John McDonough in as Blackhawks President

[whitesoxfan101]

I'd be fine with Pat on TV, but I've really come to enjoy John Wiedeman on the radio. I don't want him to go anywhere.

 

Agreed, he's as good as I've ever heard on radio in any sport at describing the game to be honest. And hockey is by far the hardest sport to do on radio, but he's amazing.

[Steve9347]

Where is this being speculated? Hopefully not on the Blackhawk message boards ... still?

Mac and Jurko interviewed McDonough yesterday and it was the first question they asked and he stated that they were opening all doors trying to make the Blackhawks the Blackhawks again.

 

Then it was brought up on Boers and Bernstein, Comcast SportsNite, etc etc... it's just sooo McDonough + Harry Carray. It will happen.

[Steve9347]

If his problem were just with Mr. Wirtz then maybe he can return, or if it were just with Peter and Mr. Wirtz, it is possible.

 

My understanding, though, was some sweeping statements about the Wirtz family were made by Foley so there may be some bad blood. I wonder if he was there at the funeral. His attendance or non attendance would speak volumes. Also for what it's worth, his relationship with Tallon is said to be strained. Not sure what say Tallon would have in any reconciliation but it's worth noting.

 

One thing the fans are finding out though, if Rocky Wirtz thinks something is appropriate to get done, it gets done. I suspect any discussion of Foley would fall under that umbrella. For the record, the Blackhawk web guy says publically that Foley isn't coming back and has said that for a while now. Of course, he now has a new boss in McDonough.

I will speculate that this type of bulls*** will be gone. Whereas in the past players like Roenick, Amonte, Sullivan (all disliked by management) and guys like Foley won't be ostracized from the franchise because of petty dislikes for outspoken players/personnel. Just a hunch, but I think that petty s*** died with Mr. Wirtz and with the banishment of Pully.

[Steve9347]

Great article by Rozner today...

 

Changes just beginning for Hawks

By Barry Rozner | Daily Herald Columnist

Published: 11/21/2007 12:19 AM

 

The first meeting with Rocky Wirtz took place only 11 days ago, but the first ideas were in John McDonough's head at least 11 years ago.

 

It didn't mean he was cheating on his spouse -- the Cubs -- but he was looking at the very attractive sweater walking by and lusting in his heart for a chance to make a play.

 

McDonough often called the Blackhawks "the sleeping giant'' long before his one-hour meeting with Wirtz turned into five at Champps in Schaumburg on Nov. 10.

 

(That meeting, by the way, is the reason why the Cubs delayed sending out their letter to season-ticket holders announcing big price increases. Usually, the team president signs it.)

 

In any case, for years McDonough salivated at the thought of turning an epic disaster into an Academy Award winner.

 

With that in mind, here is just a small portion of what's coming in the very near future as the new president moves the Hawks off the obit page and into the limelight:

 

• A conversation about how fast they can bring back Pat Foley, whom McDonough adores and knows well.

 

Overall, the current broadcast so lacks honesty, credibility and personality that it's uncomfortable to watch.

 

• A conversation about how fast they can bring back Wayne Messmer. Remember when you ran through traffic, risking your life, just to get in the old building by 7:35? Been a long time since anyone risked anything to get to a Hawks game.

 

• McDonough loves Channel 9. It makes him think of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Lloyd Pettit, not to mention Ernie Banks and Jack Brickhouse. He understands the value of all TV, and especially free TV, be it any of the locals.

 

• We hear four or five more home games on TV, beyond what has been announced, will soon be added to the schedule for March and April. Think Detroit, Anaheim and San Jose, among others.

 

• Innovative ways to market the game to kids.

 

The brightest idea to come from the Hawks in recent years was the effort to change the names of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

 

Why? Was this supposed to make them sound older? Cooler?

 

Suddenly calling them "Johnny Toews'' and "Pat Kane'' a few games into the broadcast season sounded contrived at best and bizarre at worst.

 

McDonough's got a few better ideas than that, and before you know it he will have every kid under the age of 13 wearing the crest around town.

 

• Start times will change next year.

 

Too late to do anything about this season, but next year look for 7 p.m. weekday games and many more early afternoon starts on the weekends. You can't take a youngster to a weekday home game and get them home at midnight.

