Bruise Brothers

Was there a more feared one-two punch in the the NHL than the days when Bob Probert and Joey Kocur protected the Detroit Red Wings?

I recently read an interview with Donald Brashear describing what it was like to take on Joey Kocur in a fight:

"Kocur was hitting me in the helmet like a power hammer and in the end the helmet split! I remember the next day I had a terrible pain, my gums on the left side of my head were hurting even though he was hitting me on the right side of my face. I couldn't chew anything. I wonder what it would be if I did not have a helmet? Too scary."

If that wasn't scary enough, you also faced the prospect of having to square off against the bigger Bob Probert.

"Probie was the epitome of a tough guy,'' said the very respectful Peter Worrell. "He had a long career. I'm glad I'm not him. If you were waiting to prove yourself as a tough guy, you had to prove it with Probie."

Read the full Bob Probert and Joey Kocur biographies.

On Fighting and Concussions

With the recent news about Bob Probert's brain injury many people have been busy discussing concussions and fighting in hockey, specifically fighting's future in hockey.

If there was one NHL tough guy as popular and beloved/hated as much as Probert, it was Tie Domi. The two had some epic battles, and Domi was one of the few to get into more punch-ups in his career than Probert. One article speculated he was in as many as 400 fights in his hockey career including juniors and professional.

Which of course has many wondering about Domi's thoughts on the brain damage issue, as well as his own long term health. But until recently, the articulate Domi kept perfect silence on the issue. He has finally spoke out, somewhat reluctantly, through a Steve Simmons interview with the Toronto Sun.

In the interview Domi tried to say as little as possible. But in doing so he made some fascinating statements, including that he has no intention of seeking medical attention.

"If I get checked out, then what? What’s that going to do for me? I’m one of those guys who doesn’t like to look in the past. I haven’t read one article about what happened (to Probert) and I don’t plan on reading one. People keep sending them to, pointing me to them, but I’m not looking at them, I’m not looking in the past. I’m looking ahead. It’s how I have to be."

On what it is like to be a fighter:

“But I don’t think most people understand what it’s like (to be a fighter). When you did what we did, you don’t miss having the anxiety and pressure that goes with it. You did it because you had to do it, and you don’t want to talk about anymore when it’s over.

As for his fighting past, he makes no apologies:

“(Fighting) is my past life. It’s made me who I am and I’ll never forget that. I never discuss it with anybody, though. I never talk about fighting, ever. I’m not comfortable talking about it. Mentally, it was tough, tough on me. It was part of my job. It was what I had to do. I did whatever I had to do to make it. My dream was to be a hockey player. Everybody told me I was too small or not good enough. So I did whatever I had to do to make it. Once you’re done you’re done. There’s no point going back and talking about it.”

The article is a great read. Domi goes on to talk about his personal relationship with Bob Probert, a seemingly unlikely friendship based on great respect. He also talks about his belief that one day a player may die on the ice as the result of a fight.

Of course, that's already happened in an Ontario senior league a couple of years back. Sadly, little has changed since. Fighting sells, and that's the bottom line, the only line the NHL seems to care about.

I used to be quite indifferent to fighting - I've enjoyed more than a few tussles over the years but at the same time I could live without in the game. I used to believe fighting served a purpose at the NHL level. But now I believe the NHL needs to do what is right - end fighting, end all blindside hits and blows to the head. Come up with standardized suspensions based on intent, not injury. Extend the punishment to the teams by not allowing salary cap relief or roster replacements for suspended players.

A culture change is needed in hockey, and the NHL needs to be responsible enough to lead the way.

Bob Probert Found To Have Degenerative Brain Disease

From Hayley Mick of the Globe And Mail:

"Boston University researchers will release findings that show Mr. Probert had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when his heart gave out during a fishing trip last summer. The diagnosis makes him the second former professional hockey player to be found with the degenerative disease after Reggie Fleming, who died in 2009 at the age of 73 with dementia after three decades of worsening behavioural and cognitive problems.

