Gonzales: Rocky Wirtz isn't the first Chicago sports leader to screw up the message

Much better, but too late.

The tone of the Blackhawks' statement Sunday night regarding the firing of their minor league head athletic trainer was exactly what chairman Rocky Wirtz should have said last week.

Unfortunately, Wirtz will be remembered for a while for his eruption toward two diligent beat writers for asking what loyal fans and the public deserved a right to know about the organization's sexual assault scandal last fall.

This is not the start of another lengthy attack on Wirtz, who helped transform the organization into a popular, successful operation.

However, it might be time for a refresher or a seminar in public relations and dealing with a patient and faithful audience.

This applies to many of Chicago's sports leaders, including Bears chairman George McCaskey.

It took more than seven weeks for McCaskey to express his anger over a group of Cary-Grove High School students chanting for coach Matt Nagy's dismissal while his son was playing for the opposing Lake Forest football team.

McCaskey's public scolding occurred hours after Nagy was fired. If McCaskey was so upset at the students, why didn't he issue a statement immediately after the game and while his coach, who already was in the midst of smoldering speculation about his firing, was still employed by the team?

We'll let popular Olin Kreutz and McCaskey settle their differences privately over an alleged feeble financial offer to assist the offensive line.

Unfortunately, the COVID-induced cancellations of Cubs Convention and SoxFest prevent fans from asking direction questions to team leaders in the same town hall forum where Wirtz exploded.

In that setting, there's ample time for executives to prepare for an array of questions, although the Ricketts family bailed out of the last two family sessions at Cubs Convention because of an alleged lack of interest.

Since winning the 2005 World Series, there haven't been any tense moments at SoxFest. The only exception occurred in 2008 when a fan thought Aaron Rowand shouldn't have been traded and was more valuable than Paul Konerko.

Announcer and former Sox pitcher Ed Farmer, assigned with the question-and-answer duties with Darrin Jackson, went into Morton Downey Jr. mode and verbally attacked in a relentless manner that didn't allow the questioner a chance to interject.

Those were the last Q-and-A duties Farmer performed that winter.

The town hall sessions leave a lasting impressions on fans who are given a rare opportunity to ask questions to executives or hear them speak about their vision of the organization or changes that affect them as consumers.

The words and actions travel for weeks, months, seasons or family generations, depending on the magnitude of the topic and/or the fans' degree of loyalty to the organization.

Hours after his outburst, Wirtz issued a statement expressing "regret" for his actions. Eventually the attention over this incident will dissipate. And maybe more speaking responsibilities will be delegated to CEO and son Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner, the president of business operations.

Sometimes, it's better that way.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts is often expansive and candid when addressing reporters at the start of each spring training. But he leaves the question of personnel moves to his top baseball executives.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan was asked last week about the lack of trade speculation involving his team and whether Arturas Karnisovas, the executive vice president of basketball operations, emphasized no leaks leading to the trade deadline.

Donovan delivered a two-minute answer stating he hadn't received a directive from the to keep trade proposals under wraps, adding that his front office "probably is having conversations they want to stay in between the walls."

Fair enough.

Donovan's response was more refreshing than the haughty response by Commissioner Rob Manfred six years ago when asked about the possibility of Wrigley Field hosting an All-Star Game in the future.

Manfred dismissed the inquiry, saying he didn't want to engage in speculation despite the fact the Cubs were in the midst of their 1060 Project that now makes Wrigley a viable candidate to host the Summer Classic in the future.

That should have served as a precursor to his subsequent mistakes, such as him referring to the World Series trophy as a "piece of metal" in 2020.

Manfred apologized later, but that was just one of several comments that has made players skeptical of him during the lockout in a manner similar to Wirtz's apology or the timing of McCaskey's attack on mouthy fans.

It's not too late for a refresher course on public relations.

@MDGonzales