 

• In every aspect of reorganizing the organization, think kids, kids and more kids. They'll be stealing ideas like crazy from the Wolves, and that's OK, because no one does it better than the Wolves and there's plenty of room for both teams in this town.

 

They'll also be trying anything and everything, so sign up for your chance to win a Zamboni ride now.

 

• Ticket prices have to be made affordable, especially until the product improves and demand goes up.

 

Last year, the Hawks couldn't give away tickets -- literally. They tried. Couldn't give them away. No joke. Really.

 

• Webkinz for everyone. Imagine a red, white and black Hawk. The man who brought Beanie Babies to baseball will think big and outside the owner's box.

 

• Win or go home.

 

The reason Rocky Wirtz made it clear Tuesday that Dale Tallon is in charge of hockey operations and separate from everyone else is to make it clear that this is Tallon's ballgame.

 

If he doesn't win, he and everyone under him will have plenty of time to go play golf.

 

McDonough also paid lip service to those running the hockey side Tuesday. It's a smart move.

 

Like when Tony Soprano told Ralphie that he's a captain now and captains are responsible for their own decisions, the days of blaming others are over. It's crystal clear who's making the hockey decisions.

 

If they do well, good for them. They'll have jobs. If they don't win, they'll have time to work on their short game.

 

• Rocky already has improved the Hawks' relationships with corporate sponsors, but look for McDonough to reach out to all his friends in the corporate world, and don't be shocked if he brings in his right-hand man from the last 15 years, Jay Blunk, who runs the Cubs' marketing department.

 

Hawks jerseys will begin to show up in stores that haven't carried them since Len Frig was a child.

 

• Tallon still doesn't grasp that a European flavor doesn't fly in a blue-collar town that wants to see physical players run opposing teams out of its own building.

 

The kids are great, and he deserves credit for drafting them, but what is the Hawks' identity? You can't answer that because the Hawks don't have one.

 

Last season, Tallon traded a fan favorite in Karl Stewart, a fourth-line grinder who hit everything in sight, for a Rick Dudley Russian named Nikita Alexeev, who had zero PIM in 15 games and was gone shortly thereafter.

 

A minor deal, but a major point.

 

Any time the Hawks have been great in the last 40 years, they've had great goaltending, huge stars and guys who would punish anyone who got near their stars.

 

Right now, with apologies to the kids, who have only been here two months, the Hawks can't say they have any of that. If they get the proper coaching and veteran influence, at least the kids have a chance to fill the star void.

 

• Rocky has made sure the kids' faces are everywhere, but they still could walk down Michigan Avenue and not a single person would know them.

 

McDonough will change that, and fast. Hockey players are the nicest and most approachable of all pro athletes, and McDonough will make sure people discover that as well.

 

• Yes, the fan convention is on its way.

 

Coming soon to a hotel near you, all the players who wouldn't go near Bill Wirtz or Bob Pulford.

 

Soon, in one place you'll get to see Stan Mikita, Doug Wilson, Al Secord, Kenny Wharram, Steve Larmer, Bobby Hull, Dennis Hull, Chico Maki, Tony Esposito, Phil Esposito, Tom Lysiak, Denis Savard, Jerry Korab, Pit Martin and, yes, Ivan Boldirev, one more time.

 

• Repair relationships.

 

All the people who've been spit on by the Hawks the last 25 years should get an apology, like Foley, Messmer, Bill Gardner, Chris Chelios, Bobby Hull, Trent Yawney, Ed Belfour, Eddie Johnston, Bob Murray and Jeremy Roenick, to name just a few of dozens and dozens.

 

The days of the Hawks being known as unprofessional, irresponsible and incompetent don't end just because someone says so.

 

Mistakes have been made, and they need to be fixed.

 

And finally …

 

First, Rocky Wirtz brought respectability, then he eliminated difficulty, and now he has hired credibility in John McDonough.

 

As McDonough said to all Hawks fans, "It's time to come back.''

 

He's right.

[SoxFanForever]

Nice article. Foley must be coming back because Rozner isn't ripping on Rocky right now.

[29andPoplar]

Very good article by Barry Rozner and I hope some of the changes he suggests might happen do indeed come to fruition.

 

Isn't it quite clear who's on Barry's bad side though?

