Bob Probert dead at 45

I was going to lead with the Pirates win yesterday over the Phillies,but the stunning passing of Bob Probert at the age of 45 takes precedence.
Probert was (in my opinion) the greatest enforcer that hockey has ever seen and despite past issues with drugs and alcohol to see him pass away at such a young age is simply stunning.
Probert was on a boat with his family this afternoon and began suffering severe chest pains

Bob Probert was more than just the most feared puncher on skates,he could play the game as well with six seasons of double digits in goals and a career high of 29.
Probert's off ice issues certainly didn't help his career any and it actually caused his departure from Detroit,but it seemed like his post career had been spent straightening up those affairs and Probert was not in the news for negative reasons.
Probert participated in a Canadian reality show called Battle of the Blades last season,which seems to have been a figure skating show.
Probert also made a memorable appearance in WCW with a scrap with Tank Abbott that didn't result in any contact,but did see Probert "save" his boss Bruce McArthur from Abbott.

The amount of classic battles that Bob Probert fought are too numerous to mention as are the people that he fought with.
A few memorable wars were with the Devils Troy Crowder,who beat Probert in their first meeting before Probert gained revenge with an emphatic win in the rematch,Tie Domi,who seemed to delight in taking poundings from Probie and then mouthing off after yet another defeat and against the always scrappy,but undersized Wendell Clark.
Bob Probert's fight record can be found here.


Bob Probert was the reason that I started collecting and making hockey fight tapes (now DVD's) and his collection was the first things that I obtained when I began.
But to me,the death of Bob Probert hits hard for another reason-Bob Probert was 45,there is three years of difference in age between us.
Being in the shape that I am in makes one ponder things in life,maybe it is time that I do something about this and take care of business..

Thanks again to my favorite all time enforcer Bob Probert for the memories and rest in peace...