If this doesn’t put you in the mood for the playoffs, nothing will.

As has been speculated, it appears as if the Chicago Blackhawks weren’t aware of Susannah Collins’ previous work doing racy sports videos prior to being hired as a sports reporter by Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

In a front page story in the Chicago Tribune, Robert Channick obtained a copy of a letter Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz sent to CSNC vice-president and general manager Phil Bedella.

Channick reports:

Launched in 2004, CSN Chicago is a partnership between Comcast and the Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls. Comcast owns about 30 percent of the sports network, and the teams control the rest. Management at CSN Chicago is solely responsible for the hiring of reporters, according to the network.

But on Wednesday, Wirtz sent a letter to Phil Bedella, vice president and general manager of CSN Chicago, which the Tribune obtained, addressing his concerns about the Sports Nutz videos.

“In my opinion and those of others, (the videos) are incredibly offensive to a number of audiences, going well beyond professional athletes,” Wirtz said. “Had we known of this earlier, we would have raised the issue immediately.”

The letter went on to ask CSN to “remove her from our broadcast immediately.”

The racy nature of Collins’ Sports Nutz videos were magnified in the wake of her now infamous “tremendous sex” slip-up on Tuesday night. However, as I pointed out yesterday, Collins didn’t try to conceal that she did those videos. Quite the contrary, she proudly points them out on her biography. In fact, they led to her getting sports reporting work in New York, and eventually a job back in her hometown in Chicago.

Channick writes:

A Downers Grove native and University of Illinois graduate, Collins previously worked as a reporter for Showtime Sports, the NFL Network and as a weekend sports anchor at WCBS-TV in New York, according to CSN’s press release announcing her hiring. There was no mention of Sports Nutz at the time, and it is unclear if any CSN executives had viewed the videos before employing her.

“We are very pleased to bring someone of Susannah’s experience and local sports enthusiasm to our network on a full-time basis,” Charlie Schumacher, the then-news director for CSN Chicago, said in the September press release.

Schumacher has since left the network and didn’t respond to a request for comment for this story.

If there was a problem or concern with the videos, it should have been addressed when Collins was hired. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. It just seems unfair that Collins had to be embarrassed like this.

It also is a perfect example of how one slip can derail an entire career in today’s media environment.

Susannah Collins, whose unfortunate slip went viral this week, has been fired by Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

In a statement issued late last night, Phil Bedella, vice-president and general manager of CSN Chicago said:

“Due to circumstances unrelated to her on-air remarks Tuesday night, Susannah Collins and Comcast SportsNet Chicago have parted ways. We appreciate everything Susannah has contributed to our network over the past year and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

On Tuesday, Collins, who had been working as a reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks, said during Game of the Minnesota series that the Hawks had enjoyed “a tremendous amount of sex” during a segment. She tried to correct herself by quickly saying, “success.”

The next day, Collins sent out this tweet:

Thanks for laughing along with me & my “tremendous” slip, guys. Who couldn’t use a good chuckle every now & then right?? #Whoops!

Apparently, CSN Chicago and the Blackhawks weren’t laughing.

Robert Channick in the Chicago Tribune writes that the slip-up brought attention to Collins’ work on a series of “raunchy” YouTube videos uploaded between 2009 and 2010.

As co-host of Sports Nutz, Collins pushed the boundaries of sports journalism — and good taste — with sexually explicit reports and potentially offensive racial stereotypes.

Produced by Middlebrow Media, the 16-video series drifted more toward lowbrow humor, with Collins and her female co-host, Sam Raddock, delivering everything from rowdy man-on-the-street interviews to a dramatic reading of the sexual exploits of former NBA player Darryl Dawkins’ from his autobiography “Chocolate Thunder.”

Obviously, CSN Chicago and the Blackhawks, a part owner in the station, knew of those videos when Collins was hired in September. She lists Sports Nutz on her bio:

But Susannah’s true calling came in 2009 when she was given an opportunity to host a new web-based sports show, Sports Nutz, allowing her to combine her love of sports with her charismatic, on-camera abilities.

So it’s difficult to buy that her slip-up wasn’t unrelated to the dismissal. The likely reason was the gaffe, which dragged up those “raunchy” videos, were a lethal combination to Collins’ stay at CSN Chicago.

