OT: Widow Spread Bob Probert's Ashes in the Penalty Box at the Joe
Came across this story and wanted to share it with the board. Bob Probert's widow was at the last game at the Joe and spread some of his ashes in the penalty box.
I wanted to share it because I'm sure he has a special place in many of our hearts. A lot of us grew up watching him and it was really sad when he went to Chicago, and even sadder when he passed away.
Thought it was a fitting tribute to spread his ashes in the penalty box.
R.I.P. Bob Probert
The penalty box is a good one, and not likely to object. Hell, they knew one another quite well.
The other choices would have been Marty McSorley or Tie Domi's jaws. They would be likely to object.
Protected Yzerman in his younger years, and had quite the scoring touch for a tough guy. His demons were his biggest fight, though. RIP, Probie. What an appropriate JLA tribute from his wife.
Some people forget that Gerald Gallant was there for Stevie Y as well. Him, Burr, Chiasson, Dino and Konstantinov, to an extent, just dont get the same amount of love despite all they did thru those trying years. Close but no cigar so to speak. Just couldnt get over the play off hump until Scotty Bowman came to town.
Hell, I even liked Yves Racine back then. God, Mr Illich was good to us. Before the salary cap, we had players on our 3rd and 4th lines that could play on other team's first and second lines.
Only ever got to see Probert fight in person once. Nose bleed seats, and they broke it up fast. That said, I am glad I am least seen him play. I remember that after the Domi fight, they talked about it for days on ESPN. One person commented that they have seen less punches thrown in a boxing match.
I gave up following hockey in like 03. It flared my Crohns Disease up every yr when the play offs hit. Like Mikey Redmond says, it is no place for a nervous person. :)
Named those guys but no mention of the second half of the Bruise Brothers? Joey Kocur would like to have a talk with you.
Man I miss that eras hockey. Games against Toronto or St Louis or Chicago were so much fun to watch. The buzz would build for days. Especially against Domi and Toronto you could expect at least one period with 200+ penalty minutes. I miss that. Hockey today is a pussy sport in comparison. Its freaking figure skating. Ken Holland would not approve.
Loved watching Probert play here, and I was sad - as others were - when he left for Chicago. This tribute, however, is both amusing and appropriate and I would assume that he would have approved of it.
That is fucking awesome. I loved Probert and was so glad he was on our team. The younger guys on here won't remember him like some of us older dudes, but man, he was one bad mofo that allowed Yzerman and Federov to do their thing. One of my all-time favorite Wings.
The Bruise Brothers will never be forgotten.
Probert was the spit to Stevie Y's shine. He and Kocur could go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league. Those 90's Wings teams were some of the most fun to watch because they could do everything.
a few years later. at the opening game at anaheim's new rink, wings playing the ducks in the ducks first ever regular season game. my buddy lloyd, about the only canadian i knew in socal, he was older (50+) but had played juniors in montreal. anyway, he is working the wings penalty box for the game and toward the end of the game probert is there with one of the other wings.
they get to admiring the bucket of commemorative pucks that were being used for the game, and kept in the penalty box for warm-ups. they are trying to figure out how to get some over to the bench and lloyd hears them talking. so without realzing what he was saying, he goes to probert, 'put them in your pants!' probert looks at him with a death stare, then realizes that lloyd had said it innocently, not in reference to probert having some trouser coke at the US/canadian border. probert starts laughing and tells my buddy how close to death he came.
Rest in Peace Bob Probert
One of the last...
What better place and time than now to come back home?
you old softie, that is a dandy.
April 12th, 2017 at 12:32 AM ^
My family spread some of my uncles ashes at Comerica in a clandestine fashion. Cant deny you permission if you dont bother asking lol.
he will be there, in that penalty box for as long as anyone can fathom it.
So when they are reading the archives of this blog 1,000 years from now, he will still be there.
Great story
Back when I actually watched the regular season games, like when they were exciting and everything. He was my favorite player in that era. I think it's a great gesture. Highlight reels are all we have now. R.I.P.
Of that toothless grin!! Probert was one of the top enforcers of his era! And actually had some offensive skills to boot.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Back in 92 when I was in college, I was a bartender on the Star of Detroit, which was a cruise liner which went up and down the Detroit River. There was Star I which was a larger yacht specializing in dinner cruises, and Star II which was a Mississippi style Paddlewheel boat which was the "party boat", especially on Friday afternoon Happy Hours. It held about 60 people.
One particular Friday, we were on Star II out near Grosse Point and this speedboat with a couple of Red Wings drove past and stopped. Probert was one of the players. We had a Tex Mex Happy Hour thing going and the manager made some Burritos for them and threw them over the side of the boat to the happy Red Wings who gladly ate them up. Then they waved and sped off.
That was a fun summer...
April 11th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
We were have been married 26 years ago and all I wanted in 1991 was a Probert jersey. The guy was electric and quite a skilled player. I saw him battle Domi in Maple Leaf Gardens and Stu Grimson at the Chicago Stadium along with all the battles in the Joe. Everywhere he went ,the crowds were abuzz.
His daughter looks so much like him and I hope she knows how much her dad was adored.
I have gone to a Wings game every year on my Dad's birthday. Last year we celebrated his 88th with him wearing his Yzerman jersey and me with my Probert jersey.
Like my other all time favorite Detroit athlete,Norm Cash, we lost him way too early.
(J. Geils unfortunately passed away today for any old timers who remember great concerts at Cobo arena).
April 11th, 2017 at 11:50 PM ^
the best fight I've ever seen. The icing on the cake was the respect they paid each other with the little forehead tap at the end. Unbelievable fight.
April 12th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
Will have to disagree... the bench clearing brawl between the Wings and the Avs in 98, with the Osgood vs. Roy goalie bout, is my fav.
April 12th, 2017 at 12:17 AM ^
Am I the only one who thinks this is pretty gross even if the Joe is going to be demolished? I'm just can't be pro-charred human remains being spread anywhere that people are going to be.
April 12th, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
some of his ashes. I wonder if she spread any of them in the Detroit/Windsor tunnel?