October 11, 200718 yr Rocky is shaking things up..... Longtime Chicago Blackhawks executive Bob Pulford has been reassigned in the first major shake-up under new team Chairman Rocky Wirtz. Pulford, who has been with the National Hockey League franchise since 1977, leaves his senior vice president role with the Hawks to become vice president of the Wirtz Corporation, which encompasses the various businesses run by the Wirtz family. The move was announced in a memo to Blackhawks and Wirtz Corp. employees by Rocky Wirtz, who took over both the team and the company last week following the death of his father Bill Wirtz. "In his new role, Bob will serve as our liaison on league affiars,'' Wirtz said in the memo. "He will continue his role as an Alternate Governor to the National Hockey League.'' Pulford, who was close to Bill Wirtz for several years having served both in coaching and executive positions, will move from the Blackhawks offices at the United Center to the Wirtz Corp. headquarters at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive. It is unclear whether his position with the Blackhawks will be filled. Rocky Wirtz, who had been running the lucrative liquor distribution side of the family's $1.3 billion business empire, assumed the top post with the Blackhawks last week following a short transition in the wake of Bill Wirtz's death in late September. Rocky Wirtz's brother Peter Wirtz, a Blackhawks vice president who many assumed would take over the hockey team, resigned last week to concentrate on running the family owned food service business. Rocky Wirtz told the Tribune last week that he would look at the whole organization. "I'll look at everything. I'll treat this like any new acquisition. We're cleaning the slate." "From a personal standpoint, my father considered Bob and Roslyn and their children to be family,'' Rocky Wirtz wrote in Thursday's memo. "Few people were closer, loyal or more unwavering in support to my father and for that, our entire family is grateful.''
October 12, 200718 yr Author Dare I say it..... will home games be shown on television soon? The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling! :wacko:
October 12, 200718 yr As a Hawks fan, besides the Havlat injury, could things have honestly gone much better in the past month? Rocky's 1st move is certainly a pass in my book.
October 12, 200718 yr Bob Pulford was a huge POS. Ridding ourselves of him is key... rumor has it that Rocky wants some home games on television this year (someone who understands hockey + HD = climax) and next year we should see a full slate.
October 12, 200718 yr I am hearing there's some gallows humor going on at 1901 W. Madison, sort of a "who's next" dead pool. Frontrunners: DeMaria, scout Rob Pulford, and sales guy Jim Sofranko moving over to Peter Wirtz's Bismarck empire from wence he came. By the way Barry Rozner is on a high right now. Just wait until Rocky Wirtz makes a move he doesn't like. Translated: one of Rozner's buddies gets moved out. Then his columns will take a different turn. Hopefully R. Wirtz makes the right choices, the one he made yesterday was a huge positive. As for some or all of the home games on TV, it's just a matter of time now.
October 12, 200718 yr QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 12, 2007 -> 01:49 PM) By the way Barry Rozner is on a high right now. Just wait until Rocky Wirtz makes a move he doesn't like. Translated: one of Rozner's buddies gets moved out. Then his columns will take a different turn. Hopefully R. Wirtz makes the right choices, the one he made yesterday was a huge positive. As for some or all of the home games on TV, it's just a matter of time now. Rozner ain't already on a high? We already talked about this, but I doubt Rozner could point Toews and Kane out of a lineup yet he RIPS Tallon's every move. It's quite ridiculous that this town only has one quality hockey writer (Sassone), although the new guy at the Tribune (?) is looking pretty decent. As for your second comment -- I hope you're right, and it would be fantastic to get some second-half home games on television. Even without Havlat, this team has played three of the West's best very close, losing two one-goal games and winning one in OT. This group is fun to watch -- they stick up for each other, Koci beats ass and guys like Kane and Toews take your breath away when they have the puck. The people of Chicago need to see this team, even if it's in that "oh, hey, the Hawks are on TV!" way.
October 12, 200718 yr QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 12, 2007 -> 08:49 AM) I am hearing there's some gallows humor going on at 1901 W. Madison, sort of a "who's next" dead pool. Frontrunners: DeMaria, scout Rob Pulford, and sales guy Jim Sofranko moving over to Peter Wirtz's Bismarck empire from wence he came. By the way Barry Rozner is on a high right now. Just wait until Rocky Wirtz makes a move he doesn't like. Translated: one of Rozner's buddies gets moved out. Then his columns will take a different turn. Hopefully R. Wirtz makes the right choices, the one he made yesterday was a huge positive. As for some or all of the home games on TV, it's just a matter of time now. What is this feeling I feel? Is it called optimism? Wow.
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