Bill Wirtz dead; A fan perspective

A public figure has died. It is not, I think, too early to consider the legacy of Bill Wirtz. It is very decidedly mixed. I won’t be singing ding-dong the witch is dead. A man has died of a terrible disease. Yet, he is leaving a mixed legacy behind him. And this is probably the saddest thing I can think to say about his life: at the moment of death, some people rejoiced.

I am a hockey fan. Aside from the bland curiosity and loyalty to the Blackhawks due to their residence in the city, I have no attachment to them. Why? I don’t know! I never saw them on television, never became hooked on reading sports in the newspaper and never, ever listen to sports on radio. Until recently I couldn’t have afforded tickets. How could I have ever experienced this team?

So why buy the hats, sweaters, jackets and other merchandise that fans love to own for a team I barely knew existed? By the time I became interested in hockey it was the Wolves who would capture my dollars.

And why not? Affordable. An owner who is approachable. A great entertainment experience and a team that has won three championships and made it to the playoffs in 10 of 11 years.

I am a liquor consumer too. I won’t forget how this man engineered a law that locked retailers into relationships with their liquor distributors and then used that to gouge the consumer. What a surprise to the GOP: create an artificial monopoly and the owner will act like a monopolist.

Bill Wirtz was a philanthropist, according to the news release on the Blackhawk web site. I admit, I’m not familiar with Mr. Wirtz’ philanthropic efforts. The Blackhawks say that is because he didn’t want the attention. However, I feel these efforts, would have been even more successful if he had been able to engage the community to join him. Instead, at his death he is compared to Scrooge and Mr. Potter.

These are hardly ringing endorsements.

There are certain people, and Mike North of the Score is one in particular, who should hang their head in shame. They used this death to grandstand and gain points. Who will dance on your grave Mike North? Who will remember the shoddy professional life you scream from the dial every morning? If you have something thoughtful to say to hockey fans, a sport you rarely discuss, let’s hear it. But the triumphalism of this morning’s show was an embarrassment.

It is Wednesday, September 26, 2007 and Bill Wirtz is dead. He lived a life as a successful business owner and his death was met by rejoicing by many people. It seems as though a fulfilling and engaging spirit did not match the success of his business life.

My condolences to the Wirtz family.