 

Let's see ... Dale Tallon for one. He takes a shot at Tallon's passion for golf. Well, ok. Gee Barry, no potshots at Billy Gardner about his passion for golf? Oh, that's right ... Billy is your buddy and one of your sources. Tallon has called you out, more than once, for some of the slant you put on things when you print stuff.

 

Hey Barry, just wondering ... how many Stanley Cups did those big bad Blackhawk teams win, you know, those teams you're so fond of and identify with "Blackhawk hockey"? None? I wonder if anyone remembers why they didn't win in 1985 (outskilled by Edmonton). Why didn't they win in 1991 (too much time in the penalty box vs. Minnesota). Why they didn't win in 1992 (outskilled by Pittsburgh, in large part by "Euro trash" Jaromir Jagr). The good old days weren't always so good, Barry. Some of us were there, and remember. If you want to talk about 1971 and 1973, we can do that too. The reason there's a buzz about the on ice product isn't because they have Stu Grimson Jr. It's because they have Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews.

 

Regardless of that little rant, because I've talked to Rozner about what I perceive is his obvious bias on a few topics (needless to say those conversations didn't go very well, from his side at least), he makes some excellent points. Some of which are:

 

- alienation of many alumni guys needs to end. It doesn't stop and start with Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito. It extends deeper and there is no question the Blackhawks front office dumped all over a few very good hockey men ... guys Rozner identifies, like Eddie Johnston, Bob Murdoch, Doug Wilson, Bob Murray, and more.

 

- summer fan convention is a great idea. They should also get a NHL Draft here, pronto.

 

- I've already mailed a letter to McDonough, suggesting he organize bus trips from certain high profile suburbs to home games, and to road games. Contract with a transportation firm and make it a party bus. Get the Blackhawk buzz going out in the suburbs and make it easy for people to attend a game.

 

- work closely with some of the great establishments near the United Center. Partner with them and make it a win-win. There are some terrific places on W. Madison that no one would've dreamed of as recently as 10 years ago.

 

As for the Foley thing, popular opinion wants him back so I would imagine chances are good. I will withhold my personal opinion but I hope Barry Rozner has as much concern for the current broadcasters if/when they get launched, just like he did with his buddy Billy Gardner. I wonder if Rozner ever tells the story of how the Blackhawk front office (Pulford) re-signed Gardner off the European league scrap heap to help Gardner get his age 55 NHL pension (lump sum $250K for playing in 400 NHL games). And when that didn't work out, how they helped him land on his feet in broadcasting. I don't see Rozner ever mention that stuff.

[The Critic]

- I've already mailed a letter to McDonough, suggesting he organize bus trips from certain high profile suburbs to home games, and to road games. Contract with a transportation firm and make it a party bus. Get the Blackhawk buzz going out in the suburbs and make it easy for people to attend a game

 

That is a GREAT idea!

Have a chartered bus caravan to St. Louis or Detroit for a Saturday game with an option of a hotel stay or a bus right back home after - how fun would THAT be???

[bmags]

I can't believe what has happened with the hawks. I'm so excited. I knew every player on that 94 team and loved them. I'm back, when i get home for winter break I'm gonna try and make as many games as I can. Bravo Rocky.

[Texsox]

Great article by Rozner today...

 

OMG Please make it true and I'll throw away my Stars stuff.

 

Mezmer back, Foley back, Free TV, it's almost too much, I have to sit down.

[CWSGuy406]

I saw bits of that article from Rozner, what a tool. Seriously -- he spent more than a couple sentences ripping Tallon for trading Karl f***ing Stewart? If you just said "who?", you're probably not the only one -- it took me a minute to remember that Stewart was that fourth line midget that skated hard and hit people last season.

 

Talk about grinding an axe. How the hell do some of these columnists keep their jobs?

[Texsox]

I saw bits of that article from Rozner, what a tool. Seriously -- he spent more than a couple sentences ripping Tallon for trading Karl f***ing Stewart? If you just said "who?", you're probably not the only one -- it took me a minute to remember that Stewart was that fourth line midget that skated hard and hit people last season.

 

Talk about grinding an axe. How the hell do some of these columnists keep their jobs?

 

it looks line one sentence? I don't know Rozner, does he have a history with Tallon? Overall I thought it was a very positive article.

