Losses and Gains

When someone passes on to their great reward, they leave a void which can last forever. I still haven't gotten over the passing of my baby sister Linda in March, 2000. I've lost 3 good friends who were agents in my office, over the ten years I've been there, Grace Wu, John Fry and Paul Fiore. Recently, we've lost 3 outstanding Detroit area sports personalities. I have to admit, I did not know Sonny Grandelius, the former star MSU athlete and coach and for that, I am a lesser man. But I did know George Puscas and I'm saddened this afternoon to hear of the passing of Will Robinson.

I met George many times covering all kinds of events, because he was a columnist and covered many events. His 65 years at his beloved Detroit Free Press will probably go down as the longest tenure of anyone at that newspaper. I would not miss his weekly "Love Letters" column and had missed it greatly since he finally hung up his typewriter in 2006. Whether it was at a Lions game, a Tiger contest, at Joe Louis Arena for the Wings, a U of D hoops game or even the Unlimited Hydroplane races, George was always helpful to this onetime young reporter. He will be terribly missed and we may not see his like again.

Will Robinson was a ground breaker. He was the first black head coach in the Detroit Public School League, coaching both football and basketball. In 1970, after leading the Pershing Doughboys to their second state basketball title in 4 years, he left the PSL to become the first black head coach at a Division One university, Illinois State where he coached all American and future Piston head coach Doug Collins. In 1976 at age 64, he took on a new role at an age when most men are ready for the rocking chair. He became Piston's scout. He already had been a scout for the Lions for whom he had discovered Lem Barney. With the Pistons, he discovered Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman and was a confidant to many Piston players including Isiah Thomas. Will was a fun man to be around, always upbeat. He never looked his age. He finally did retire as an assistant to Dumars in 2003. He died this morning at age 96.

They always go in threes. My sympathies to their families.

By the way, what a day Sunday, April 27 was. Nationally and locally it was called 'The Big Open House." From talking with several agents in my office and from my own experience at my open house, I know there was a terrific turnout of people, looking at homes. Some 2000 were on display in Southeast Michigan alone. Congrats to the organizers and hopefully, it will turn out to be one of the steps that brings our local housing economy back to life!