09/20/2006

102-year-old is a Wings fan for the ages

TC's Brackett still follows her favorite team

BY JEFF PEEK

jpeek@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — It would be easy to label Doris Brackett a life-long Detroit sports fan, except that she has been alive longer than most of the Detroit teams she roots for.

When the 102-year-old Brackett was born in 1904 in Monroe County, Ty Cobb had yet to don a Tigers uniform, the Red Wings were still 22 years away from skating in their first NHL game (as the "Cougars") and the Lions were 30 years away from playing their first professional football game.

The Pistons, who moved from Fort Wayne, Ind., didn't play their first NBA game in Detroit until 1957, long after Brackett and her family had made a move of their of their own — from Dundee to Traverse City in 1939.

Brackett, who rode the Zamboni and waved to the crowd between periods of Monday's Red Wings intrasquad championship game at Centre ICE, said she never lost her love of Detroit sports, even while living more than 200 miles away from the action.

"I watch them all on TV and listen to them on the radio — every game," she said. "And I used to work at training camp."

Brackett has never let her age get in the way. She began working as a volunteer at the Wings' camp when she was in her 90s.

"She called me and asked if she could help," said camp director Peter Correia. "She sounded elderly, so I asked her, 'How old are you, ma'am?' "

Correia said he was surprised by Brackett's response, but he loved her enthusiasm, so he gave her a job helping bag items in the gift shop.

"She's been a delight," Correia said. "What a great lady."

Brackett continued to volunteer at camp until about four years ago.

"I quit driving when I was 98 — worst day of my life," Brackett said. "Took away my mobility."

Brackett leans toward Steve Yzerman as her favorite all-time Red Wing, but she admits a fondness for Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Nicklas Lidstrom, as well.

Brackett said her age has slowed her a bit — she gets around in a wheelchair these days — but her mind is sharp. Just ask her about the Tigers, for example.

"They were on a roll, but they've really slipped," she said. "That 10-game lead is almost gone."

Told she doesn't look her age, Brackett smiled.

"People have been telling me that since I was 70," she said.

Brackett, who wore a Red Wings home jersey with her last name stitched above the number 100 (a birthday gift from friend Phil Harmeson two years ago), said there's no secret to her long life.

"I've been asked that so many times," she said. "And the answer is, I've had a lot of fun. When you have fun, it keeps you from worrying."