So, let me get this straight.  The Blackhawks in their news conference say they fired Dale Tallon because he screwed up paperwork, was a poor communicator and was too old. Sounds like lawsuit material to me. Time will tell, but this could be the first black mark for the Rocky Wirtz administration.

BTW, when someone like John McDonough says "There have been some style differences," it means that Tallon wasn't 100% loyal to him and treated him more like an sales guy than a knowledgeable hockey man. Truth be told, there is a rash of suits in this country that think that they instantly know both the product end of a business and the sales end of business they have just taken over. However, the majority of these guys are sales guys and don't know how to develop the product, just how to sell it.  It makes it annoying for guys like Tallon who intimately understand the production side but don't give a rats ass about the sales side, leaving that to the suits.  These suits want an old school guy like Tall to understand in this era, he's got to help the sales side too.  That accounts for the "younger" comments that Rocky Wirtz made.  The translation of the code is "John wants everyone in our organization to be marching lockstep toward his vision and old school guys who are just worried about the product on the ice really don't get it."

Tallon's paperwork gaffe, as most surmise, was an excuse to show him the door and seat him at the desk next to Bob Pulford in the land of misfit toys.  McDonough wants someone slicker, younger and with more marketing savvy to take over as GM.  As I pointed out yesterday, if the Hawks had a formal search for a successor, this might all be okay.  But promoting Bowman reeks of nepotism and unveils a plot where Tallon couldn't do anything short of win a Stanley Cup to save his job.  He was probably done the day McDonough walked in the door, but McDonough, like most suits, doesn't like to make changes on day one.  He likes to wait a while, let the victim stick his own head in the noose and then kick the chair out from under him.  McDonough played Dale Tallon like a Stradivarius, knowing Tallon would accommodate him.  The tender snafu was just cause and McDonough happily stood there and watched his GM swing in the breeze.

Lightning Round

• More on Tallon from Rickhouse. (Tremendous Upside Potential)
• John at "The Fifth Feather" shares several of our observations. (Fifth Feather)
• Congrats to White Sox lefty and St. Louis native Mark Buehrle for pitching a perfect inning during last nights AL win in the All-Star game.  He looked much better last night than he did Sunday.
• We've told you forever around these parts how good we think "The Answer" is.  Last night, "The Answer" showed America just how good he is. We, of course, are neither shocked nor surprised.
• There are many, many things that I disagree with our President about.  But there is one thing I will always agree with him on: Favorite baseball team.  Nice look, Mr. President.  When the most powerful man on earth wears a White Sox jacket, it makes you proud to be White Sox fan.  It is ironic that he hurls from the left.
• OMG.  Someone spoke ill of The Genius!  Now face his wrath, commoner!  (Can't Stop The Bleeding)
• As a kid, I was fortunate enough to have seen Bob Gibson pitch.  He was a tough dude who is still bringing it.  (Sharapovas Thigh)
• Here's a myth buster: The truth that Pete Rose didn't ruin Ray Fosse's career. (Deadspin)
• While the Alabamas and USCs of the universe have lots of financial backing, smaller programs are feeling the pinch of the recession.
• If it were left up to him, Victor Martinez would be a thorn in the White Sox side for many years to come.  (MLB Trade Rumors)
• Q continues to hit during his rehab stint.
• It looks like The Chairman has been spared having to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.  Not that he ever does.
• Put this quote down with "I am not a crook", "Read me lips, no new taxes" and "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."