Wirtz: Hiring Savard was unfair to him

Rocky Wirtz knows the Blackhawks did wrong by Denis Savard.

But not when they fired him last month.

"We put him in tough spot, and we did that two years ago,'' the Hawks owner said Tuesday. "I don't think we were fair to Denis, to put him in there without any coaching experience.

"That job is very difficult under the best of circumstances, but to make him head coach at that time was wrong.

"I have nothing to say but positive things about Denis. He did everything we asked him to do, and it was our fault we put him there.''

Of course, being a stand-up guy, Rocky says "we'' as though he had been there, but he had zero connection to the organization when Trent Yawney was fired and Savard hired.

It's typical of his personality to accept the blame and make the hard decisions - including firing a close family friend, someone Rocky's father considered a true part of the family.

"You have to take emotions and personal feelings out of the decision or you make mistakes,'' Wirtz said. "We're about winning now and we've said that to everyone, especially the fans who have come back to support us.''

The changes Joel Quenneville has made on the ice, and their record since making the change (6-1-2), speak for themselves.

"It's put up or shut up, and so how do you hold everyone accountable and not hold yourself accountable?'' Wirtz asked. "You have to be responsible.

"The bottom line is we told our fans what our goal was - to win - and you can't say one thing and do another.

"That means making tough decisions. You put the team and the company first.''

It doesn't mean, however, that it didn't hurt Wirtz to see No. 18 walk out the door.

"Denis is very classy and a wonderful individual,'' Wirtz said. "He'll always be part of our team, and you can't walk in the building without seeing his number in the rafters.

"I do see him as part of the club, but we're just not there yet as far as what he wants to do. We want him here as part of the club, and I hope he'll want that at some point.''

The circus trip

The annual November nightmare - as well as a long trip in January/February when Disney's here - has been a pox upon the UC, and before that the Stadium, going back decades.

It's a tough move early in the season for the Hawks, and even earlier for the Bulls, but Rocky Wirtz says don't get your hopes up that it may change any time soon.

"We have a long-term lease signed. It's something my dad had in place and it will be there for the foreseeable future,'' Wirtz said. "It's an inconvenience, but it can be a positive if teams choose to take it as a chance to build camaraderie and chemistry.

"It really depends on the makeup of your club, and it's a chance to learn about your club.''

The flip side is the Hawks go into the trip playing nine of 11 at home. Still, the Red Wings break up their games out West into five trips, while the Hawks cram them into three, including marathons of six and eight games.

This upcoming trip has them switching time zones five times once they've arrived back in Chicago.

"Hopefully you come out of it .500,'' Wirtz said. "If you can do that, it sets you up well for the rest of the season.''

The ceremony

The Hawks will retire No. 3 tonight in honor of Pierre Pilote and the late Keith Magnuson, a ceremony that's going to be tough for Rocky Wirtz.

"Maggie was 56 and I'm 56, and his son Kevin is the same age as my son Danny and his daughter Molly is the same age as my daughter Hillary,'' Wirtz said. "That hits pretty close to home, and Keith was such a big part of the Hawks. It's still hard to believe he's gone.''

Jenks a lot

Just because someone asks about Bobby Jenks, it doesn't mean the White Sox are shopping their closer, as the rumor mill is suggesting.

At the same time, the Sox will listen to offers for any player who doesn't have a no-trade clause, especially one like Jenks, who has yet to sign a long-term deal, has lost a few mph off his fastball, and has been worked pretty hard the last few years.

But in order to consider that, the Sox also would have to know where their next closer is coming from, and there is nothing more difficult in baseball today than finding a reliable closer.

The good cause

Golf Nation in Palatine is holding a 24-hour Golf-a-Thon beginning Friday, raising money to aid the homeless, and all proceeds go to padstohope.org.

Participants can pick a 90-minute slot and play Pebble Beach for only $25, while receiving golf and goods worth twice that much. There's also a hole-in-one contest with a BMW as the prize.

For more info, visit golfnation.us.

Bearing down

From e-mailer Bear Fan Mike: "Lovie Smith has his contract and will play it safe, but if the Bears miss the playoffs, next year he's on the hot seat. In 2009, I predict more gambles, a playoff berth with advancement and a new contract - and the cycle starts all over again.''

And finally -

Miami Herald's Greg Cote: "A handwritten letter from Mickey Mantle to his fiancee failed to sell at an auction. Could be the economy. Or it could be this: Why would anybody want a letter to his fiancee that even his fiancee didn't want to keep?"

brozner@dailyherald.com