Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Chicago Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz took questions for the first time since the Kyle Beach scandal concluded.
Instead of issuing another heartfelt apology and discussing how the Chicago Blackhawks are committed to making sure what happened to Kyle Beach never happens again, Wirtz berated not one, but two reporters for asking a legitimate question.
All the Athletic’s Mark Lazerus and the Chicago Tribune’s Phillip Thompson were asking during the Chicago Blackhawks town hall was what the team is doing to empower players in the future if a situation like what happened to Kyle Beach happens again.
Wirtz threw a temper tantrum of epic proportions…
Here’s the full segment/video. Just ridiculous from Rocky Wirtz. pic.twitter.com/9k9QxKW0gI
— Wally Maz (@WallMaz35) February 3, 2022
And now he goes after @_phil_thompson. Absolutely insane from Rocky Wirtz. Smh. pic.twitter.com/dMHYOHUbkQ
— Wally Maz (@WallMaz35) February 3, 2022
Imagine the response Wirtz would have given if he had been asked was he aware of what happened to Beach.
Wirtz later issued an apology for his childish outburst.
Rocky Wirtz apologizes in a statement for having “crossed the line.” pic.twitter.com/83ZdwOmcBj
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 3, 2022
His apology came across as generic and did not acknowledge Kyle Beach. It seems more like he is trying to fix the public relations nightmare he created rather than being truly sorry.
Wirtz did apologize personally to Thompson and Lazerus-in a forwarded email.
For the record, he did the same with me. https://t.co/a1wLvdHwbU
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 3, 2022
Rocky could not take the time to find the pressbox or request they stop by his box to give an in-person apology.
For the record, this was not some personal vendetta by Lazerus or Thompson. They were just doing their job, and they did it well. It was a fair question as many Blackhawks fans wrestle with whether to support this team or not.
Additionally, Rocky Wirtz had a chance to not marginalize sexual abuse victims. . Instead, he threw about 400 gallons of gas on the burn pile and then lit a match.
The fire is about to get bigger and hotter as there are more potential lawsuits to come surrounding former video coordinator, Brad Aldrich’s behavior.
A former Miami University student is among three potential plaintiffs weighing lawsuits against the Chicago Blackhawks, @rwesthead writes: https://t.co/j1SixM3xIj
Content Warning: The following article contains references to sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/HmKUvm2m8o
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) February 3, 2022