Like Mr. Fleming, Mr. Probert was a fighter who banged his way through more than 200 fights during 16 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He had suffered at least three concussions and struggled with substance abuse. And in his 40s, Ms. Probert said, her normally laid-back husband may have begun to show some of the telltale signs of CTE, such as odd bouts of road rage and memory gaps."

Full Story

In the words of Jeremy Roenick, it's time for the NHL to wake up. They lost Eric Lindros to concussions, amongst many others. They lost Sidney Crosby in what was quickly becoming one of the greatest individual seasons in league history. And who knows, perhaps Crosby may never be able to full recover from this.

It is time for the NHL to dramatically change it's culture regarding head shots and even fighting. If the NHL does not do it, one day they will be forced to do so, and will lose control over their own future.

Hillbilly Jim Meets Bob Probert

Look at what I found for sale on eBay:

I do not think I would have recognized Hillbilly Jim without his customary overalls. What is up with those pants he's wearing?! And look how much bigger Hillbilly is compared to Bob Probert, who I assume is still wearing his skates and full equipment.

Tough Guy by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day

It is not often a book's prologue is entitled The Last Chapter. It is even less often those first 12 or so pages puts you through such an emotional roller-coaster that you may have to put the book down to catch your breath when you are done reading it!

That's how Tough Guy: My Life On The Edge by Bob Probert with Kirstie McLellan Day, starts out. And it only gets better.

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

In that opening prologue Kirstie McLellan Day recreates Bob Probert's dying moments with such clarity it is as if you are right there on the boat too and it is happening all over again. The wide range of emotions I experienced while reading this passage was as amazing as any 12 pages I have ever read in any book. I was left bewildered and exhausted as she described the horrible and frantic moment. I was heartbroken for his wife. I was absolutely horrified at the thought of his children witnessing it all. I was angry with his friends who, try as they might, could do nothing. I found myself cheering with hope as another boater arrived to help save the life of one of my hockey heroes. But it was not meant to be. After just 12 pages I was left distraught and exhausted. I wanted to help so bad, knowing that I would have been every bit as helpless as everyone on that boat on that terrible day.

What I am trying to say is this book has one hell of an intro. And it only gets better.

Read the full book review of Tough Guy.

Bob Probert Book Coming

I've got all the details on the upcoming Bob Probert book, including statements from the publisher HarperCollins Canada, over at HockeyBookReviews.com.

Bob Probert Dead At 45

Very sad news today from Twitter @georgemalik:

CKLW says former Red Wing Bob Probert has died at 45 years of age.

He was rushed to hospital after collapsing while on a boat on Lake St. Clair. Emergency crews were seen administering CPR upon the boat's arrival on shore. I am sure more details will come out in the next few hours and days.

I was a huge fan of Bob Probert back in his "Bruise Brothers" days with Joey Kocur in Detroit in the 1980s. For me he was the most intimidating player I ever saw. I have never been a huge fan of fighting, but I was fascinated by the fearsome presence Probert commanded. He was a villain, but one I really enjoyed.

As a fighter he has to be one of the top 5 of all time. He was honest about it though. He wouldn't jump you from behind, he would square up with you first then beat the crap out of you. And the thing I always admired about him most - as an older player he probably should not have had to drop the gloves as much as he did. But he always obliged the younger fighters, and gave them a chance to make a name for themselves. It may sound odd, but it was a great show of respect by Probert. Not every fighter does that.

Of course YouTube fight clips will be overloaded now. There were many great Probert bouts (click on opposing name for YouTube link) - Tie Domi, Marty McSorley, Dave Semenko, Wendel Clark, Dave Brown. My personal favorite would have to have been the showdown with Craig Coxe, and the rematch fight with Troy Crowder.

Probert was more than a goon. He could play. Mind you playing along Steve Yzerman in the late 1980s would inflate anyone's offensive numbers, but don't think for a minute that Probert's presence did not help out a young Stevie Y a whole lot.

Any mention of Probert's life would be incomplete without mentioning his demons - the drugs and the alcohol and the spinoffs from that. But full credit to Probert. He seemed to have really cleaned up his life in recent years. He should be admired for doing so.

Bob Probert gone at 45. Wow. That one word really about sums it up, doesn't it.

