About a week ago, there was very sad news in the world of sports. Bob Probert, best known for his time with the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, passed away at the age of 45.
First, let's back up. Bob Probert, outside of the NHL, is not a well known individual. Bob Probert is remembered as possibly, and in my opinion as well, the greatest NHL enforcer in the history of the game. This guy never backed down from anybody, and you knew to watch yourself when he was on the ice. Every other tough guy dreamed of fighting Probert because if you could last against him, I don't say beat him, because nobody really beat Probert, then you knew that you were worth your salt. All you need to do is read this story and listen to the remarks of other enforcers who played with him or against him to see how respected he was. Most fans probably hated him, unless he played for your guys, but every single player seems to speak well of him.
Strangely enough, I have a couple of Bob Probert stories! None from my own point of view, but second hand, from some of my acquaintances and friends. Firstly, I heard about this story when I was playing golf up in Anchorage last week. One of the guys I was playing with, a friend of my father in law, used to play summer league hockey. He once fought Bob Probert in a summer league. Yes, he lived to tell the tale, but he said that he definitely felt silly for going with him once things were all done. The other story I have comes from one of my very good friends in Alaska. He used to be a goalie and played for some of the under 18 US teams. He was quite a sought after prospect, but had a career ending knee injury. He was telling a story of a time they were in Detroit and were practicing right after the Red Wings. Probert was still on the ice when he got out and was warming up. There was some playful banter, that ended with Probert betting him that he couldn't stop his slap shot. My friend agreed. Probert came up, took his shot, and shot the puck directly THROUGH his catching glove. More banter. "I caught it." "No you didn't, it went right through!" In the end, Probert caught up with him after practice, and handed him a couple of hundred dollars, "to get a new mit," according to Probert. In both our opinions, not only just because he ruined his catching glove, but because he respected that an 18 year old kid could catch an NHL slap shot. And that is something that you could never deny about Probert. He respected the game, and the people that play it. Sure, he knocked people's heads off, but he knew when it was and wasn't appropriate to fight. And, as you see in the videos, there are a couple of times when his opponents fall to their knees for a second and he could seriously clobber them, and he doesn't. He lets them get back up.
As a fan, I hated his guts because he always beat up the goon on my team, but as a guy who appreciates hockey and the sheer toughness and determination the game takes, you can't help but respect and appreciate what Bob Probert did for the game.
RIP, Bob Probert
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