I got the notification on my phone, and my knee jerk reaction was not complete shock, Mike Ilitch was 87-years-old after all. Then I texted a few buddies, “Ilitch passed.” Paused for a second to think about it. And it started to set in- an absolute Detroit legend had just died. And no matter the circumstances or his age, it was something that resonated with so many walks of life, and really hits home for Detroit city and sports fans.

I jumped on Twitter to see an over-pouring barrage of love for Mike Ilitch and the contributions he has made to so many communities over the years, then I came across this tweet:

And it’s one of those things you read and just kinda go “Wow.” Seriously, how much more pure boss can go into one tweet? Especially pertaining to two entities that I have held so close to my heart for so many years. Not only could the guy own the shit out of a sports franchise, he could also ball out as well.

The day I fell in love with hockey and the Detroit Red Wings was May 16th, 1996. I was literally 5 years old. It was game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals and the Wings were in a 0-0 strangle hold vs the St. Louis Blues. During the game, my dad turned to my sister and I (probably with a few Molson XXX‘s in him) and said “If the Wings win this game, I’ll get you both jerseys of whoever the hell you want.”

I walked out of the Joe that evening rocking a red #19 jersey, (my sister went with Federov). I would enroll to play ice hockey the following year, 1997. Something I still play to this day.

Mike Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings in 1982, and the very next year Steve Yzerman, the cornerstone of one of the most successful sports dynasties in recent history, was drafted.

From there the Wings would see Cup Finals in ’95, ’97, ’98, ’02, ’08, and ’09, winning four of them while also scattering in six President’s Trophies in that time frame as well.

“You got spoiled Frankie.” 

That was my Dad’s response to me when I was reflecting on how great of an owner Mr. Ilitch was and how dedicated he was to winning. Starting my hockey “career” in 1997, the Wings won back-to-back cups, never missed the playoffs, and were always in the conversation as Cup contenders. Growing up with success like that as a kid, it turned the Red Wings and the sport of hockey into my drug. I was addicted to everything puck-related. I had all types of memorabilia from Wing Nut hats to Octo-Wave foam fingers. Multiple jerseys. I even had every single one of those Detroit News/Free Press construction paper inserts on my wall. Apologies for the shitty pictures:

And my Dad was right. I was completely spoiled. Mike Ilitch knew that fans deep down truly only care about one thing when it comes to their favorite sports teams: Winning.

Winning cures all, and when Mr. I bought the Dead Things in 1982, he knew in order to turn the 8 million dollar franchise into a 600 million dollar one, everything started with winning. And yes, I understand this is not something Ilitch did out of the goodness of his heart, and it was business and there was money involved. But you would have to be blind not to realize that Mike Ilitch actually cared- and when you have that, an owner that cares deeply about the team, the fans, and the city that houses both of them- it shows.

Take a look at the Lions. Winless seasons. Putrid draft picks. Playoff droughts. And losing records. And the good players we do get- they leave by the time they are 30 because seriously what is the fucking incentive for playing NFL football in Detroit? It all starts at the top. The Ford’s hands off approach shows in everything from the Lions’ horrendous track record to their 25 jersey updates in the past 10 years.

Nice.

Ilitch was dripping in boss from his head to his toes and he did it all while repping Detroit to the core. In addition to building the greatest American hockey franchise in the entire world, he made baseball relevant again in Detroit, all starting with the signing of Pudge Rodriguez and never thinking twice about expanding the payroll. Under his rule, names like Magglio, Miggy, Guillen, Prince, Price, Kinsler, Verlander, Scherzer and Upton all donned the Olde English D. Even if the Tigers haven’t brought home a World Series, ZERO of that blame falls on Mr. I. And whether they were winning or not, he had players on that roster that you would go to the games simply just to watch them.

Last story. 

My dad met Mike Ilitch once. And he did it in an eerie, foreshadowing, movie-like way. When the Wings were dog shit in the mid to late 70’s, the Olympia used to offer “Wing High Box Seats” for 8 dollars a pop. So in 1978 my Dad was a young whippersnapper at the time, just out of grad school, and loving life. He would buy these box seats, and invite the majority of his office to come with him, and back then you could bring beer up to the box seats (the 70’s sounded so fucking lit). So one night he did this and he described this particular evening as being “especially rowdy.” He sad no one was even watching the games, just partying their asses off (respect). And in the box next to him was one man, by himself, watching the game. My Dad, realizing just how savage him and the squad were being, went over and apologized to this guy, and offered him a beer. The man introduced himself as, you guessed it, Mike Ilitch, which was a pretty unknown name at the time. He turned down the beer (damn it) but proceeded to tell my Dad. “You’re not bothering me at all, you guys are young- enjoy yourself!”

My Dad thanked him and asked Mr. I if he was a big hockey fan. Ilitch responded that he was more of a baseball guy, but had a growing interest in the Red Wings.

He would purchase the team 4 years later. And exactly 20 years after the purchase, Ilitch gave us a roster looking like this:

And I was there in ’02 to watch that all-star cast raise Lord Stanley.

So thank you Mr. I. Thank you for the memories, thank you for caring about the city in which I was born and raised, and thank you so much for helping to instill in me an undying love for the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers- you’ve made it a lot of fun. 🍾

– Frank