While a successful player by some measures, including being voted to the 198788 campbell conference allstar team, probert was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the bruise brothers with thenred wing teammate joey kocur, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The bruise brothers throw off the gloves and engage in one of the nhls most. Bob probert film mix of exred wings toughness, tenderness. Ap file photo bob probert will be remembered as a fighter. The casket carrying bob probert is guilded into place on a motorcycle by bob s brother norm probert, right, with help from pallbearers joey kocur, gerry gallant and doug gilmour, all centre, as. Probert and joe kocur terrorized opponents when they were red. Joseph george joey kocur born december 21, 1964 is a canadian former professional ice hockey player. Exdetroit red wings joe kocur and darren mccarty joined bob proberts widow dani probert to share their memories of the former red. Bob probert and joey kocur, who became known as the bruise brothers, fought some of the best battles ever seen in the game as they ruled the. He is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the bruise brothers with then detroit red wings teammate bob probert, during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Detroit red wings joe kocur and bob probert also known as the bruise brothers. Last week in a power rankings post on this site a site that is partinfo aggregator, part fellowship of hockey fans the comments turned to speedy former islander claude lapointe, which turned to marty mcinnis, which turned to mcinnis kid line mate brad dalgarno. Don cherry, joey kocur, steve yzerman, sheldon kennedy, stu grimson, chris chelios, tie domi, tony twist, marty mcsorley, and more. The bob probert story a new documentary on the legendary windsorborn nhl enforcer, screening in windsor on dec. The joe kocur foundation for children home facebook. He was a tough guy known as an enforcer in the nhl at a time when. Portrait of a hockey legend includes interviews of several ice hockey players on their memories of playing against probert. I loved probert and kocur enforcing for the wings, its too bad bob had such bad demons that ultimately cost him his life much too soon. Joe kocur says bruise brother bob probert is a hall of.
Windsors bob probert, the reigning nhl heavyweight champ, and joe kocur. Joe kocur, petr klima and stu grimson, red wings owners mike and marian ilitch said in a statement. Probert headlocked kocur and goes for the takedown but goes down first, kocur gets top of him. This was a grapplingwrestling match until kocur gets his right free nicely. Jul 05, 2010 former nhl tough guy bob probert dead at age 45. Bob probert was a winger with the detroit red wings and the chicago blackhawks between 1986 and 2002. Kocur tryed soon a big uppercut that misses very narrowly. We got really excited about the idea of bob telling his story himself.
Many of us have heard the story of how the red wings signed joe kocur out of a. Joey kocur told the detroit newss ted kulfan that the news of probert s passing broke his heart. I remember the whole lot of us assembling in the lobby of the hotel pontchartrain back in 83 and there stood myself, joey kocur, bob probert, a guy that i played junior with jeff frank, and. Robert alan probert was a canadian professional ice hockey forward. Teaming up with one half of the bruise brothers, thenred wing teammate joe kocur, they have released a book which probert discusses on wrif radio, detroit. My life on the edge, the film uses bob probert s words to narrate the hockey, the substance abuse and. I loved bob probert as a player and i thoroughly enjoyed the book he helped write, published after his death. According to his wife dani, bob probert was a big teddy bear off the ice, but. Before his death, probert had been working on a memoir with kirstie mclellan day, cowriter of theo fleurys bestselling autobiography playing with fire.
Last winter in detroit, he fought and defeated bob probert of the red wings, unofficially considered the leagues fighting champion. Most fans will remember bob probert as one of the most feared hockey players to ever play in the nhl. He is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the bruise brothers with then detroit red wings teammate bob probert. Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of legendary nhl tough guy bob probert. Good friends and former teammates bob probert and joey kocur a. Former teammate and friend joey kocur spoke to don shane about bob probert. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The red wings owners and probert s bruise brother, joe kocur, issued statements on monday afternoon, as s bill roose notes. A tale of twists and turns car dealership and bob probert spurred joe kocur s comeback. As a huge wings fan i remember the fights on and off the ice. The bruise brothers hockeys heavyweight champions bob duff, steve yzerman on. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The only fights tie domi discussed in detail were his epic tilts with windsors bob probert, the reigning nhl heavyweight champ, and joe kocur, probert s bruise brother. Probert and joe kocur terrorized opponents when they were red wings teammates known as the bruise brothers.
