OPINION

By Ray Slover

updated 8:13 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2007

Ray Slover

This is going to sound harsh, and I apologize in advance to the Wirtz family for what I'm about to say. But to borrow from Shakespeare, I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Bill Wirtz's death is a good thing for the Blackhawks.

Neil Milbert, writing online Wednesday for the Chicago Tribune, gives all the good things Wirtz did for his life. It's an impressive list. He was a successful businessman, philanthropist and sportsman who did great things for hockey. His ownership of the Blackhawks harkened back to a long-gone era in the NHL.

But under Wirtz's watch the Blackhawks crumbled into a joke. The team was poorly managed, allowed to underperform and was a perennial absentee come playoff time.

The following paragraphs, from the AP story on Wirtz's death, are telling of the franchise's demise:

Since moving to United Center 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.

Wirtz's stewardship of the Blackhawks was long questioned, with the criticism becoming more vociferous in recent years. Many fans blamed him for allowing too many good players to leave over the years, and for his refusal to televise most home games.

At the United Center, the retired numbers of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall and Denis Savard hang high above the ice. It has been years since players of that caliber have played for the team.

And in recent years, Chicago lost such high-caliber players as Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, Ed Belfour and Chris Chelios.

There are other banners hanging from the United Center rafters, touting the many successful seasons for the franchise. One stands out: the one representing the Stanley Cup in 1961, the last time the Blackhawks won the championship.

"Dollar Bill" did nothing to help the Blackhawks shed their image of losers. Chicago already has its "loveable loser" franchise, the Cubs. Wirtz was despised for how he and his cronies left the Blackhawks to bumble about the NHL. A recent article on ESPN had Wirtz as No. 5 on the list of most hated owners in sports. He certainly was No. 1 on that list in Chicago.

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The Web site WirtzSucks.com offers a mixed bag of emotions on his death. There are few glowing tributes to him as owner of the Blackhawks.

Fans can only hope the next generation of Wirtz family members do the Blackhawks proud.

The franchise is in good hands under GM Dale Tallon, and coach Denis Savard has a good plan and excellent young players to mold this season. If ownership lets these former Blackhawks heroes run the franchise and team, improvement and honor will come, starting this season.

Rest in peace, Bill Wirtz. Here's hoping better days are ahead for the fans you alienated and the team you owned.

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