R.I.P Mike Ilitch (Detroit: 2014, rent, live)

[MS313]

I'm kind of late but I see this still hasn't been posted on here yet. Mike Iitch, the owner of Little Caesars the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings dies at 87. It's really too bad he didn't live long enough to see his new arena being built.

Tigers, Red Wings owner and pizza titan Mike Ilitch dead at 87

[Indentured Servant]

Ditto! I was shocked nobody posted a comment on his passing. I was going to but I just figured others would. You stepped up.

[Coldjensens]

Well he did get to see the arena being built. He just did not get to see it completed.

He and his family knew it would be soon, in fact they thought he was pretty much gone several times in the recent past.

I see no sorrow in his passing. He lived a great and long life, accomplished a lot, had many people who loved him, changed the world for the better. Sure he did some bad things too, but he accomplished more than most people will in their lives. What is there to be sad about?

[Indentured Servant]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Well he did get to see the arena being built. He just did not get to see it completed.

He and his family knew it would be soon, in fact they thought he was pretty much gone several times in the recent past.

I see no sorrow in his passing. He lived a great and long life, accomplished a lot, had many people who loved him, changed the world for the better. Sure he did some bad things too, but he accomplished more than most people will in their lives. What is there to be sad about?

I agree. My dad recently passed away at about the same age. He grew up dirt poor in a share cropping family in the Mississippi Delta. He had a hard life starting out. He basically had worked since he was about 4 years old, picking cotton. When he was 20 years old he moved north, got a descent paying job, after a while, with benefits and was able to retire with good pension and benefits for over 20 years. He spent the early years of his life working and not getting paid.....but he ended his life getting paid and not having to work. He did nothing that will get his name on any building......but I was extremely proud of him....especially the way he handled fought for his life till the very end. Not sad....but proud and I imagine the family of Mike Illitch feels the same.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

RIP (from a Sharks fan who greatly respects the Red Wings ... many humbling episodes ... )

[MS313]

Nothing to be sad about. One thing I loved about him is that he hated to lose from what I hear he was a hell of a competitor. It's too bad he didn't own the Lions. Iitch was the type of team owner you want to own your favorite team because he wanted to win just as bad as you did.

[Joe Mantegna]

Originally Posted by MS313

Nothing to be sad about. One thing I loved about him is that he hated to lose from what I hear he was a hell of a competitor. It's too bad he didn't own the Lions. Iitch was the type of team owner you want to own your favorite team because he wanted to win just as bad as you did.

I can attest. I grew up a Blackhawks fan, and I envied Red Wings fans for having an owner like Ilitch, especially while we had Bill Wirtz, who was the anti-Ilitch. He was a fantastic owner, but he seemed like a great person as well. RIP Mike

[tuebor]

According to this article, Mike Ilitch paid Rosa Parks's rent for several years.

[Vanderbiltgrad]

Mike Ilitch was a great owner he actually cared about his teams, most owners do not even want to win they just want to own a team for the prestige and as a business investment.

[C24L]

Rest in Peace.