Tough Guy: Bob Probert

[HallOfGreatness4]

I am a newer fan of the game of hockey, really got addicted to it last winter. I sat down this past spring in the book store and started reading the Bob Probert book, it's really a great read. I didn't get all the way through it and didn't buy it--I'm going to go back and pick it up or finish it some boring night here when the regular season gets underway.

Anyone here a fan of Probert, want to talk Probert or post some classic Probert fights?

He was a wild, wild dude it sounds like in the book. Played hockey through generations and died way too young. His wife sounds like every man's dream.

A great hockey read it looks to be if you have not read it yet. 'Tough Guy' and 'The Game' have been my first two hockey reads so far.

Click to read more...

 

[habsjunkie2*]

Probert was a rare breed. Extraordinary fighter who was a pretty good player too. That's what I find so fascinating about Probs, the guy could actually play. He had 20 goals a couple of times and pushed 30 once. The best fighter the NHL has ever seen imo and played the protector role like nobody else.

 

[Elvis Presley]

I got it decently priced on amazon, finished it in a few days, great read. I'm on Bure's book at the moment with The Game electronically

 

[Made Dan]

I have the book but didn't get a chance to read it yet. Really want to.

 

[pld459666]

There's a hockey fight tape out there somewhere "The Bruise Brothers" it's all Probert and Kocur when they were with teh Wings.

Bob Probert was a man amongst men. One of those rare types where he was able to physically manhandle any and all tough guys and when he broke into the game, there were a dozen truly legit tough guys.

There's not one heavyweight guy in the game today that prime vs. prime could carry Probert's equipment bag.

I never saw Chara lose a fight, but I would be my house that Probert would give him a beating.

I miss him and that type of player in today's game.

 

[3rdManIn]

I read Bobs book.It's a pretty good read.The repetitive "I got loaded,got locked up and went to rehab" gets a little old after a while.I was very surprised that he never really mentions Kocur.

If you like the fight game ,here is a recommended read.

"The code"
http://www.amazon.com/Code-Unwritte...7561/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316706757&sr=8-1

 

[HallOfGreatness4]

Anyone here ever met Probie?

 

[Killahpunk]

Have the book, great read. Highly recommended.

Probert was one of my childhood idols. I hope Probie, Boogie, Ripper, and Belak are all having a beer together telling stories of their epic battles.

 

[ARCTICCAT24]

Have the book, great read. Highly recommended.

Probert was one of my childhood idols. I hope Probie, Boogie, Ripper, and Belak are all having a beer together telling stories of their epic battles.

Couldn't have said it any better than this.

 

[probertrules24]

I have been a Wings fan all my life. I can still remember Probie coming up to the Wings and instantly becoming my favorite new player. As a young hockey player at that time I remember switching my number to 24 and played with that number all through midget and junior hockey. I also went from being one of the top scorers in the league to more of a gritty in face player that stood up for all my teammates just because of him. As a kid I didn't have access to the internet and can remember watching those VHS tapes over and over.

The day Probert wasn't resigned by the Wings and Went to Chicago was terrible. Though even playing for one of our biggest rivals I still followed him and loved watching him. The Day he passed I actually shed a little tear. It seemed like he was getting his life back and had his demons in check. I felt so sad for his family.

I have had conversations with a few players that played with him and against him they mentioned how it was different playing on the same line as him as there always seemed to be that much more room you were given. Nobody wanted to take that cheapshot or get him mad because of what would happen. I also had a long conversation with Kelly Chase one night and asked him who he thought was the toughest. He said without a doubt even to this day (he was still playing) that he was the toughest and most feared guy on the ice.

Yes the book was a great read just to hear and understand his point of view.

 

[HallOfGreatness4]

I have been a Wings fan all my life. I can still remember Probie coming up to the Wings and instantly becoming my favorite new player. As a young hockey player at that time I remember switching my number to 24 and played with that number all through midget and junior hockey. I also went from being one of the top scorers in the league to more of a gritty in face player that stood up for all my teammates just because of him. As a kid I didn't have access to the internet and can remember watching those VHS tapes over and over.

The day Probert wasn't resigned by the Wings and Went to Chicago was terrible. Though even playing for one of our biggest rivals I still followed him and loved watching him. The Day he passed I actually shed a little tear. It seemed like he was getting his life back and had his demons in check. I felt so sad for his family.

