What a great move by Rocky to bring McDonough in... yet another fantastic move by the Blackhawks. Reported on the Mike North Morning Show.

 

EDIT: Can a mod please correct the typo on the spelling of Blackhawks?

Edited November 20, 200718 yr by AssHatSoxFan

I heard this on WGN this morning. What a HUGE move for the Hawks. They just keep moving in the right direction. First local games on TV, now this.

Rocky Wirtz is becoming the George Steinbrenner of hockey, which could be good.

 

 

Congats to McDonough, who's easily the nicest guy I've met involved with professional sports. It's funny that he grew up a Sox fan, and then worked for the Cubs for almost 25 years.

Press conference at noon today. I will watch. McDonough knows how to hire good people but this ain't the baseball business. What does he know about hockey? I guess we'll find out.

 

He has all the right Chicago connections and can help raise the franchises profile but the obvious question is, what's the level of his interaction with the hockey people? Will he be telling Dale Tallon/Rick Dudley/Stan Bowman what to do ... interesting ... we'll see how it shakes out.

The Old Man must be rolling over in his grave with how Rocky has turned the Organ-I-zation upside down.

I like this move....congrats to the Hawks. Man Rocky isn't messing around here. He is turning this thing around in a heartbeat!!

This is a great move twofold, first it's obviously a GREAT get for the Hawks, and second it gets one of the few people who "get it" out of the Cubs organization. Rocky Wirtz continues to impress and excite me for the future of hockey in our beloved city. Also, this is a sign IMO that Jim Hendry will be gone soon from the Cubs, and that's a shame.

Press conference at noon today. I will watch. McDonough knows how to hire good people but this ain't the baseball business. What does he know about hockey? I guess we'll find out.

 

He has all the right Chicago connections and can help raise the franchises profile but the obvious question is, what's the level of his interaction with the hockey people? Will he be telling Dale Tallon/Rick Dudley/Stan Bowman what to do ... interesting ... we'll see how it shakes out.

He doesn't really need to know hockey to be a good President. He will hire people he trusts to give him the correct information, and I'm sure will keep DT around, I doubt he'll have much input over the on-ice product other than trusting those he puts into place.

 

We're going to see a much bigger focus on marketing, and as you said he'll be most helpful in the Chicago aspect of the Chicago Blackhawks... Jim DeMaria and Tony Ommen can focus on the hockey aspect (and I'm sure those who he brings in)...

 

Where this franchise is today... such a stark contrast from two seasons ago.

The Old Man must be rolling over in his grave with how Rocky has turned the Organ-I-zation upside down.

hopefully for us fans it's right side up

He doesn't really need to know hockey to be a good President. He will hire people he trusts to give him the correct information, and I'm sure will keep DT around, I doubt he'll have much input over the on-ice product other than trusting those he puts into place.

 

We're going to see a much bigger focus on marketing, and as you said he'll be most helpful in the Chicago aspect of the Chicago Blackhawks... Jim DeMaria and Tony Ommen can focus on the hockey aspect (and I'm sure those who he brings in)...

 

Where this franchise is today... such a stark contrast from two seasons ago.

Are you kidding me? This is a stark contrast from two MONTHS ago. I wouldn't believe it, if I didn't see it with my own two eyes.

great signing, and yeah thirded that he doesn't need to know a lot about hockey, just about knowing how to market a team.

Everyone is speculating that McDonough's first move will be to get Foley back for the Blackhawks.

 

There are not enough words in the English language that would express how happy that would make me.

Press conference at noon today. I will watch. McDonough knows how to hire good people but this ain't the baseball business. What does he know about hockey? I guess we'll find out.

 

He has all the right Chicago connections and can help raise the franchises profile but the obvious question is, what's the level of his interaction with the hockey people? Will he be telling Dale Tallon/Rick Dudley/Stan Bowman what to do ... interesting ... we'll see how it shakes out.

 

 

He doesn't really need to know hockey to be a good President. He will hire people he trusts to give him the correct information, and I'm sure will keep DT around, I doubt he'll have much input over the on-ice product other than trusting those he puts into place.