Robin Herman was amused by Don Cherry’s absurd and dated rant about how women reporters shouldn’t be allowed in the locker room.

Back in 1975, Herman became the first female reporter to covering the NHL. Only 23 at the time, she covered the beat for the New York Times.

In an open letter to Cherry on espnW, Herman called the former Boston Bruins coach her “hero.” Lo and behold, it turns out he was the first coach to allow her into the locker room.

I’d gotten a lot of publicity for breaking “the locker room barrier” at the 1975 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, but that was a one-off. You were the first coach in the NHL to allow me, a female, accredited sports reporter and member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, into your locker room as a matter of policy. You were coaching the “Big Bad Bruins,” and it was ironic that a team with that reputation should be the most forward-thinking in the NHL. Your PR man par excellence, Nate Greenberg, had persuaded you this was the way to go. I was The New York Times’ reporter on the NHL beat, after all, and Nate knew his job was to get great coverage of the Bruins. He and you were gentlemen. And GM Harry Sinden, as gruff and penny-pinching as he was, also had a heart of gold and a sense of what was right. The times they were a-changin’ then, and the Bruins organization was smart enough to realize it. You should be proud of what you did.

Herman concludes:

By the time I left The New York Times’ sports department in 1978, all but four teams in the NHL were allowing female reporters into locker rooms for postgame interviews. Shortly after that, open doors and equitable treatment of female reporters became league policy. The NHL was, in spite of itself, a leader in social change. And I was glad to see the NHL on Monday promptly reaffirm its open-access policy that has existed now for so many decades.

Remember, Don?

OK, I guess a lot of time has passed since then, and maybe you’ve forgotten the details. But I certainly wouldn’t forget the first coach and team to give equal access to a female member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Don, you were my hero.

It’s all about numbers, which is why you will see the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins in the featured broadcast windows with the A-team announcers during the playoffs.

Not only are the teams national draws, but their hometown ratings are off the charts. The impact those local ratings will have on the national numbers makes NBC officials very happy, assuming both teams continue to win.

Game 1 of the Blackhawks-Minnesota series averaged 280,000 viewers on Comcast Sports Net Chicago Tuesday, with a peak of 418,000 during overtime. Those ratings figure to go up dramatically during the playoffs. Little wonder why NBC officials were relieved to see the Hawks pull out Game 1. Privately, of course.

As for Pittsburgh, the Penguins averaged a 12.56 local rating on Root Sports this year. It is the highest for any sports team in a local market since the Boston Red Sox pulled a 12.20 rating in 2007. Again, those numbers definitely will soar during the playoffs.

NBC Sports executive Sam Flood addressed Pittsburgh’s ratings power during a conference call Tuesday.

“You go to the Stanley Cup Final back-to-back; you win the Stanley Cup Finals, and you have a couple of the most marketable players in the game; your club is going to draw attention,” Flood said. “You know, market size doesn’t always drive ratings, sometimes it’s a passionate fan base and also stars that people are familiar with.

“You’re hear the name Crosby, you hear Malkin, you know what’s coming on the ice. And you know that it’s a pretty special thing to watch and people get can appreciate greatness.”

Beginning with the second round, the playoffs will be exclusively on NBC’s platforms. So NBC has plenty of reason to pull for the Blackhawks and Penguins, not to mention big-market draws like the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.

“If it’s a Chicago-Pittsburgh final, that’s a different number than a Montreal-Vancouver final,” Flood said.

Of course, if it is Ottawa-San Jose in the finals, all bets are off.

*******

For my Chicago readers, the regular season numbers are astounding, especially compared to what we saw back in the dark ages a few years ago.

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the NHL Western Conference #1-seed Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5, 77 pts. during the regular season, earning them the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best overall record), posted the highest Blackhawks final regular season TV ratings average in the history of Chicago regional sports television — a 5.38 household season average rating (approx. 187,482 households watching per game) — which is a 73% increase over last season’s 3.11 previous record final average (an increase of 79,183 more households tuning in per game this season).

In addition, Comcast SportsNet’s record-setting 5.38 Blackhawks regular season household average in the Chicago market this year is a 94% increase from the final season average two years ago (2.78) — a 121% increase from the final season average three years ago (2.44) — a 327% increase from the final season average four years ago (1.26) — and an astounding 754% increase from just five years ago (0.63).  Source for all ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research. 

