Kirsch Royale
Hurrah for Leo Kirch! He has won the rights to market Bundesliga football for the next 6 years, until he is 87. He has had an interesting life. The son of a vintner, he borrowed DM25,000 from his wife in 1956 to buy the rights to Fellini's La Strada. He then borrowed more and built up an extensive film library as well as the broadcasting rights for the football World Cup, Formula One racing and other sporting contests. He gave financial support to Helmut Kohl. In the 1990s he ran into trouble with his creditors and his media group collapsed in 2002, then Germany's largest ever bankruptcy. In an interview at that time he told a joke about a man who thought he was dead but whose friend comforted him by pointing out that at least he wasn't bankrupt. "Well I have my own version," Kirch said. "They say I'm bankrupt but at least I'm not dead." This week he's risen again.
posted by Whispering Walls at 8:19 am
4 Comments:
There are - as you say - many interesting stories about Kirsch.When I was in Koblenz in 1959/60 ( very young shaver I hasten to add) he was bidding for control of some film properties, and the owner was not budging.
One of the great Germanic traditions is skittles, accompanied by copious quantities of beer, with extras if you win. The idea is obviously to lose the early rounds then clean up.
So he challenged the other tycoon to a "Kugelfest" over 25 rounds. There was much debate about whether it was ethical, businesslike, etc etc etc, but in the end the match took place - machismo will always win out. Kirsch lost the first ten rounds, playing slowly and methodically, and his opponent kept chugalugging the litres of beer. Needless to say, he only needed to win 13 of the remaining rounds, all of which he played at lightning speed whilst his opponent very soon was unable to even lift a ball. Marvelous stuff.
Oh yes, I remember painifully the downfall of KirchMedia - he isn't given a very positive press in Germany - but (and this is going to mess up your post title) it's Leo "Kirch" ohne "S". Sorry.
There's no stopping Leo, by the sound of it. He'll be looking for another venture to support when he is 87. It sounds like he's not the kind of person to take things easy, he needs lots of challenges and stimulation.
Oh...thank you for pointing out that error, IAF.
Great story, KL
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