Bob Probert passes away at 45

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Yeah the people of Detroit are battlers.Not a resident anymore,but a former one.Detroiters seem to get kicked down constantly,but we always get back up.Bob Probert symbolized the city of Detroit as well as its citizens:hard working,fearless,tough as nails.Probie will forever be an icon in the Motor City

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Was it the heat? It's been in the mid-90's around here lately, probably even hotter on the water (guess he was working on his boat). Was shocked to hear this news. RIP #24.

Unfortunately, I'm sure that his past substance/alcohol abuse was a factor in that. Such a shame that he had so many off ice problems.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Hockeytown0001

[T.Low 1,011]

I specifically signed up for this forum to give my regards to all you Detroit fans. I am a die-hard Blues fan, yet find myself devastated by the loss of Probie. What an absolute warrior, and a hell of a hockey player. I am 29 years old, grew up hating Probert, but always dreamed of how great he would look in the 'Note.

I am so sorry for your loss Detroit. Life has a way of smacking you between the eyes, does it not?

Thanks dude. I for one appreciate you taking the time to pay your respects this way.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I specifically signed up for this forum to give my regards to all you Detroit fans. I am a die-hard Blues fan, yet find myself devastated by the loss of Probie. What an absolute warrior, and a hell of a hockey player. I am 29 years old, grew up hating Probert, but always dreamed of how great he would look in the 'Note.

I am so sorry for your loss Detroit. Life has a way of smacking you between the eyes, does it not?

:thumbup:

[T.Low 1,011]

This probably my favorite.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29YpLsl_FtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCZEMSsGWYU

Edited July 6, 2010 by Hockeytown0001

[Vladiator 116]

This is so sad. My prayers to his family and friends. Bob was one of my favs of all time despite all the problems he had. I was always rooting for him as a player and as a person.

[Norwegian Red Wing 107]

RIP Probie

[Austrianwing 71]

Wow, this is really sad, he always seemed so indestructible. I wish the news articles paid a little more attention to the fact that he was not just a tough guy, but a pretty damn good hockey player. R.I.P Bob, and my condolences to your family.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

Man did Probie ever deserve the reception he got during Yzerman's retirement ceremony in '07. Around the 2:20 min mark. Obviously no one had a bigger reception than Vladdy and Stevie. But Probie deserved every cheer and then some! We'll never forget Bob Probert.

Edited July 6, 2010 by TheDetroitRedWings

[Paolino99 5]

RIP Bob

i will miss you!

[Zion 93]

Devastating loss.

RIP, Bruise Brother.

[Nhurdi 42]

Great player, one of my favorites back when he played for us.

[Free_Candy 38]

I've been traveling and just found out about this. Probert was one of my favorites and to me he's always been a Wing (but a universal badass in the best way most of all) Such a shock, and so sad. My condolences and prayers. Rest in peace.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Free_Candy

[55fan 5,133]

I just got home from work and found out the news.

He was only a year older than I am. It seems so young.

RIP, Probie. If only we could turn back time.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Couldn't believe this news when I heard it yesterday. Just terrible.

My condolences to all those affected by this tragic loss.

[Guest mindfly]

Godspeed Probert, best enforcer in the history of the game.

[Nevermind 363]

RIP Probie

[stevkrause 1,247]

I'm still in absolute disbelief... not only was he the best enforcer in the history of the game, but he was the quintessential power forward in his prime

Although he had his issues off the ice, he was one of my biggest childhood icons and always got the arena buzzing when he stepped onto the ice, couple that with a couple of the awe-struck meetings of his as a child and I still can't believe this...

he was way too young.......

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Snapshots has got an enormous roundup of reactions from around the league. Good stuff from guys like Stevie, Joey Kocur, and Shawn Burr:

Former Red Wings center Shawn Burr always knew he was safe with Probert on his wing. Burr was a motor-mouth agitator and, at one point, played on the same line with Probert and Kocur. When Probert or Kocur wanted to fight, they'd turn to their teammate and say, "Burrsie, get them riled up."

"They always wanted me to get under the skin of the other guys first so they wouldn't get an instigator penalty," Burr recalled during an interview last year. Chicago's) Al Secord told me he was going to kill me. I was playing center. I looked over at the left wing and Probie was there. I looked over at the right wing and Joey was there. I said, 'I don't think so, Al.'"

[McAwesome 754]

Wow, I totally didn't see this coming. How sad for his family, but I guess if you have to go, better to be surrounded by those you live the most. RIP Probie, you will be missed.

I wonder if the team will do anything to honor him this season, like a patch or something on the ice or taking #24 out of circulation for a while.

[cincywingfan 1]

Requiescat In Pace Probie

Thanks for helping make the 80's Wings watchable.

Edited July 6, 2010 by cincywingfan

[Casey 145]

Wow, I totally didn't see this coming. How sad for his family, but I guess if you have to go, better to be surrounded by those you live the most. RIP Probie, you will be missed.