Fans in Chicago know they have been blessed when it comes to play-by-play men in hockey. I grow up listening to the great Lloyd Pettit, a magnificent announcer who might have been the best ever. At least he was in the minds of those of us who held a radio to our ears to hear him call games at the old Chicago Stadium.

Pat Foley was one of those kids. But unlike the rest of us, he got to live out his dream.

The Blackhawks will honor Foley’s 30 years with the team during a pregame ceremony Friday; Comcast SportsNet Chicago will have complete coverage at 7 p.m. Central. He did his first game in 1980 and quickly became the voice of the Hawks for a new generation or two of fans. More than 25 years after Murray Bannerman played his last game, Foley still is asked to reprise his signature call for the Hawks goalie.

On the Chicago Blackhawks site, there’s a montage of the best of Foley, including a classic “Baaaannnerrmaaannnn!!!”

Also on the site, Bob Verdi wrote about his good friend. It included this passage:

Pat Foley, marking his 30th year as voice of the Blackhawks, will be honored before Friday night’s game at the United Center against the Nashville Predators. He is not left speechless about his remarkable journey, only reflective.

“It’s not supposed to go so smoothly in this business,” says Foley. “For a hometown guy to broadcast for the hometown team for so long, to talk about the greatest sport there is to all these terrific Chicago fans…I’m the luckiest guy in the room.”

Foley has worked the room through thick and thin, blessed with a booming voice as well as a style that entertains. It is difficult for a hockey announcer to convey personality. The sport is fast, stoppages in play are accounted for, and intermissions belong to studio hosts and analysts.

Baseball is ripe for spinning anecdotes between pitches, the football is alive for only about 12 of 60 minutes, and basketball’s clock stops repeatedly for whistles. But to connect with hockey audiences, a play-by-play broadcaster has to follow the puck while also providing a storyline and ample air time for a sidekick.

Foley excels on all counts, adding a dash of humor and candor to the mix. “You can’t fool fans,” he assures.

Dan McNeil paid tribute to Foley in the Chicago Tribune.

It’s most appropriate. Even during the lean years of the last decade — when Foley arguably was the best “player” on the team — the lifelong Chicagoan delivered his descriptions of the action to Hawks fans with passion and precision.

No sportscaster in town is more synonymous with the team for which he broadcasts than Foley. He is as entrenched in Hawks culture almost as much as the crossing tomahawks over the gold “C” on the shoulders of the team jersey.

Nina Falcone on CSNChicago.com talks to Foley on how he landed his dream job:

Foley did his research. He spent his youth watching game after game, meticulously noting each broadcaster’s style and presence. He wound up landing a job as the play-by-play announcer for the Grand Rapids Owls Junior A hockey club before making his big leap to the Windy City.

“The Blackhawks were looking for a broadcaster, they were changing radio stations,” Foley said. “I’m sitting there in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I know the job is open, I knew they needed a radio station, so I wanted to let them know that I was around.”

Which is where his father comes into play. That day at Foley Buick, a cassette was placed in Wirtz’s car. He took one listen to the young Foley’s broadcasts in Michigan, and the rest is history.

“[Wirtz] knew more about the Grand Rapids Owls than he ever wanted to know,” Foley laughed. “But my dad asked him, ‘Would you mind listening to this?’ And really that’s what got the ball rolling. Mr. Wirtz liked it [and] told his brother about me. The fact that I was a local kid was kind of new in the business, but [I] aspired to be here. I think it was attractive to them.

“It was something that happened to me early and I was very lucky. I was 26 years old and I was the youngest guy in the league for 10 years. It doesn’t happen that way, I got very fortunate.”

Congratulations, Pat. Here’s looking forward to another 30 years of Blackhawks games and always fairways and greens.

I had so much fun going through the Sports Illustrated hockey covers yesterday, I thought I would post some more.

Again, here’s the link to all of Sports Illustrated’s NHL covers.

Super Mario and Mike Bossy; Guy Lafleur and Bobby Clarke; Henri Richard broke Chicago’s and my heart in 1971. The brothers Esposito.

What comes first: the Cubs’ first win of the season or the Blackhawks not scoring a point in a game?