UPDATE: Here is a link to a Steve Simmons article that I consider the best piece on Probert's life that I read all day. Here's just a taste:

He was a curiosity, a specimen, a spectacle in good times and bad.

Just a great line. The article has also great quotes from Steve Yzerman, Jim Devellano Colin Campbell and Marty McSorley.

UPDATES 2: George Malik has done an awesome job compiling all the major media stories concerning Bob Probert.

Probert Crowned Heavy Weight Champ

The Vancouver Province has crowned Bob Probert as the NHL's all time greatest heavyweight.

Our panelists agree, with one dissenter, that Bob Probert is the meanest, toughest, best fighter of all time in the NHL. And if he's tougher than Dave Brown, that's saying something.

Panelist member Don Taylor had some interesting insight:

The bigger the stage, the better Probert fought.
"Who can forget Probert's successful rematch with Tie Domi at Madison Square Garden or his demolishing of Dave Semenko?
"Bob Probert was at his best when all eyes were on him, when his title was challenged, when people doubted him."

Be sure to check out The Vancouver Province's website for more features. There is also a nice article on former Canucks' pugilist Craig Coxe.

You can read my profile on Bob Probert here.

Probert vs. Brown: Who's the NHL's all time champ?

Bob Probert vs. Dave Brown. Who would you choose as the NHL's all time heavyweight champion?

The Vancouver Province newspaper has been running a promotion to determine hockey's all time greatest fighter. The two finalists are Probert and Brown. Probert advanced through, among others, Ted Lindsay, Clark Gillies, Tony Twist and Dave Semenko, while Brown successfully fended off the likes of Stu Grimson, Gordie Howe and Joey Kocur.

It's not surprising that two modern era fighters are in the final. I can't think of two more feared heavyweights in their time. I suspect Probert will come out on top. He was a fan favorite who got a lot of ink in his heydays, although not always for the right reason. Probert took on everyone and anyone, whereas Brown was much more picky in his glove dropping, and therefore probably never lost a fight.

Place your vote at TheProvince.com. The winner will be announced next Sunday!

Below is a YouTube video of the two heavyweights going head to head. Be sure to watch the replay, as a different camera angle is shown. The standing crowd tends to block the original camera at times.

Hockeytown still loves Probert

The Windsor Star's Bob Duff nicely captured a nice side story from Tuesday night's Steve Yzerman jersey retirment. The side story - Bob Probert's return to Hockeytown.

The ovation was compelling and passionate.

For Steve Yzerman?

Yeah, his too.

On Tuesday, the night the Detroit Red Wings honoured Yzerman by retiring his No. 19 sweater, the Hockeytown faithful also embraced the return of Windsor's Bob Probert to Joe Louis Arena.

Duff asked about Probert's favorite moments as a Red Wing. Not surprisingly, they revolve around fights.

"One that sticks out and it was a big thing, was when I fought (Belle River's Tie) Domi, our second fight in New York," Probert said.

"He had cut me over the eye in the first fight and did this thing with his hands, like he was wearing the heavyweight championship belt.

After the second fight, when I beat Domi, I looked over at our bench and there was Yzerman, standing on the bench, giving the heavyweight belt sign with his hands.

Probert also reveals how he aided good friend and former Bruise Brother Joe Kocur in his return to the Red Wings and the NHL in 1996.

"Joe was playing in an over-30 league (in 1996) and looking to get back into the NHL," Probert said. "He knew that the Wings were looking for toughness. (Chicago) was in town to play Detroit and he came down to see me the morning of the game. 'You've got to get into it tonight and help me out,'" he told me.

"That night, I speared (Jamie) Pushor and fought (Brendan) Shanahan and the next day, Joe got a call from the Red Wings."

Kocur won two Stanley Cups after his return to Hockeytown.

"He still thanks me for that," Probert said.

Of course, Probert is also remembered for his off ice problems, namely substance abuse. These days he's keeping busy by keeping hockey in his life. He plays in many charity alumni games and teaches at hockey schools, though he still has trouble crossing international borders due to his past.

"I'm living life," he said. "I'm busy, but I'm having a lot of fun."