 

We're going to see a much bigger focus on marketing, and as you said he'll be most helpful in the Chicago aspect of the Chicago Blackhawks... Jim DeMaria and Tony Ommen can focus on the hockey aspect (and I'm sure those who he brings in)...

 

Where this franchise is today... such a stark contrast from two seasons ago.

 

You nailed it here Steve, he doesn't need to know hockey. If you can market well then you can market whatever, from hockey to baseball to hot dogs. It doesn't really matter. It's the ideas that are key and the interaction with customers in all types of ways.

 

The Hawks are taking this town by storm, period.

Everyone is speculating that McDonough's first move will be to get Foley back for the Blackhawks.

 

There are not enough words in the English language that would express how happy that would make me.

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.

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.

Oh definitely, I'd rather they simulcast Wiedeman than let him go on the radio... he's a more descriptive Foley in himself... leave the radio broadcast alone, he and Murray are doing a fine job there.

 

Dan Kelly, he needs to go, and Pat needs to come back.

Dammit. I kinda like getting easy cheap tickets at the games. This is like pre 2005 whitesox stuff, where only the loyal fans are there before the marketing goes off the hook.

Dammit. I kinda like getting easy cheap tickets at the games. This is like pre 2005 whitesox stuff, where only the loyal fans are there before the marketing goes off the hook.

Actually, I would think that you'll see ticket prices for the 300 level drop across the board. Speculation has it that the $45 300-level ticket will be abolished and you'll see the highest price seat in that level down to about $30-35.

 

I will have no problem having to "fight" for a ticket as long as its a good product on the ice!

Everyone is speculating that McDonough's first move will be to get Foley back for the Blackhawks.

 

There are not enough words in the English language that would express how happy that would make me.

 

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

He doesn't really need to know hockey to be a good President. He will hire people he trusts to give him the correct information, and I'm sure will keep DT around, I doubt he'll have much input over the on-ice product other than trusting those he puts into place.

 

I would agree he doesn't need to be a hockey expert and I would agree there are tremendous similarities marketing a sports team, no matter what sport it is. Rocky seems to want them all to work hand in hand anyways, plus John is a bright guy so I'm sure he'll pick up hockey knowledge as he goes along, if he doesn't know something about the sport already. It didn't seem like he did in the press conference. As long as he trusts the hockey people everything should be just fine.

I would agree he doesn't need to be a hockey expert and I would agree there are tremendous similarities marketing a sports team, no matter what sport it is. Rocky seems to want them all to work hand in hand anyways, plus John is a bright guy so I'm sure he'll pick up hockey knowledge as he goes along, if he doesn't know something about the sport already. It didn't seem like he did in the press conference. As long as he trusts the hockey people everything should be just fine.

 

And you don't have to be an industry guy to surround and trust guys who know the sport.

Dan Kelly, he needs to go, and Pat needs to come back.

 

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.

If anyone would have insight on Foley, it would be Rozner, who sometimes can't be trusted because of his friendships and vendettas. Rozner was right on about McDonough though, he floated the idea six weeks ago.

 

Rozner is very tight with Billy Gardner and also knows Foley quite well but I do not know if the two are friends or if they are just fellow media guys.

 

I do know McDonough is tight with Don Levin, owner of the Wolves, and he also has had contact with Foley the last few years.

If anyone would have insight on Foley, it would be Rozner, who sometimes can't be trusted because of his friendships and vendettas. Rozner was right on about McDonough though, he floated the idea six weeks ago.

 

Rozner is very tight with Billy Gardner and also knows Foley quite well but I do not know if the two are friends or if they are just fellow media guys.

 

I do know McDonough is tight with Don Levin, owner of the Wolves, and he also has had contact with Foley the last few years.

 

Yeah, Barry has been spot on with his Hawk 'scoops the last few months. He's floated Foley' name out there a few times in the past month or so.

With the switch from the Cubs to the Blackhawks...i think he just increased his odds of winning a championship from 1,000,000 to 1 to around 999,999 to 1.