Blackhawks Franchise Keeping It Classy

Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Comcast reporter Susannah Collins after game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Wild 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

From the way it looks on the outside, Susannah Collins was fired for a very innocent mistake made during an on-air monologue about the Chicago Blackhawks, flubbing the word “success” for a shorter version that means something much different. CSN Chicago insisted that Collins was not fired for the mistake, but for her other internet sports videos that they considered off-color.

These other videos have been online for about 3 or 4 years, so why would they fire Collins over them now? Apparently Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz just recently became aware of the videos which don’t live up to his standards for his club. Wirtz does have some say in how CSN Chicago represents his franchise, and if he has any say, he’s going to vouch for the high road.

Most recently, Patrick Kane was caught in less than flattering light last summer, and the organization made it abundantly clear how much they disagreed with his behavior and that Kane had a stern talking-to because of it. And although Kane did more damage to the franchise’s image, Collins is much more expendable. It’s uncertain who knew or if they even knew about the videos before Collins’ on-air blooper, but she has to know that doing something crude and easy would limit who would hire her in the future. Every girl has heard the stories of women who did something quick for fun and fame that came back to haunt then when they finally get their dream job. Susannah Collins joins the list.

But why now? Why so soon after such a simple mistake? Collins messed up once and corrected herself immediately, and she was probably a bit embarrassed by it.  Does the punishment fit the crime? Does CSN H.R. Department need to be blamed too for not researching Collins past?

Maybe the slip-up brought to light Collins’ other videos; maybe it was just a weird coincidence. The only thing that’s obvious is that Wirtz and the Blackhawks like to keep it classy, and you can’t be mad at that.

Do you think Rocky Wirtz and CSN Chicago overreacted in light of other mistakes in the organization?

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