Wirtz’s sons face challenge
ROCKFORD — It was nice to read about some of the positive things Bill Wirtz did in his life (Tribune, Sept. 27). No one should question his contributions to various charities or his love for the Blackhawks. But there are reasons his beloved hockey team has gone from the hottest ticket in town to a ticket that couldn’t be given away. Those reasons have to do with bad business decisions.
I used to drive into Chicago with several of my friends to see at least five or six games per season. I haven’t gone to a game in more than 10 years and I haven’t worn my Blackhawks jersey for almost as long. I can’t even remember the last time I watched them on TV.
I will not cheer the passing of Bill Wirtz. His family deserves our condolences. But I hope that his sons, Peter and Rocky, understand that the biggest challenge they will face is learning how to sell their product to a city that has all but forgotten they had anything to sell them in the first place.
Steve Mastricola
Wirtz milked the fans …
AURORA — By all accounts, Mr. Bill Wirtz was generous to good causes and fiercely loyal to longtime employees and those he considered friends. That same generosity and loyalty, however, didn’t apply to the paying customers at the Chicago Stadium and United Center.
Though the Stadium was filled for nearly every game throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, fans endured yearly ticket-price increases, supposedly to cover rising player salaries. Wirtz then claimed the UC and its 200-plus luxury suites were necessary to remain competitive in the NHL’s new salary structure, yet the likes of Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour were jettisoned because they wanted too much money. Then, as if to milk every last cent out of those who actually attended games, Wirtz banned street vendors from plying their trade anywhere near the arena gates.
Perhaps if he’d shown even the slightest bit of goodwill toward the fans, Wirtz’s passing wouldn’t be so widely celebrated. Here’s hoping Peter Wirtz has learned from his father’s mistakes and makes hockey relevant in Chicago once again.
Brian Gandy
… and also ignored them
OAK LAWN — No Blackhawks fan I ever met wished Bill Wirtz dead. They just wanted him to occasionally listen to his fan base. The supposedly great businessman completely ignored the wishes of his customers.
The chief problem with Wirtz was that he was living in the ’50s — the 1850s.The fans wanted home games on that new-fangled invention, television? How about a perpetual blackout instead? The fans wanted Jeremy Roenick re-signed? Say hello to the lazy Russian, Alex Zhamnov. The fans wanted Brett Hull? Here’s a washed-up Doug Gilmour. The fans loved Pat Foley? Say hello to the utterly talentless Little Dan Kelly.
The fans repeatedly paid premium prices and only sporadically got anything close to fair value. Last season was the first in more than 40 years without a single sellout. At the end they were giving good tickets away or attempting to give them away. So much for protecting Wirtz’s precious “season reservation-holders.”
Dale Tallon, Bob Pulford and Denis Savard heaped praise upon Dollar Bill, and why wouldn’t they? It’s highly unlikely they would be employed at the same level with any other NHL team.
Mike Ross
It’s all Angelo’s fault
EVANSTON — As the quarterback, Rex Grossman will unfortunately take more than his share of the blame for the Bears’ recent offensive woes. Bears fans ought to save their boos for the person who’s really responsible for this mess: general manager Jerry Angelo. He’s the chief architect of an offense made up of a slow, aging offensive line, an immobile quarterback, a so-so running back tandem, and barely average wideouts. (But at least the tight ends can play.)
Thanks a lot. Could we bring back the Tobins now?
Dennis Bouxsein
Bears paddling upstream
PLAINFIELD — I just cannot understand the Bears’ coaches and management. They have a great canoe but no paddles, so now they’re up the creek.
The canoe: some great players, Pro Bowl-caliber players, on both sides of the ball. The Bears have done a good job drafting and trading in the last few years.
The problem is, why did they ever think Rex Grossman could be the paddle to steer them to a Super Bowl victory? There is some fundamental problem there with evaluating talent at the quarterback position. Most of us realized a long time ago that he was not the guy. So now all the guys who are there are up the creek without a paddle.
During the Dallas game it became evident that Dallas had a quarterback and the Bears did not.
Mike Bonfield
Thome belongs in Hall
GENEVA — In his letter “Not Hall Worthy” (Tribune, Sept. 27), writer Jerry Quitter takes Tribune sportswriters to task for promoting Jim Thome for the Hall of Fame, stating that 500 home runs are not as meaningful as 20 years ago. I would agree, but only when applied to steroid users, which Thome is not. Thome got his home runs honestly, and that is still a major accomplishment.
Ed Nowinski
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