I wonder if the team will do anything to honor him this season, like a patch or something on the ice or taking #24 out of circulation for a while.

I wouldn't be surprised by either. Give the 24 a rest for a year, add a 24 sticker or patch to the jersey.

It says something when Chris Chelios isn't even the top badass to wear the number.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I wouldn't be surprised by either. Give the 24 a rest for a year, add a 24 sticker or patch to the jersey.

It says something when Chris Chelios isn't even the top badass to wear the number.

It says quite a bit that neither was Brad May...

[Chairman Maouth 97]

Fantastic article by Mitch Albom. Apologies if it's been posted already.

Bob Probert's tough story ended far too soon

BY MITCH ALBOM

FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

What is a man? Is he the worst he’s ever done? If so, Bob Probert will be remembered for a night he dropped his pants at the Canadian border and a packet of cocaine fell out. He’ll be remembered for handcuffs, for jail, for alcoholism, for wrapping a Monte Carlo around a utility pole, for crashing a motorcycle with his bloodstream laced with substances, and for year after year single-handedly exhausting the patience of the Red Wings’ front office.

What is a man? Is he the best he has ever done? If so, Bob Probert will be remembered for a good heart, a gentle soul, a giant’s body that on skates could do that rarest of combinations, speed, score and wallop. He’ll be remembered for the countless attempts he made at cleaning up instead of giving up, his loyalty to his teammates, his love for his kids, and his sincere desire, each time he said it, to get his life together and live out his days in peace.

What is a man? Bob Probert, the son of a Windsor cop, was the most maddening athlete I have ever covered. Charming. Irresponsible. Repentant. Hard-headed.

And now he’s gone.

Lay down your arms, No. 24.

A character from a video game

“I’ve always thought, ‘I’m Bob. I’m big guy Bob. I don’t need anyone’s help,’” he once told me. It was the kind of bitter honesty that made you want to give him another chance.

He got a lot of them.

Young kids won’t understand our fascination with Probert. They don’t make his kind anymore. But there is a reason you still see people wearing his jersey at Joe Louis Arena, more than 15 years since he last played for Detroit.

Coming up in the 1980s, Bob Probert was the sort of warrior they now model video game characters after. Relentless. Brutal. Single-minded. Unafraid of blood. He was an enforcer, a goon, a guy whose main purpose was to make sure nobody messed with his team’s stars. Someone touched Steve Yzerman? Bob Probert touched back hard. Someone ran the goalie? Probert ran him harder.

His fights are legendary and are no doubt being downloaded at a record clip this morning, after news of his sudden death Monday while boating with his family on Lake St. Clair.

But Probert’s battles on the ice were small compared to the ones he fought within. I remember choking up when he told me about his childhood, the early death of his father, the way his teenaged hockey pals encouraged him to drink, drink, drink until he was wrapped around a streetlight or vomiting in the street. As the big guy, the tough guy, in some ways, he never stood a chance. He was soaked with alcohol before he ever became an NHL player.

Once he had money, the parties were endless. Cocaine entered the picture, and with an addict’s personality, that was disaster for Probert. His border arrest was just the start of his high-profile troubles. This was a guy who, at times, couldn’t play away games because he wasn’t allowed out of the country, a guy who had to live within walking distance of the Joe because he wasn’t allowed to drive. I once did an interview at his place, and at the end he asked for a lift to the rink.

His time in Detroit ended badly

“Even when he’s just gotten in trouble,” Jacques Demers once lamented, “he has that look that says, ‘I’m sorry. Help me.' "

And you wanted to help. You wanted Probert to shake his demons. He had that ruddy face, that goofy grin, that tousled hair, the look of a man who could be so happy when he was happy. And he had such skill. So Demers, the coach, stuck out his neck, and Jimmy Devellano, the general manager, stuck out his neck, and Mike Ilitch, the owner, stuck out his neck, and in the end, they all got burned. Probert walked away after a motorcycle crash, signed a free-agent deal with Chicago and made millions more before retiring, finally, in 2002.

By that point, he was a memory here, part of the Bruise Brothers days, a guy who averaged more than 3.5 penalty minutes a game. Ironically, he checked out before the Wings began winning Stanley Cups and he never did get a ring. He had several incidents with the law and alcohol in 2004 and 2005. Most of us don’t know what the last few years have held.

He was 45 when he collapsed Monday afternoon. News spread quickly around here — “Bob Probert died?” — and we were stunned because he seemed so indestructible.

But no one is indestructible. Who knows what finally took him? But it took him too soon. Even to the end, you wanted Probert to make it. He should not be remembered by the worst he did, and he cannot be whitewashed by the best. But whether an opponent, an image, an addiction or a past, Bob Probert was always fighting something. He can lay down his arms now. And finally be at peace.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100705/COL01/100705037/1082/Col01/Bob-Proberts-tough-story-ended-far-too-soon