Darren McCarty - My Last Fight: The True Story of a Hockey Rock Star

When I played with Bob Probert, I called him Goomba and he called me Mitzy. This book is dedicated to you, Goomba, from your Mitzy, because whether people know or dont know, on and off the ice you were always my hero. Youre the only person I had known that had a bigger and softer heart than me, and I know that because you let me in it. I miss you every day and thank you for paving the path you did so that I could learnright, wrong, or indifferent. You telling your story gave me the inspiration and confidence to tell mine with 100-percent, no-punches-pulled honesty.

This book is my tribute to you and Dani. I love you, Probie. Ill never stop fighting.

Mitzy

Take this love, take this life, take this blood it will never die, it aint our last goodbye

Last Goodbye

Black Label Society

Contents

Acknowledgments

Id like to thank first my amazing friend Kevin Allen for his tireless work on this project with me. From enduring hundreds of hours on the phone with me and all of my storiesgood, bad, and uglyto the hours he spent in putting this together to get my storymy side: the raw and honest truthout to the world. Who says 20 years of covering athletes doesnt make a journalist an expert? Thank you Kevin for never judging me and proving that I can trust a journalist.

See, journalists and athletes can be friends.

Thank you to the greatest owners in sports, Mr. and Mrs. Ilitchthank you for not only supporting me in my hockey career but also for making me feel like part of your family. Thank you to the entire Ilitch family and the Ilitch organization. Thank you also to Ken King, Darryl Sutter, and the entire Calgary Flames organization for the opportunity they gave me.

Thank you to all of my teammates and coaches, medical staff, equipment staff, grey coats, and everyone at the Joe; if I had to list the names of all of you that helped build and maintain my career this acknowledgment would be longer than the book. A few personal thank-yous to Piet and Russ for keeping me in one piece and stitching me up as much as they could. To Pauly for always making sure I had skates, gloves, and a stickany equipment, no matter what. And to Tcheka for always altering my gear to my comfort and for keeping the tradition and helping out my son.

To Al and Uncle Joe, who have been there since Day 1 for my kids during the games. To John Hahn, Todd Beamer, Jim Biermann, and the rest of the Red Wing marketing and advertising staff for having my back in various ways the last 20 years and still today. And especially to EVERYONE in the belly of the JoeI love you ALL and thank you. I appreciate you as you all know by the big bear hugs I suffocate you with every time I see you.

To those few friends who have been there for me all along, from when I was hoisting Lord Stanley over my head to being where I am today. I love you and thank you for your honest, unwavering, unconditional love for me no matter whatnamely Tim and Kammy Drummond, Jim Tochet, Don Zanzibar, Brad the Dogg Thompson and his wife KK, Brandon and Melissa Bordeaux, Charlie Waters, and Sammy Raffoul. And to Kim and Dawn, thank you for being my Guardian ladies.Cant leave out my rock star friends from the amazing MeltdownAl Sutton, Chris Pernacki, Eli, Chaz, Lamb, and Wooj, Billy Reedy, Vince Mattias, and everyone ever involved in Grinder. Thank you to the Dirty Americans and Mikey Eckstein; to Roman Glick from Jackyl; Brother Cane; Robbie Merrill from Godsmack; Johnny Diservio, Zakk Wilde, and all my Black Label Society brothers and crew. A special thank you goes to Kid Rockthank you Big Time Bobby for the memories.

To the friends I have gathered along the way. My closest friend, who is like my big brother, Bad Back Blackjack Jack Sully Sullivan. Cant forget his wife Trixie, and Punkin, Cornhole, Crazy Steve, Big Bird, K-Dubbs, Moose (RIP), Bronson, and everyone else that hung with me in the Blind. To JT, Karyn and Gianni Thomas, Ron Gemsheim, Officer Joe Morgan, and Brad Frey. A special thank you to Paul Andoni and all of my other friends from Shieldsyou know who you are.

To my little buddies Boogs and LJ. What a ridethanks for the destruction, construction, endless nudity, crazy drunkenness, and endless fucking belly laughs. You are all integral people at an integral time in my life. Sheryl and I couldnt have made it through the wars without you.

This book is also in honor of the late and very great Janet Hildebrant, who showed me life is worth living. To her husband, Greg, and to my beautiful nieces, Jordan, Carly, and Ashley. Uncle DMac loves you.

Thank you all for loving me as Darren and not as No. 25. I love you.

To my beautiful and hysterical sisters, Denise and Leslie, who each think theyre my favorite. Ill take it to the grave which one of you really is. Ha! Thank you for keeping your sister sane and with me. And to my nephew Jon, who served several tours of duty. I am so proud to be your uncle.

Thank you to all the people at Triumph Books for allowing me to tell my side of the storyfinally.

Thank you to my stepchildren, Nachelle and Brenden, for letting me love you as your other dad and for loving me no matter what. I am so proud of how your mommy has raised you and for the adults you have become: non-judgmental adults who love me without conditions. Thank you for letting me have your mom, I hope I make you proud.

To Griffin, my son, my warrior, who has the toughest role in life having to follow in my footsteps. You are not your dad, youre much better. I couldnt be more proud of you. Whether you make it in hockey or not I know you will be an amazing success wherever the world takes you.

To my girls, your daddy loves you very much and I look forward to seeing you bloom into the young women you are becoming. Stay away from the hockey boys so Daddy doesnt have to use his gun.

To my ex-wife Cheryl, thank you for raising such great children. I hope one day you move past the bitterness and find happiness and appreciation.

And I saved the best for last.

To my wife Sheryl (with an S), you are my best friend, you literally resurrected me from the dead, you saved me. I owe you my life. You have sustained me. Sheryl walked into hell to save me and then she walked back though hell with me to get me out of there, and she never let go of my hand once. She was never afraid. Thank you for seeing my vision, for your acceptance and letting me know I dont have to be that guy, and for helping me to know that I am good enough. You have taught me honesty. Thank you for loving me and all my baggage unconditionally and without judgment. You are the toughest person I know in this world. Thank you for enduring the torture my past and present brings to you. I wouldnt be here without you. Thank you for never leaving and showing me my first taste of true, pure love. Thank you for loving my children, and thank you for bringing yours into my life to love me. I love you from beyond my soul. You are the Dani to my Probie.

Couldnt live without you, baby, I wouldnt want to, if you didnt love me so much, Id never make it through, this life would kill me if I didnt have you

If I Didnt Have You

Thompson Square

Introduction

Lets Get Ready to Rumble

A Warriors Call

Volbeat