[CWSGuy406]

it looks line one sentence? I don't know Rozner, does he have a history with Tallon? Overall I thought it was a very positive article.

 

Yes -- 29th has documented it at length several times over the past couple months.

 

And yeah, it generally was a positive article, but for me it's ruined because he just had to get his shots in.

[The Critic]

I saw bits of that article from Rozner, what a tool. Seriously -- he spent more than a couple sentences ripping Tallon for trading Karl f***ing Stewart? If you just said "who?", you're probably not the only one -- it took me a minute to remember that Stewart was that fourth line midget that skated hard and hit people last season.

 

Talk about grinding an axe. How the hell do some of these columnists keep their jobs?

While I really did enjoy watching Stewart play, that is a weird thing to obsess about.

[29andPoplar]

While I really did enjoy watching Stewart play, that is a weird thing to obsess about.

 

I agree. All that matters to Rozner though is that it made Rozner's point. Dale Tallon is definitely not a "let's get all the Euros" guy. Rozner knows that too. Tallon recognizes the value of team toughness and an enforcers role, otherwise we wouldn't see David Koci on the roster nor probably Marty Lapointe at this point in his career or even an Adam Burish. Burish has no goals, no assists, but is a team-first, team tough kind of guy.

 

Not to mention the guy they got, Alexeev, could have been under contractual control had he shown anything. He was a 1st round draft choice and a huge guy. It was a gamble, they hoped he would blossom being reunited with Rick Dudley. Stewart was a guy I liked but he was due to be a free agent after last season (as I recall) so basically the Blackhawks took a flyer on a guy with untapped skill. It didn't work but it was basically nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

Mentioning that transaction makes Rozner look like what he is ... a columnist who's generally very good and very astute, but who has a personal axe to grind and can't hide it.

 

Barry Rozner and Billy Gardner are good friends, Rozner didn't like how Tallon moved back to the broadcast booth, thereby forcing Gardner out (due to Mike Smith playing checkers with front office personnel, not to mention Smith's maddening inability to get along with most human beings).

 

Rozner felt Tallon was somewhat insensitive in not reaching out to Gardner or something. Gardner was whining to Rozner about losing his job (understandable I suppose) but the other part of the story is Mike Smith did not like all the things Billy Gardner was saying behind Smith's back ... some of which were warranted ... some of which Gardner should've kept his yap shut (which Gardner has historically had a hard time doing, going back to the early 80's). Mike Smith and Tallon got along ok at best and Smith wanted his own guy as right hand man (Nick Beverly from Toronto). Pulford ok'd it as long as Tallon had another job in the organization. Smith orchestrated Tallon's return to the booth and as a bonus it let him say bye bye to Gardner. I spoke to Mike Smith about this, he was very forthcoming and basically he said he didn't want Gardner around because of unprofessionalism/conduct detrimental to the organization. He told me and I quote "Billy knows the main reason why he was let go and that had nothing to do with Dale". Basically Smith didn't want organizational employees backstabbing him ... although Smith had a reputation for being more than a wee bit paranoid. And Rozner absolutely despised Mike Smith and ripped Smith every chance he got. Think Mariotti/Guillen or Mariotti/Hawk Harrelson.

 

When Smith got let go, Bill Wirtz paid him big time hush money and you haven't heard a word from Mike Smith since ... except when Wirtz tried to recoup some of the money claiming Smith had made some "unauthorized trades" while he was GM ... LOL. Smith filed a grievance, had a lawsuit ready to go, Bettman ruled in Smith's favor, and Smith got his golden parachute.

 

Therefore, Rozner has no affection for Dale Tallon although he used to be in Tallon's corner, trumpeting him for the GM job and pleading with the Hawks to launch Mike Smith. Rozner used to be in Bob Pulford's corner too, but whenever one of Barry's friends loses his job, Barry makes a new enemy and uses his column to take shots. Tallon historically hasn't put up with a whole lot of Rozner's crap and that made things worse.

 

I am told when Rocky Wirtz personally visited the Daily Herald offices last month, some of this was discussed and it was agreed everything should be water under the bridge. Rocky wants to be friends with the media (good strategy). Rozner likely agreed to tune it down a notch, especially now that McDonough is in charge (they are friends too). But Rozner still managed to get in his backhanded shot at Tallon. No surprise to me.