A Surreal Day for Chicago Hockey Fans: Bill Wirtz, Dead at 77

To get a sense for how polarizing Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz was, one simply needs to utilize that great cultural barometer, the Google Search. "WirtzSucks.com - Bill Wirtz, Worst Owner in Sports," is one of the first entries. "Kill Bill Wirtz" quickly follows, an unfortunately named Web site in light of his death at age 77 this morning. Then there's ESPN's look at the "greediest owners in sports," and a petition to "Remove Bill Wirtz from the Hockey Hall of Fame" and...well, you get the picture.

The Blackhawks Web site was the first to announce that Wirtz had died Wednesday at Evanston Hospital after battling cancer. The AP fills in the details:

The family, led by Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Chicago Blackhawks in 1954. In 1966, William Wirtz became team president. Wirtz was chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Hockey League for 18 years and helped negotiate the merger of the NHL and the World Hockey Association in the late 1970's.

Together with Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Wirtz helped back the construction of the United Center, which replaced the Chicago Stadium, the long-time home for Blackhawks. But since moving there 12 years ago, the Blackhawks have made just four playoff appearances - only two since 1997. The Blackhawks haven't played in the Stanley Cup finals in 15 years. As a result, the Blackhawks - one of the six original NHL teams - average about 12,700 fans per game in an arena that seats 20,500.

Over on WirtzSucks.com, one of the more overtly hostile critics of his ownership of the team, the message board is just starting to attract the kind of conflicted tributes one might expect on a day like this. Mr. Miller, the site owner who I've interviewed in the past, writes that, "it's odd -- now that he's gone, i have to admit, i'm a little bummed. at the very least, i'm not as 'happy' as i always claimed i'd be when this day would come." Another post sums up the feelings for many Chicago hockey fans, I imagine: "GOOD FOR HOCKEY BAD FOR FAMILY...."

Keep an eye on the Chicago Sun-Times Blackhawks page for more details and coverage. The Forechecker was one of the first bloggers to offer a comment on the death, and Eric McErlain's FanHouse piece on Wirtz potentially selling the 'Hawks provides further context on the controversial hockey legend.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-26-2007 @ 9:22AM

Jes Golbez said...

I don't normally wish for the death of people, but I can't help but feel a bit of something positive for Chicago hawks fans and hockey fans in general. Wirtz was the epitome of greed and was, by all accounts (and the book), just a bad human being.

9-26-2007 @ 9:25AM

Greg Wyshynski said...

What's always amazed me, Jes, is the bile Blackhawks fans had for the guy. Not that they had it, but that they had soooo much of it. I once read an entire self-published book that tried to take down Wirtz and his family as criminals and attacked him on everything from team finances to the way the Blackhawks treated vendors. The hate was stunning.

9-26-2007 @ 10:37AM

Eric said...

Greg, It stems from a lot of water under the bridge. It probably all started with the Bobby Hull contract dispute, and then it just compiled as the seasons went on and the team never won another Cup. The TV policy, the treatment of fans with lackluster teams being fielded, and the reluctance to fire people perceived to have a say in said lackluster teams all contributed.

I agree though, there is a peculiar venom that was directed at Wirtz that was a bit shocking.

By most accounts he was a great family man, a great employer, and well-liked and respected by those who knew him personally. For most Hawk fans, it starts and ends with the state of the team, and as everyone knows the team hasn't been very good.

This news kind of shocked me, I had to rub my eyes and do a double take.

9-26-2007 @ 3:45PM

Raskolnikov said...

The blog's name will be changed. Condolences to the Wirtz family.

9-27-2007 @ 9:58AM

r.m. said...

Will he really be gone, or will he live on in Pulford? Will anything change? Will Peter have a better/differnt focus? Will they sell the team. What a great opportunity for a positive change..........

9-27-2007 @ 9:52AM

oh, will I miss his leadership? not a chance....

9-26-2007 @ 8:41PM

Steve said...

even though he let some of the best players go to other teams.Bill wirtz was a decent guy who loved the blackhawks even thought they've sucked in recent years and yes maybe he should get most if not all of the blame for it.At least he kept the hawks in one city not like other owners from teams that move the whole team to another city.

R.I.P. MR WIRTZ

9-27-2007 @ 10:09AM

Did anyone notice the lack of attention the media in Chicago gave the man? of couse they didn't give him attention, he wasn't a person that cared about the fans or what the media thought.
I wonder what response the fans will have on opening night in Chicago. Better yey, what do you think a few of the Detroit players will feel. Will Chelios have a comment??