Joey kocur is playing in a beer league, detroit should sign him. Former nhl and red wings heavyweights bob probert and joey kocur, along with bob duff of the windsor star, have a book coming soon. My life on the edge by bob probert with kirstie mclellan day, starts. In a notorious career with the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks, bob probert racked up points, penalty minutes, and bar bills, establishing himself as one of the most feared enforcers in the history of the nhl. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Bob probert and joey kocur mix it up with wha legend jack carlson. Along with probert s voice, the documentary includes commentary from wellknown teammates, peers, and even opponents. Summarizing the reflections on former red wings enforcer. I enjoyed reading about bob probert and his struggles and obstacles in life that he had to overcome. Jul 06, 2010 bob probert and joey kocur bruise borthers with steve yzerman and thats all it took they dont get the credit they deserve. Catch up with the latest trailers, including the green knight, the personal history of david copperfield, and the french dispatch.
Buy the paperback book tough guy by bob probert at indigo. A fierce competitor that never backed down from a fight, he is now the subject of a new documentary chronicling his career both on and off the ice, entitled tough guy. Joe kocur, bob probert by bob duff, 9780978977023, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. During a notorious career with the detroit red wings and the chicago blackhawks, bob probert racked up points, penalty minutes and bar bills, establishing himself as one of the most feared enforcers in the history of the nhl. Nov 14, 2010 it is not often a book s prologue is entitled the last chapter. Aug 09, 2019 the documentary covers bobs life chronologically, with bobs words from those book recordings fueling the pace of the movie. Bob probert story is great documentary about one of the toughest hockey players of alltime. Ive mentioned a few times already that bob probert had cte.
Subscribe to the play index and get access to more data than you can imagine. Joe kocur indiana nhl autographed photos for sale ebay. Love this book such an easy read, its funny and deep at the same time it totally gives you a glimpse of what it was like to be them. He was one half of the bruise brothers joey kocur was the other half. Its a mustsee documentary for hockey fans, especially ones that knew of bob probert. Years later were writing a book the bruise brothers and im telling this. Giving back to the local community through a collaboration with childrens charities throughout southeastern michigan.
It is even less often those first 12 or so pages puts you through such an emotional rollercoaster that you may have to put the book down to catch your breath when you are done reading it. Oct 26, 2010 bob probert, born and raised in windsor, ontario, was a winger with the detroit red wings and the chicago blackhawks between 1985 and 2002. This is 30ish people being interviewed, the vast majority of whom say yeah, he had a reputation for being pretty tough i guess. Really good documentary about a tough guy who couldnt get out of his own way. Detroit many of us have heard the story of how the red wings signed joe kocur out of a detroit area beer league to play for the wings back in the 199697 season. Detroit red wingsjoe kocur and bob probert also known as the bruise brothers. Tough guy is based on the book days reallife mother kirstie mclellan day wrote with the late probert. Two years later, probert earned 398 minutes of penalty minutes, leading the nhl.
It wasnt long after probie went to the hawks and only joey s second game after returning to the wings. Robert alan probert june 5, 1965 july 5, 2010 was a canadian professional ice hockey. Jun 02, 2008 bob probert is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer on the detroit red wings, but he has also had his share of office antics and legal problems. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. It made for terrific newspaper copy and great conversation among detroits sports community since kocur, along with bob probert, were the famed bruise brothers. He played for the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks in the national hockey league nhl. He along with kocur remained subjects of the september 9, 2011 published book bruise brothers by bob duff. Chicago blackhawks bob probert 24 and boston bruins andrei nazarov 62 of russia, mix it up along the boards during a first period fight sunday, oct. Nov 10, 2015 the only fights tie domi discussed in detail were his epic tilts with windsors bob probert, the reigning nhl heavyweight champ, and joe kocur, proberts bruise brother. The bruise brothers throw off the gloves and engage in.
