Hawks trying to force Probert to retire

[Earthquake Enyart]

According to the Chicago Tribune, Mike Smith (aka weasel boy) met with Probert over the weekend "to discuss options available to players at the end of their careers". The Hawks want Probie to retire, Probert is 65 games away from 1000, a goal he'd like to achieve. Probert has been on IR all year, and if he doesn't retire, in all likelyhood he won't accept being sent down, as he now has a 2-way contract. He probably will end up being waived. Now that the Hawks got Chris Simon for a song (where were you Darcy??), Probert's services aren't required.

Sad to see the most feared man on the ice a few years back go out with a whimper.

[BillC]

I'm sure if the price was right, a team like Atlanta that could use someone to teach them toughness would pick them up.


But then again, I'm sure he can look himself in the mirror and wonder where those 65 games could have been made up along the way....

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Here´s some paragraphs from The Hockey News:

http://www.cmdata.se/waveuser/jesper/bilder/Probert3.JPG

"September 23rd 1988: Petr Klima and Bob Probert is suspended by the Red Wings due to incidents including missed curfews, trainings and scheduled trips."

"January 25th 1989: Bob Probert, 23, is suspended and sent home after that he was 25 minutes late to a game against Buffalo. He excused himself with traffic jams."

"March 2nd 1989: During a examination early in the morning by american customs on the american side of the Detroit-Windsor tunnel there fell out a package containing 14,2 gram cocain from Probert´s underwear. Probert was arrested for taking drugs into the US. If he´s concvicted he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and fines up to one million dollar."

"March 4th 1989: Bob Probert is suspended from NHL by president John Ziegler , and Detroit Red Wings decided not to pay his salary anymore."

"March 21st 1989: The federal jury took legal preecedings against Bob Probert. It was noted that before the accident March 2nd Probert was forbidden Probert to enter the country becaus he had been arrested three times for driving under influence. The prohibition was raised when he seeked for professional help."

"July 18th 1989: Bob Probert was in court and confessed that he was guilty to the drug crimes."



"October 17th 1989: Bob Probert was sentenced to three months in prison, three years conditional and a $2000 fine for smuggling cocain into the US."

"October 26th 1989: Bob learns that he has to wait until December before it´s decided weather he´ll have to leave the country as a result for his drug crimes."

"November 1989: NHL president John Ziegler met Bob and was convinced that Bob was set to start rehabilitation.. Mr.Ziegler insinuated that Probert might be back in hockey by March 5th 1990. Ziegler said;"Mr.Probert has paid a really steep price." . "He´ll have lost over $200.000 in salary and has to pay nearly $90 000 for the trials, not to mention the eight months that he has spent at rehabilitation north from Detroit City and the three months he spent in jail in Minnesota."

"January 1990: An imigration jury in Chicago decides that Probert will have to leave USA to Canada . Proberts lawyers appelas. During that time is Probert playing icehockey in a prison team. After one game the winning team received a six-pack of lemonade."

"March 1990: On March the 5th he starts to practice by himself again in the Joe Louis Arena. On March 7th he received a 90 days work permit by the imigration office in the US and March 9th was his suspension raised by NHL president Ziegler."

"March 22nd: Proberts probation oficer and Red Wings let Probert play against Minnesota. Red Wings was defeated 5-1."

"May 9th: Bob made his first of several visits to schools in the Detroit area talking to the young ones about keeping away from drugs. He said that he expectedto make his way into the Wings linup again but he couln´t play alla games because if he crossed the border wouldn´t he be allowed to come back to USA."

[SABURZFAN]

it's time for probert to hang up the skates.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Bobby boy may be back in Canada soon. One of the stipulations in his deal with US INS is that he is allowed to be here only if he has a players contract. Butthole Mike Smith supposedly half heartedly offered Probie a front office job, knowing full well that he probably can't stay in the US.

Bob has spent the summer weight training and boxing. He is up 15 lbs from his normal weight and my insider (Tony Zamboni) says he is ready to go. He'd be worth a shot to a team that needs punch. Like the Peace Bridge Bombers

[Rude American]

He hasn't really been a very good role model though, has he?

[Earthquake Enyart]

Oh, but the look he used to get just before he beat someone's ass. For a while there, he was the scariest, toughest guy on the ice.

[Rude American]

Most feared, yes, but I think Crowder was tougher for a short while back then. Did theose two ever go?

[Earthquake Enyart]

I don't recall them ever going at it.

[Rude American]

I saw Troy Crowder knock Jeff Chychrun out cold for about 5 minutes with one punch.