The public will "get two chances this week to pay its respects" to late Red Wings and Tigers Owner MIKE ILITCH, who died Friday at the age of 87, according to Bill Shea of CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS. Fans can "write condolences messages and share memories on a temporary memorial" at Comerica Park beginning today at 1:00pm ET. Ilitch will "lie in repose for a public visitation" from 12:00-8:00pm on Wednesday at the Fox Theatre, which has been the HQ of Ilitch Holdings "since they spent millions to renovate it" in the late '80s. The Ilitch family said that future memorial opportunities and recognition events are being organized at Joe Louis Arena, the Tigers' Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla., and the Little Caesars Arena construction site, though details are not available. A private service for Ilitch will be held "some time this week" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 2/12).
FROM THE GROUND UP: In Detroit, Gallagher & McGraw in a front-page piece noted Ilitch "rose from a humble west-side neighborhood to assemble a food, sports and entertainment empire that enabled him to return the Stanley Cup to Hockeytown," while building both a new arena and ballpark. The Red Wings won four Stanley Cups and the Tigers made two World Series appearances under Ilitch. His success "made him one of the best-known people in Michigan," but he "often squirmed in the limelight and appeared uneasy even in gentle interviews." Ilitch bought the Red Wings in '82, though he "didn't put up a penny" of the $8M price. Instead, he gave longtime Owner BRUCE NORRIS a $1M down payment from season-ticket sales "collected after the agreement was signed." By the late '80s, the Red Wings had "become an interesting team," and by the mid-'90s they were a "great team." The franchise today remains "one of the most successful" in pro sports. Ilitch "frequently admitted he always had wanted to own" the Tigers, and he got his chance in '92, when he bought the franchise from Domino's Pizza Founder TOM MONAGHAN. Ilitch then "fought hard through complicated political and financial issues for a new stadium." The result was Comerica Park (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/11). Also in Detroit, Francis Donnelly in a front-page piece noted Ilitch turned Little Caesars Pizza into a $3.4B business, "invested in downtown Detroit long before anyone else, and turned the Tigers and Red Wings into perennial contenders." His name "eventually became synonymous with Detroit" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). Ilitch Holdings President & CEO CHRIS ILITCH "will now officially run" the Tigers and Red Wings while "overseeing the other companies in the family's portfolio." This is part of a succession plan "announced last year" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/11).
WINNING WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT: In Detroit, Shawn Windsor wrote winning was Ilitch's "central motivator," and he "often talked about his desire for trophies." His "willingness to spend ... wasn't just about winning." He "helped Detroiters feel good about themselves," and he "spent money in both sports like they do in megalopolis coastal cities" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/12). Also in Detroit, John Niyo noted Ilitch "made billions by driving a hard bargain as a businessman, but he spared little expense when it came to putting a team on the ice or fielding a team at the ballpark." He knew the fans would "come out to see the stars, so he spent lavishly to bring them to Detroit." Ilitch also "pushed the boundaries as a visionary, going to lengths that other owners simply wouldn’t, or couldn’t." The Red Wings in '89 "risked a draft pick on a young Russian talent named SERGEI FEDOROV, then sent a plane to Vancouver to bring him to Detroit when he defected." That was a few years "after they’d stuffed Czech prospect PETR KLIMA and his girlfriend in the trunk of a car as part of an elaborate plan to get him to the U.S." (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). In Michigan, Pat Caputo wrote Ilitch "could have made much more money in sports, but he was never willing to stop short of paying what it takes to win." He "never cheated the fans in his native town of their best chance possible" (OAKLAND PRESS, 2/11). MLB Network's Dave Valle said, "He wanted to win and he was willing to put his money where his mouth is. He loved the game of baseball" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 2/10). USA TODAY's Kevin Allen writes Ilitch was both a players owner and fans' owner. He had the "proper blend of loyalty and passion." He also "understood the value of his players and took care of them like they were family." Allen: "But in his heart, he was always a fan" (USA TODAY, 2/13). In Detroit, Jeff Seidel noted Ilitch was a dual owner with a "singular focus: always in pursuit of a championship" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/11).
REBIRTH OF HOCKEY, BASEBALL: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Jared Clinton wrote much of the Red Wings' success is "thanks to Ilitch's ownership, as he was at the helm when the franchise saw its great turnaround." One of his first moves after buying the Red Wings was naming JIM DEVELLANO GM, and the two "made a formidable pair in the front office" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 2/10). ESPN.com's Katie Strang wrote Ilitch's "longevity provided a cornerstone of stability and steadiness for fans in an age in which ownership has become more transient and much more transactional" (ESPN.com, 2/10). In Detroit, Gregg Krupa noted the "glorious accomplishments of the Red Wings were due to Ilitch’s passion, determination and leadership" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/12). Meanwhile, in Detroit, Lynn Henning noted Ilitch "brought baseball back" to a city that had "all but lost the sport for nearly two decades." Ilitch "decided after a humiliating" '03 season to "make capital and vision his ownership tenets for a Detroit baseball renaissance." Beginning in '04 he did "near-perfect work in being precisely the right steward for the Tigers" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). The FREE PRESS' Anthony Fenech noted the Tigers since '06 have "consistently ranked among the top 10 in payroll and continue to hand out long-term, lucrative deals in a mid-market" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/11). MLB.com's Jason Beck wrote Ilitch's "dedication to fielding a winner never did bring the owner his ultimate goal," but it did make the Tigers "relevant in baseball circles once more" (MLB.com, 2/12).
