Cubs’ loss is Blackhawks’ gain
The President of the Chicago Cubs, John McDonough, resigned today in order to take the job of President of the Chicago Blackhawks. (For those who don’t follow hockey, the Blackhawks are the local NHL team.)
McDonough had been with the Cubs for 24 years, working his way from director of sales and promotions to senior VP of marketing and broadcasting before becoming President of the Cubs in 2006. With McDonough known as the keenest marketing mind in sports, I can’t blame Rocky Wirtz for going after him, but this is a tremendous blow to the Cubs organization. At least the Cubs can continue to reap the benefits of everything that McDonough created over the last two decades. He was responsible for starting the Cubs Convention, a first of its kind in major league sports and now imitated by many.
Given the current ownership situation of the Cubs, it is not surprising that Wirtz was able to pry McDonough away. I’m sure he’ll be very well paid and given job security. I truly don’t think he would have left just for money, but who knows who the new owner will be and if they would have kept McDonough as the president. You can’t fault a guy for wanting stability, even if it does mean hanging out at the United Center instead of the Friendly Confines.
Thank you and farewell John. Cubs fans everywhere will miss you. Hopefully your fingerprints will remain on the organization for years to come.