The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks (Second to None: Chicago Stories)

Name: The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks (Second to None: Chicago Stories)
Price: 25.99 USD
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Rating: 4.7 (136 reviews)

4.7 of 5 Stars: Hockey - The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks (Second to None: Chicago Stories)

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Book Synopsis: “This is a terrific book, a dramatic family saga told in artful prose and filled with emotional turmoil, a few surprisingly touching moments but enough dysfunction for a couple of Eugene O’Neill plays.” —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune

When Rocky Wirtz took over the Wirtz Corporation in 2007, including management of the Chicago Blackhawks, the fiercely beloved hockey team had fallen to a humiliating nadir. As chronic losers playing to a deserted stadium, they were worse than bad—they were irrelevant. ESPN named the franchise the worst in all of sports. Rocky’s resurrection of the team’s fortunes was—publicly, at least—a feel-good tale of shrewd acumen. Behind the scenes, however, it would trigger a father, son, and brother-against-brother drama of Shakespearean proportions. The Breakaway reveals that untold story.

Arthur Wirtz founded the family’s business empire during the Depression. From roots in real estate, “King Arthur” soon expanded into liquor and banking, running his operations with an iron hand and a devotion to profit that earned him the nickname Baron of the Bottom Line. His son Bill further expanded the conglomerate, taking the helm of the Blackhawks in 1966. “Dollar Bill” Wirtz demanded unflinching adherence to Arthur’s traditions and was notorious for an equally fierce temperament. Yet when Rocky took the reins of the business after Bill’s death, it was an organization out of step with the times and financially adrift. The Hawks weren’t only failing on the ice—the parlous state of the team’s finances imperiled every facet of the Wirtz empire.

To save the team and the company, Rocky launched a radical turnaround campaign. Yet his modest proposal to televise the Hawks’ home games provoked fierce opposition from Wirtz family insiders, who considered any deviation from Arthur and Bill’s doctrines to be heresy. Rocky’s break with the edicts of his grandfather and father led to a reversal for the ages—three Stanley Cup championships in six years, a feat Fortune magazine called “the greatest turnaround in sports business history.” But this resurrection came at a price, a fracturing of Rocky’s relationships with his brother and other siblings.

In riveting prose that recounts a story spanning three generations, The Breakaway reveals an insider’s view of a brilliant but difficult Chicago business and sports dynasty and the inspiring story of perseverance and courage in the face of intense family pressures.

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Discover the captivating behind-the-scenes story of the legendary Wirtz family business and the incredible journey of the Chicago Blackhawks in the groundbreaking book, "The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks". Written with artful prose and filled with emotional turmoil, this gripping saga is a must-read for sports enthusiasts and fans of dramatic family sagas.

Rocky Wirtz's takeover of the Wirtz Corporation in 2007, including the management of the Blackhawks, marked the turning point for a once-humiliating and irrelevant hockey team. ESPN even named them the worst in all of sports. But behind the scenes, a Shakespearean drama unfolded, pitting father against son, and brother against brother. Delve into the untold story of power struggles, relentless ambition, and redemption in "The Breakaway".

From the depths of the Depression, Arthur Wirtz built an empire in real estate, liquor, and banking. Dubbed as the "Baron of the Bottom Line," his shrewd focus on profit shaped the family's business legacy. His son Bill took over, commanding the Blackhawks with an iron fist and unwavering loyalty to their father's traditions. However, when Rocky inherited the struggling business, he faced monumental challenges. The franchise was in dire straits, both on and off the ice, jeopardizing the entire Wirtz empire.

In a bold and radical move to save the team and the company, Rocky proposed televising the Hawks' home games, triggering fierce opposition from within the family. Going against his grandfather and father's doctrines threatened to shatter their bonds forever. Yet, this daring departure paved the way for an unparalleled comeback, resulting in three Stanley Cup championships in six years. Witness the awe-inspiring tale of Rocky's perseverance and courage, hailed by Fortune magazine as "the greatest turnaround in sports business history."

In "The Breakaway", you will immerse yourself in a riveting narrative that spans three generations, providing an insider's view of a brilliant yet challenging Chicago business and sports dynasty. Explore the intense family pressures, the sacrifices made, and the unwavering determination that took the Blackhawks from the brink of oblivion to the pinnacle of success. Don't miss out on this extraordinary story of resilience and triumph.

Ready to dive into the enthralling world of the Wirtz family and the Chicago Blackhawks? Get your copy of "The Breakaway: The Inside Story of the Wirtz Family Business and the Chicago Blackhawks" today and embark on a journey of epic proportions.

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