Chances are you didn’t know Tim Bryant.
If you didn’t, you should have.
He was one of those guys you want around you. Smart, organized, funny, charming. A people person and a man’s man.
Tragically, he’s not around us anymore. TB, who was the director of media relations for FOX Sports Detroit, passed away suddenly this weekend while on a getaway trip to Florida. He was 53.
His last official function required only that he align the planets. That’s all.
It was a Kid Rock-tough ticket to get into the AdCraft luncheon on Thursday at Comerica Park, where the longtime broadcasters of all three of our teams were the featured speakers. To get them — George Blaha, Greg Kelser, Ken Daniels, Mickey Redmond, Mario Impemba and Rod Allen — into one room simultaneously took an incredible amount of organization.
It was the only time this calendar year that the Pistons and Red Wings had a day off between home games, and it would have been impossible once the Tigers season begins. The FOX Sports Detroit Girls were there, too.
Operation Desert Storm was simpler.
I was asked to emcee the luncheon, and Tim looked worn out as we went over some details as to who would be where and what would be asked. I teased him about the stress level, but that’s what we’d always done with each other.
“How many cocktails for you after this thing is over? How does childbirth feel, anyway?”
The questions were asked knowing it was going to come off fine because Tim left nothing to chance.
And it did. A huge success for the luncheon organizers and for FOX Sports Detroit.
Tim had a job that was hard to define, but he was pretty much everywhere. If our network was in the news, if an interview was requested, if one of our events was particularly well-watched, he was there.
A longtime media relations director for teams in pro sports, Tim came to us in 1998 from the other side. He worked for the Stars — in Minnesota and after they moved to Dallas — and basically created the PR side for the San Jose Sharks. During the past 15 years, many interactions I’ve had with the Sharks included a reference to principles Tim had put in place, the culture he had created for that team.
He also had some delightful geek in him. For every Tigers game at home, there's a stats person who feeds some numbers to Mario during the course of our broadcasts. It was full circle for Tim, who did it as a hobby, just to get to the ballpark at the end of a full day at the office.
His trip to Florida was an annual excursion with one of his best friends from his hometown of Kansas City. Two pals watching spring training baseball and catching up with lives spinning by.
Tim was supposed to pick up his friend Dan from the airport in Florida on Sunday morning. When Tim didn’t show, Dan, who knew Tim had some health concerns, became alarmed.
Tim, we’re told, had died in his sleep.
While watching college basketball on Sunday, I received a text from a co-worker:
“I can’t believe the email I just received.”
It was the notification of Tim’s passing. I couldn’t get a breath. They’re still not coming easily.
We have sons about the same age. Danny was Tim’s life. There was no father more proud.
His wife, Teresa, had been incredibly giving when my wife was battling breast cancer.
This is a great family with a great hole in it now.
His professional family feels the same sense of loss.
I just don’t want to walk by his office.
