’s smiling face, his hair done up in an afro, surrounded by the words “He’s My Negro!“?

Whoever makes these, shame on you. And we want our 25% cut.