I have had conversations with a few players that played with him and against him they mentioned how it was different playing on the same line as him as there always seemed to be that much more room you were given. Nobody wanted to take that cheapshot or get him mad because of what would happen. I also had a long conversation with Kelly Chase one night and asked him who he thought was the toughest. He said without a doubt even to this day (he was still playing) that he was the toughest and most feared guy on the ice.

Yes the book was a great read just to hear and understand his point of view.

Awesome post, I love reading stuff like this.

 

[Retire91]

A family member got me a copy from the Borders release in Birmingham MI it has autograph from Darrin McCarty who spoke along with Probert's wife at the release. I liked the book it is a good read.

I had a news paper project I was working on that had the famous picture of Detroit's production line. Underneath that Yzerman Fedorov and Probert posed for a replica picture. Over the years I received autogrpahs from Howe, Able, Lindsay, Fedorov and Yzerman. I watched and watched papers and the internet for years and Probert never seemed to do public signings. At one point I even randomly had a dialog with one of his cousins in a wings forum but she of course declined to help some crazy fan from the internet (can't blame her) LOL.

In another forum someone was nice enough to PM me when they saw he was going to be signing at a shop just down the street from them up near London. It was about a 3 hour drive and I had to leave work early. He was a total class act. He was so happy some people drove all the way from Detroit to see him. He told me he still had the original printed photo from that very newspaper which they gave each player and it was hanging up in his basement. If I get a chance I will post a picture of the news paper with the signature.

He talked to us for about 10 minutes, all smiles. I remember how physically imposing he was. I never realized how tall he was and his hands had lots of visible scars of course from all the fighting.

From my experience and all the stories from players he just seems like the kinda person you never forget.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I knew about Probert back when I only knew a handful of players by name. The guy was one of a kind.

 

[Helm]

I was blessed to see every game Probert ever played in while he was a Wing. He was a great fighter and could play also. It was such a treat seing him and Kocur run the ice.

One thing I liked about Probert was if you cheapshotted a Wings player Probert would almost always go after the other teams tough guy to prove the point. He didn't go after non-fighters and he almost always went by the code at that time.

The only time I saw him go insane and cheapshot or punch a non fighter was when Maguire went after Yzerman. Probie would have killed anyone in his way of the path to get to Maguire on that day. He just never let anyone ever mess with Stevie so all bets were off then.

I think it was the Blues who got Bo Kimble just to fight Probert and the day he arived they played Detroit. Kimble dropped them on Probert and Probert had this HUGE smile and dropped the mitts and proceeded to destroy Kimble. The refs had to stop it because at one point Probert held his head up in the air with one hand while pounding him with the other. I honestly thought Kimble would be severely injured at the least in that fight.

Here's the Maguire vid if anyone wants to see it. Pretty awesome stuff.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I love the interaction between Barrasso and Probert in that vid. Not just the punch, which is pretty funny unto itself, but the way they circle around afterward. It's like watching someone trying to convince a hungry lion to let its prey get away.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think it was the Blues who got Bo Kimble just to fight Probert and the day he arrived they played Detroit. Kimble dropped them on Probert and Probert had this HUGE smile and dropped the mitts and proceeded to destroy Kimble. The refs had to stop it because at one point Probert held his head up in the air with one hand while pounding him with the other. I honestly thought Kimble would be severely injured at the least in that fight.

You mean Darin Kimble? He played for the Nordiques too for a little bit.

 

[Killahpunk]

Anyone read The Code - The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL?

 

[Helm]

You mean Darin Kimble? He played for the Nordiques too for a little bit.

Yes, I meant Darin I'm sorry. I don't know where the Bo came from.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

This thread has inspired me to re-read my copy of Probie's book again for the third time. Great book it is for sure. It really is a shame that he's no longer with us.

I'm not a Wings fan by any means but I always loved Probie. He was the true definition of enforcer and just seemed like a really great guy. Sure he had his troubles here and there but hey...we're all human right?

Probie will always be the "Muhammad Ali" of hockey enforcers as far as I'm concerned.

RIP Champ...hope to meet ya someday somewhere.