Oct 22, 2010 chicago blackhawks bob probert 24 and boston bruins andrei nazarov 62 of russia, mix it up along the boards during a first period fight sunday, oct. Kocur, whose hands have been damaged and surgically repaired because of frequent punching injuries, is among hockeys best at his task, having knocked several foes unconscious. During a notorious career with the detroit red wings and the chicago blackhawks, bob probert racked up points, penalty minutes and bar bills, establishing himself as one of the most feared enforcers. Probert, along with former teammate joe kocur, is featured in a book entitled bruise brothers by bob duff. Proof that bob probert was nhl heavyweight fight champ. Donald brashear vancouver canucks vs joe kocur detroit red wings nhl hockey fight nov 27, 1998. I really enjoyed reading this book because it showed how hard the path to the nhl is. Bob probert, dani probert, joe kocur, tie domi, don cherry, jeremy roenick, chris chelios, stu grimson, sheldon kennedy, troy crowder, steve yzerman, tony twist, petr klima directed by.
Also among walking wounded are adam oates, steve chiasson, doug halward and goalie greg stefan, although oates and chiasson are close to returning. Sheldon kennedy, joe kocur, steve chiasson and others. While a successful player by some measures, including being voted to the 198788 campbell conference allstar team, bob was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer as well as. Detroit red wings kocur, mccarty pay tribute to bob probert. The 2019 book of scoop malinowski on probert titled facing bob probert. An autobiography of bob probert and joe kocur s hockey careers o.
Published october 1st 2010 by triumph books first published january 1st 2010. I wrote so much about their misadventures with alcohol, taking them to task and often. The genre of this book was an autobiography because bob probert wrote it himself. Bob probert, goose loonies, a hat trick of horrific headlines. The casket carrying bob probert is guilded into place on a. Brad dalgarno, the joey kocur fight, and timeless hockey themes. Bob probert and joey kocur bruise borthers with steve yzerman and thats all it took they dont get the credit they deserve. The film features bob probert, dani probert, joe kocur, tie domi, don cherry, jeremy roenick, chris chelios, stu grimson, sheldon kennedy, troy crowder, steve yzerman, tony twist, ptr klima, and marty mcsorely. Bob probert film a mix of former red wings toughness, tenderness, troubles. The joe kocur foundation for children, highland, mi. Former nhl tough guy bob probert dead at age 45 the globe.
This is how time and memory and diversion stumble together through life in uncoordinated yet serendipitous collaboration. A loving husband to dani and a dedicated father to their four children, probert supported many local charities and twice visited the troops in afghanistan. This book doesnt give a linear narrative story, but is simply a series of interview questions with different players who fought bob probert during their nhl careers. Bob probert and joe kocur, they always protected their captain, number 19 uncle bob everyone misses you. Fighting in the nhl isnt what it used to be, but bob probert was a legendary warrior, who actually possessed good hockey skills. Joe kocur wearing in honor of bob probert at winter classic alumni game 20 detroit hockey.
Summarizing the reflections on former red wings enforcer bob. Two of the most prominent heavyweights in the nhl history, kocur led the nhl with a detroit club record 377 penalty minutes as a rookie in 198586, becoming the first detroit rookie to ever lead the league in this department. Sep, 2015 bob probert and joey kocur, who became known as the bruise brothers, fought some of the best battles ever seen in the game as they ruled the heavyweight division for the wings from the late 80s. Bob probert biography facts, childhood, family life. The rematch between the bruise brothers is from jan. New documentary examines human side of bob probert. The bruise brothers hockeys heavyweight champions will be released june 1. Probert book reveals life of sex and drugs the globe and mail. The bruise borthers take each other on after 6 years of fighting together. Bob probert and joey kocur throw off the gloves and engage in one of the nhls most memorable fights of all time. When dani and their daughters were recounting the story of when bob died, man, that was tough to watch. The bob probert story will be airing on super channel in canada december 14th with a u. Bob probert born robert alan probert on june 5, 1965 was a canadian professional ice hockey forward.
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