Retired hockey enforcer Bob Probert, as adept with his fists as with a stick in a 16-season career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, died Monday after suffering chest pains while boating with his family. He was 45.
"Bob lost the fight of his life this afternoon," said Probert's father-in-law, Dan Parkinson, a police officer who performed CPR before Probert was rushed to Ontario's Windsor Regional Medical Center.
Probert was on a boat in Lake St. Clair with his wife, children and in-laws when he "developed severe chest pains," family friend Rich Rogow said.
Probert, who struggled to overcome drug and drinking problems during his time in the NHL, played for the Red Wings from 1985 to 1994 and for the Blackhawks from 1995 to 2002.
"Bob was always there for his teammates and was one of the toughest men to ever play in the NHL," Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch said in a statement. "He also was one of the kindest, most colorful and beloved players Detroit has ever known."
Blackhawks president John McDonough said "Bob will always be a member of the Blackhawks family and his memory will live on through our fans."
The Windsor native had 384 points (163 goals, 221 assists) in 935 regular-season games with Detroit and Chicago. His 3,300 penalty minutes rank sixth in NHL history.
"I've always said that if the Hall of Fame put people in for intimidation and toughness, Probie would be in there," friend and former teammate Joey Kocur said. "There's no doubt he was the best. No one was better." (News services)
Russell arrested on drug charge — Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell has been charged with possession of a controlled substance — codeine syrup — after being arrested Monday at his home in Alabama, authorities said.
The 24-year-old former LSU star and the No. 1 draft choice in 2007 was arrested as part of an undercover narcotics investigation, said Mobile County Sheriff's spokeswoman Lori Myles. She would not say what led to his arrest. She said he did not have a prescription for the codeine.
Russell was booked into the city jail and released soon afterward on $2,500 bond, online records show.
The Raiders released Russell, considered one of the NFL's biggest draft busts, in May after he won only seven of his 25 starts. (AP)
Woods struggles in pro-am in Ireland — Tiger Woods shot a 7-over 79 in the first round of the J.P. McManus Invitational Pro-Am in Ireland. He bogeyed six holes, double-bogeyed the seventh, and managed a lone birdie on the 17th at the 7,453-yard, par-72 Adare Manor Golf Resort.
At the end of Monday's first round, Jim Furyk and John Cook of the United States, Peter Hanson of Sweden and Rory Sabbatini of South Africa were in a four-way tie for the lead, each 1 under. (AP)
Dent falls in first round — American Taylor Dent was upset in the first round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, losing to Go Soeda, Japan's top-ranked player, who won 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for his second career ATP victory.
American Ryan Harrison, Jamaica's Dustin Brown, Olivier Rochus of Belgium and Canadian Frank Dancevic also advanced. (AP)
World Series of Poker begins — A group of 1,125 card players flocked to Las Vegas for the start of the World Series of Poker main event Monday, each gambling $10,000 on hopes of winning millions at the game's richest no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament. Greg Raymer, the tournament's winner in 2004, delivered the famous 'shuffle up and deal" order as the session began, then was promptly eliminated during the first level of play. (AP)
Senior Open qualifying — Trevor Dodds of Des Peres beat Paul Trittler of Cave Creek, Ariz., in a playoff to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open. Dodds and Trittler each carded a 34-35—69 at Lake Forest Country Club. (Staff report)
