JEFF'S CHICAGO SPORTS BLOG - JOHN MCDONOUGH LEAVES THE CUBS FOR THE HAWKS
THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NAME FORMER CUB PRESIDENT JOHN McDONOUGH AS THEIR NEW PRESIDENT!
Chicago Cubs fans were treated to yet another dose of uncertainty this week with the resignation of President, John McDonough. McDonough began his career with the Cubs 24 years ago and climbed the ladder all the way to the Presidency, replacing Andy MacPhail in 2006. McDonough has been credited with reviving the Cubs back in the 80's with clever marketing focusing on the fan. He leaves the Cubs at a time when the team is for sale with seemingly no quick answer to the question of who will be the new owner?
There's no question that this is a great move for McDonough since he can only succeed with an organization that over the course of the years has proved to be not too fan-friendly. With Rocky Wirtz taking over the family business, the Blackhawks look like a rising star with changes already being made to please its fan base.
Wirtz has made watching Blackhawk Hockey on TV a reality in a short time and then had the idea of adding McDonough, a respected marketer, to the leadership equation. These two factors combined with a hockey team that has some new blood, namely two young stars in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will make for some exciting times.
McDonough signed a multi-year deal with the Blackhawks and the Cubs will go forward with Jim Hendry, Cubs General Manager, reporting directly to Crane Kenney, a Tribune Executive. Although Kenney claims that the Tribune remains committed to bringing a championship to Cubs fans, I remain skeptical since the ambiguity with the sale of the team as well as the uncertainty this move adds to the mix, give the Cub Executives plenty of excuses for not pulling the trigger on the players that could make a difference in 2008.
Will the Cubs even have a chance in 2008? Let me know what you think!
DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO SPORTS EDITOR,
JEFF ARDITO
