2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 3 - Kings vs Hawks

[averagejoe]

The media here treats hockey like a second class citizen, it's truly baffling.

You love the sport and that's the important thing. We had the same situation here in the lean 1980's. The off-season Cubs and Sox got more air time than the Hawks did during the season - who were usually mentioned as the last bit during the sports segment. If I remember correctly, even the MISL (soccer) Sting and USFL Blitz even got their scores mentioned ahead of the Hawks.

Most of that was the fault of owner Bill Wirtz and his medieval marketing skills.

Even when things improved in the 1990's, hockey was still upstaged by some guy name Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Then Bill Wirtz died and son Rocky took over. He mended a lot of bridges that were burned. Not only between fans, but also with the media, with Hawks' alum like the formerly outcast Bobby Hull, and even rehired fan-favorite Pat Foley who does our local TV play-by-play (father Bill fired him too). Rocky brought in executives who were more than "yes-men" like John McDonough and Scotty Bowman.

As a fan of hockey and the Hawks, it was great to see.

 

[averagejoe]

One more thought just to continue from above... it was also as baffling here in Chicago since hockey is a popular youth sport. There are plenty of rinks around town for open hockey (called "rat" ice) as well as for organized leagues and many high schools have hockey teams. In the winter, many suburban park districts will groom frozen lakes or erect temporary rinks as well.