On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks took an enormous step forward as an organization by winning the NHL's Western Conference championship. They will now await the winner of the Eastern Conference to determine who will lift the Stanley Cup.
This story does not yet have its final chapter, but the reality it demonstrates should become not only an "Idiot's Guide to Building a Pro Sports Franchise," but also create a beacon from which hope should shine on every bottom-dwelling city in the United States.
Consider where this organization has come from.
The old owner of the team, "Dollar Bill" Wirtz, systematically did everything he could to tear one of the great franchises in all of sports down, brick-by-brick. Three seasons ago, the Blackhawks' home games weren't televised in Chicago. His regime traded away great players like Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios for garbage, and made the team a laughing stock.
An Original Six franchise was battling for last place in the standings, an ...
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Article written by TAB BAMFORD