Ilitch to be inducted into (Hockey) Hall of Fame on Monday (Fuhr, LaFontaine, Brian Kilrea)

AP ^ | 11-1-03

[Dan from Michigan]

Ilitch to be inducted into Hall of Fame on Monday

The Associated Press
11/1/2003, 9:58 a.m. ET

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Ilitch has directed the Detroit Red Wings through nine Division Championships, four Western Conference Championships and three Stanley Cup titles.

On Monday, that leadership will take him into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Ilitch, 74, is to be inducted in the builder category, along with Canadian junior team coach Brian Kilrea. Players Grant Fuhr and Pat Lafontaine, a native of Wayne County's Waterford Township, also will be inducted.

"It's a stupendous feeling," Ilitch told the Detroit Free Press. "It was unexpected. I never associated myself with the Hall of Fame."

Ilitch and his wife, Marian, purchased the Red Wings for $8 million in 1982, a time when the Original Six team had fallen to the bottom of the league.

The Red Wings now are worth $266 million.

"In my 22 years in the organization, money has never been an issue," senior vice president Jimmy Devellano told The Detroit News. "He wanted us to do whatever was necessary to win, be competitive, and become a champion."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said there is no more passionate fan of the Red Wings, hockey or the city of Detroit than Ilitch.

"He and his family have made outstanding contributions to all three, and his enshrinement in the Hall of Fame is a well-deserved acknowledgment of that devotion to team, sport and community," Bettman said.

"I could tell 10 minutes after meeting Mike for the first time that he was committed to winning," said former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, who led the team to all three Cups.

Ilitch created an amateur hockey program sponsored by his pizza company, Little Caesars, that has sent several players to the NHL.

"A lot of people forget about the commitment Mr. Ilitch has made to grass-roots hockey," Red Wings Coach Dave Lewis said. "It's a tremendous program, a great forum for kids to learn about the game."

Ilitch also oversees Ilitch Charities for Children, a foundation established by his family to help children in the areas of health, recreation and education. It awards college scholarships yearly to area high school seniors.

After Monday, Ilitch — who has said he was choked up when he got the news — can add "Hall of Famer" to his list of accomplishments.

"That's going to be real nice. I think probably that's why I'm so excited, why I consider it such an honor," he said. "But I think I just want to be remembered as a guy who tried real hard and really cared about the team, cared about the fans."

[Dan from Michigan]

Congratulations to Illitch, Fuhr, LaFontaine, and Kilrea, and thanks for the memories.

BTW - Waterford is in OAKLAND county, not Wayne.

[buccaneer81]

I worked for Ilitch as a Little Ceasar's manager and district manager. He's nothing to be proud of as an employer (unless you play for the Wings). Slave wages are your reward for slinging his version of "pizza, pizza". Lousy benefits, even by restaurant standards.
Anybody notice the lack of national advertising these days? And the closing of corporate stores? It has a lot to do with the stinker "Lost In Space" movie he underwrote.
Bear in mind that as Ilitch paid drug dealer Bob Probert millions, LCE employees worked their butts off to pay him.

[exit82]

I misread the title--thought the first letter was a "B"--which made me think of Hillary, which.........

[TedsGarage]

Well, he won't be getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

[Dan from Michigan]

Well, he won't be getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame. ROFL. I was waiting for that one. The old saying here. Go Lions, and take the Tigers with you.

[FlyVet]

Anybody notice the lack of national advertising these days?

I've noticed that, and in my area, they've had a permanent ad for large pepperoni for $5 hanging in the store window. They don't even put flyers in the junk mail any more, like all the other pizza joints do. Hmmmm. Cost cutting?

[Xthe17th]

"Papa Hobo" - Words & music by Paul Simon

Mm------
It's carbon and monoxide
The ole Detroit perfume
It hangs on the highways
In the morning
And it lays you down by noon
Oh papa hobo
You can see that I'm dressed like a schoolboy
But I feel like a clown
It's a natural reaction I learned
In this basketball town

Sweep up
I been sweeping up the tips I've made
I'm living on Gatorade
Planning my getaway
Detroit, Detroit
Got a hell of a hockey team
Got a left-handed way
Of making a man sign up on that
Automotive dream, oh yeah, oh yeah

Oh, papa papa hobo
Could you slip me a ride?
Well, it's just after breakfast
I'm in the road
And the weatherman lied,
Oo-------, ah-----, oo-------