With the way they are feeling in Chicago, the betting might be on the Hawks. Not that they ever bet on the Cubs here.

It’s March 8, and the Hawks still have a 0 in the loss column. Even with the NHL’s somewhat confusing tie rule, that’s pretty impressive.

The debate over the wow factor of the current streaks by the Blackhawks and Miami Heat has caused some angst in hockey circles. Some people feel the NHL isn’t getting the proper respect, especially on ESPN.

Stephen A. Smith put down the Hawks in comparison to what the Heat have done. Of course, Stephen A. likely doesn’t know the different between Sidney Crosby and Bing Crosby.

It really doesn’t matter what people are saying. All that matters is that the Blackhawks and Heat are being mentioned in the some breath.

That word comes from the Great One. Wayne Gretzky offered some valuable perspective while appearing as a guest on the Waddle & Silvy Show on WMVP-AM 1000 in Chicago.

“It’s nice to sit down and listen to talk shows and listen to TV shows,” Gretzky said. “People are saying, ‘OK, who is the better team right now and who has the hottest streak? The Heat or the Chicago Blackhawks?’ That only enhances our sport and makes it bigger and better.”

Gretzky envisioned having the debate with Michael Jordan. While Gretzky assumed Jordan would say the Heat’s streak is better, Jordan has been a frequent visitor to Hawks games over the past few seasons.

“If we were sitting here, Michael Jordan would say what the Heat are doing is better than the Blackhawks,” Gretzky said. “And if I was sitting with him, I would tell him what the Blackhawks are doing is better than the Heat.

“We’re all biased to our own sport, and we all loved what we played, and we think the thing we did is the greatest sport in the world. But that’s what sports is all about. People stand around and talk about it. ‘Who’s the best team? Who’s the best player? Who’s the most exciting athletes to watch?’ There’s no true answers, except who becomes the champion of each and every sport. That’s when questions get truly answered.”

The Great One is wise and knows all. The debate is bringing some new fans to the sport. The ratings tell the story.

The Blackhawks continue to set more records for NBC and NBC Sports Network, not to mention Comcast SportsNet in Chicago and WGN-Ch. 9 in Chicago.

Here’s the latest from NBC.

The Chicago Blackhawks (21-0-3) have started the season with a historic season-opening 24-game point streak, the best ever in the NHL, resulting in record ratings across NBC, NBC Sports Network and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, an NBC Sports Regional Network.

NBC Sports Network’s Wednesday Night Rivalry telecast featuring the Blackhawks against the Colorado Avalanche, and Sunday afternoon’s Blackhawks-Detroit Red Wings broadcast on NBC, resulted in record-setting regular-season viewership.

In addition, the Blackhawks have spurred record ratings in the Chicago market for NHL regular-season games on NBC, NBC Sports Network and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

BLACKHAWKS-RED WINGS, SUNDAY, MARCH 3, NBC

NBC’s coverage of the Blackhawks dramatic 2-1 shootout victory against the Red Wings on Sunday, drew 1.9 million viewers, the best-ever for a single regular-season game on NBC (excluding Winter Classics) and up 58% vs. last year’s same-weekend coverage (1.2 million viewers, Boston-NYR).

As previously reported, the Chicago market delivered a 9.7 rating, the market’s best-ever for a NHL regular-season game on NBC, with the exception of the 2009 Winter Classic, which was played at Wrigley Field and received an 11.8 local rating in the market.

BLACKHAWKS-AVALANCHE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the Blackhawks compelling 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche last night drew 720,000 average viewers, (up 57% vs. the 2012 exclusive time period average), and ranked as the ninth most-watched regular-season game in the network’s history. Additionally, six of the Top 10 most-watched regular-season games in NBC Sports Network history have aired this season.

In Chicago, the telecast received a 7.0 local rating, the market’s highest ever for an NHL regular- season game on NBC Sports Network. Additionally, NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 rated cable network in Chicago during the Blackhawks-Avalanche telecast.

COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO

The Top 10, and 18 of the Top 19, highest-rated regular-season Blackhawks games in Comcast SportsNet Chicago history have taken place this season. Tuesday night’s Blackhawks game against the Minnesota Wild received 7.9 local HH rating and is the network’s highest-rated Blackhawks game ever.