GRASSROOTS EFFORTS: The DETROIT NEWS' Donnelly noted most of Ilitch's accomplishments are "well known but often overlooked is his role in popularizing the playing of hockey in the U.S." Ilitch began "sponsoring amateur hockey teams" in '68, a time when few Americans played in the NHL or the minor leagues. The Little Caesars AAA Hockey has become a "respected organization in the U.S. and Canada, sending 100 players to the NHL." Ilitch was inducted into the Hockey HOF in '03. The U.S. Hockey HOF one year later inducted him and "recognized his fostering of youth hockey in Metro Detroit" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger noted Little Caesars AAA Hockey produced Hockey HOFer MIKE MODANO, among others (TORONTO SUN, 2/12).
MOTOWN MAN: MLB Network's J.P. Morosi, a Michigan native, said he cannot "think of many people who have had an impact on a city's sports culture -- and then the city itself -- on a level comparable to Mike Ilitch." Morosi: "You look at Detroit today, and it's really in a much better place than it was 10 or 15 years ago. I really think Mike Ilitch has had the biggest impact on making Detroit what it is right now. He did that through his philanthropy, but also through the two sports franchises we loved so much” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 2/10). In Michigan, David Mayo wrote Ilitch was "of Detroit, and ultimately wanted to be in Detroit." The role he "played in revitalizing downtown Detroit, creating one of the most vibrant sports and entertainment sectors of any city in the nation, and becoming one of the great team owners in sports history, were undeniable" (MLIVE.com, 2/11). In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski wrote Ilitch was "practically as large as his city itself." Ilitch was "all-business, all-competition, and most important, all-Detroit, along with his wife MARIAN and his large family" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). In N.Y., Richard Goldstein noted the Ilitch organization has embarked on a $1.2B District Detroit project, "transforming dozens of largely vacant blocks in downtown Detroit into a neighborhood including office and residential spaces" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/12). What Ilitch did for Detroit "should never be forgetten" (DETROITNEWS.com, 2/11). Ilitch "touched the lives of most people in Metro Detroit" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). Former Tigers RF KIRK GIBSON said Ilitch "created the rebirth of Detroit." Gibson: "It was his vision. He’s just been a great leader for our area. He loved athletics but it was just the environment that he created. He just wouldn’t let barriers get in his way" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/12).
NOT MAKING IT ABOUT HIMSELF: In Detroit, Mitch Albom wrote it "speaks volumes that a man who never hit a ball or stopped a puck professionally is being mourned" like the "biggest sports hero in the city." There was "rarely a team owner less about ego." Ilitch "didn’t get into sports to make himself famous, to roam the sidelines or hang in the locker room." Ilitch "ruled two franchises with less than half the ego of men who run one" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/12). In Toronto, Steve Simmons: "You will have to search long and hard to find anyone to say a bad word about Ilitch" (TORONTO SUN, 2/12).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Maple Leafs coach MIKE BABCOCK, who served as the Red Wings' coach for 10 seasons, said Ilitch was "committed to doing things right, and what he touched in business turned to gold." Babcock: "He had that presence about him that he made you want to be better." Sabres coach DAN BYLSMA, a Michigan native and Tigers fan, said, "I’ve always viewed the Ilitches as one of the great owners. I know the guy wanted to win a World Series here in the last couple years, and it’s a bit of disappointment not getting to achieve that" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/12). SCOTTY BOWMAN, who coached the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups, said, "He was committed to winning. It’s funny, but when I went there I was going to stay for two years and I wound up staying for nine. Mainly it was because of his input" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/11). Former Red Wing RW KIRK MALTBY: "Some owners are content with less. ... Mr. Ilitch wanted to win. They were called the dead Wings when he took over and he was very passionate" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/11). Red Wings LW HENRIK ZETTERBERG: "Great, great owner. Great man. He really cared about everyone and he will be dearly missed." Red Wings D NIKLAS KRONWALL: "The way he conducted himself, no matter where he went, he was always a very respected man" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/12).
TWITTER REAX: Bowman tweeted, "A Detroit Icon who was the Principal Reason for Success of Detroit Red Wings." Tigers C James McCann: "A remarkable human and a champion for the city of Detroit. I am honored to play for his team." WNBA Liberty President Isiah Thomas: "I mourn the loss of a great friend." Redskins QB Kirk Cousins: "What a life! Marine, Pro-Athlete, Entrepeneur, Philanthropist. Better believe I'm gonna have a 'hot-n-ready' in his honor." Red Wings LW Justin Abdelkader: "Thanks for all you have done for the city of Detroit and the Red Wings!" MLB Network's Morosi: "Ilitch single-handedly transformed @RedWings and @Tigers into large-market, championship-caliber franchises. A legacy without equal. ... Ilitch influenced a city’s sports culture -- and the city itself -- to a degree rarely (if ever) seen before in American history." Former Detroit News Lions reporter Mike O'Hara: "Detroit has lost a champion, on and off the rinks and playing fields. RIP Mike Ilitch, who left a mark with his hands, vision and soul." TSN's Gord Miller: "I cannot think of an owner in pro sports who cared more or did more for his community." Former Detroit News sportswriter Tom Gage: "May we all be so blessed to find something in life to love as much as Mike Ilitch loved his Detroit."
FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Ilitch was a member of the SBJ Champions class in '14 and gave one of his final interviews as part of the story package.
