OT: Tom Kowalski dead
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2011/08/tom_kowalski_detroit_lions_die.html
This saddens me a great deal, I really enjoyed his writing. RIP Killer, we'll miss you!
August 29th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
thats really too bad. read a lot of his stuff and always enjoyed him on the lions pregame show.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
Stunning news. He just filed a report this morning too. Unreal man
August 29th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
wow a big surprise, i loved his writing.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Killer was one of the few reasons to happen by MLive periodically. He had journalistic integrity, and wrote really well.
A terrible loss at 51 years. Thoughts and prayers go out to Tom and his family!
August 29th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
I don't read MLive much any longer, but I usually do check in on Killer's tidbits. Bad news. If the Lions magically make the playoffs this year, I will raise a glass on behalf of Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Knowledgeable. Opinionated. Good guy. Died too damn young.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
RIP Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
I cannot believe this. Stunned.
RIP, Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
August 29th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
to his family. He was a good writer, and I enjoyed his work. He will be missed.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
but I did enjoy his banter with Terp and Sean on 96.1 here in GR. Sad news.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
Killer was my favorite part of that Trio. When the show went from Sean & Terp to Sean, Terp & Killer, the quality of the show increased in a major way. I was blown away when I got the email this morning... RIP Killer
August 29th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
I started listening to the show more frequently once Killer became a regular. I never read his stuff on mlive, but I thought he did a great job on the radio and usually did a pretty good job of keeping Sean on point and not letting him go off on crazy tangents. I did a double take when I saw this thread. This is truly sad news. RIP Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
This is tragic news. I've thoroughly enjoyed Killer's work on the radio over the years. RIP Tom.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
Bummer man. Killer was one of the first newspaper writers in Detroit to really embrace the web. I always enjoyed reading his work, and he'll certainly be missed.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
My goodness. At 51? RIP Killer. Always enjoyed his columns.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
I loved his lions coverage.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
One less quality journalist in the world. Huge loss. Prayers for his family.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
Very sad. The only one I could stand on Shawn and Terp
August 29th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
I started reading Kowalski's reports and writings during my freshman year in Ann Arbor and haven't stopped since. His radio interviews on WDFN were priceless--I always looked forward to listening to those.
This is a huge loss for Lions fans and sports journalists. This guy was the textbook beat reporter and not one of those cookie-cutter guys that didn't do the work. He busted his butt to get the job done and even better: He interacted with the fans in chats, forums (yeah, the mlive.com Lions forum) and now on Twitter. A lot of national beat writers could take a page from Killer...RIP.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
I still read him from all the way down here in Houston. RIP and prayers etc.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
I have been a Killer fan for years. His work on WDFN with Sean B was the only thing worth listening too.
Killer was the best part of MLIve. You could always count on his honest opinion.
My thoughts and prayers to his family, his fiancee and to his extended family at WDFN.
Killer, you will be missed!
August 29th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
Best beat writer in the area by a sizable margin (it would be huge if it weren't for Helene St. James for Red Wings coverage). He'll be terribly missed by all Lions fans. Too early.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
Very nice tribute from Jim Rome on his show just a few minutes ago. Damn, I'm going to miss his Lions reporting. RIP Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
RIP Killer
August 29th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
I knew Killer personally, he was such a cool guy, never took crap but still cared about you. Rest in peace Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^
Holy crap... RIP Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
RIP Killer, sympathy to his family
August 29th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
I listened to Sean and Terp a lot two years ago. They added Killer to the show about a year ago to make it Sean Terp and Killer. It's my favorite sports show to listen to on the way home from my summer job. He always did an excellent job covering the Lions. This is so shocking. Thoughts and prayers with his friends and family.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^
I've not been the biggest Lions fan over the years, even though I grew up in the Detroit area. But, my little exposure to opinions about the Lions over the years has been via Tom's articles. I was always impressed with his pull-no-punches style and deep knowledge that came through in his writing. If he saw a turd, he called it a turd. But, he always seemed balanced too and not overly harsh on the team or its players. He'll be missed. RIP Tom.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
So sad. Listening to Killer on 96.1 was the highlight of my drives home from work. His articles on mlive were always a good read and a great way to keep up on the Lions. He will be greatly missed.
August 29th, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
I was just listening to him on the Omelet and Finster radio show this morning....this sucks....RIP Killer
August 29th, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
What a shame. He seemed like he always did a great job of straddling the line between shameless homer and objective reporter and was always entertaining and informative. Made Sean and Terp a whole lot better too; I never read his columns with any regularity, but I'll definitely miss him giving Terp a hard time about being a Michigan slap.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
Very sad. It's hard to think of a journalist more tied to a particular sports team in Michigan.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
8-8
10-6
9-7
5-11
1-15
16-0
August 29th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
51 is way too young to drop dead. Another one of the "good guys" is gone. RIP, Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
i really hoped as i opened this that the thread title was somehow misleading. that's very, very sad, and i feel for his family. killer will forever be one of those people i associate with lions football, and he'll be missed. prayers to his family & friends.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^
I still cant process this, Killer was the reporter who provided a voice to anguished Lions fans year after year...a great all around guy. Wow he will truly be missed!
August 29th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
You will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
As a lifelong Detroiter and Lions fan, killer and M-Live were my go to for all things lions. I had the pleasure of meeting killer at a few of WDFN's radio events, and he was an amazing guy to have a beer with and talk football. This is a loss not just for lions fans but for football fans everywhere. Thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones today, as he will be missed
August 29th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
and..............Damn.
You will be missed Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^
He will undoubtedly will be missed and remembered.
August 29th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
The Lions should do something to honor Kowalski, even if it's just a moment of silence at their home opener. The guy was Lions football, and everyone at Ford Field knows who he is.
August 29th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
Very sad to hear. He was someone who I always looked forward to listen to on the radio or read in the newspaper. RIP.
August 29th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
He had a unique attribute for a sports writer in that he seemed so accessible, so normal. He made the Lions seem more like "my" team. And I believe the lIons will finally have their due this year with great things coming. I've never seen Tom cover a good Lions team. Curious how that would have turned out.
Thanks for your effots, Killer.
August 29th, 2011 at 4:05 PM ^
August 29th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
August 29th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
Very sad. Will miss the guy. RIP.
August 29th, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^
I know I am late on this one - I was in meetings all day, came across this thread, and my jaw almost fell off.....
Very sad news. I would read his contributions every week. He even filed a report this morning. Wow.