Detroit ― Chicago. Detroit. Chris Chelios is embraced by both, and he continues to embrace both.

But, the Indiana Bears? Yeah, he draws the line right there.

“Absolute garbage,” Chelios said Friday night, before his induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame at MotorCity Casino Hotel. “I don’t like to get political, but the guys we have running the state and the city, work out a deal. They’re the Chicago Bears. I don’t even want them to go to the suburbs. There’s gotta be a deal to keep them down in that city, like on the lakeshore. There’s plenty of property.

“But what do I know? Restaurant owner.”

Bears team president Kevin Warren made headlines this week when he issued an open letter to fans, suggesting that without public funding from the state and/or city for a new stadium, the Bears will consider alternate locations, including in northwest Indiana.

Bears ownership has been in a long quest for a new stadium, and had settled on suburban Arlington Heights, but without what they say is necessary support from the state legislature and the city. The Bears have played full-time at Soldier Field, off Lake Michigan, since the 1970s. The stadium opened in the 1920s.

Warren’s letter to fans comes as the Bears (10-4) are in a battle for their first playoff trip since the 2020 season, fighting with NFC rivals in the Green Bay Packers (who they will play Saturday night) and the Lions (who they play in the regular-season finale).

“We had to steal your coach,” Chelios said with a laugh, of Bears head coach (and former Lions offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson, “and bring him to Chicago to turn it around for us.”

Chelios, 63, is a Chicago native who spent much of his career with the Montreal Canadiens and Blackhawks, before he was traded to the Red Wings in 1999. He played the rest of his career with Detroit, winning two Stanley Cups (to go with the one he won in Montreal) and even opened a popular bar, Cheli’s Chili, in 2006, across from Comerica Park. Chelios closed Cheli’s in 2018 to move home to Chicago to be closer to his mom.

The Red Wings made the playoffs 25 straight years, including all nine seasons Chelios played for them. But they haven’t made the playoffs since 2016. Steve Yzerman, Chelios’ former teammate, took over as team GM in 2019.

This year’s Red Wings are 19-13-3, tops in the bunched-up Atlantic Division ― the entire division has a winning record ― as they look to end the drought.

“There’s not a harder-working individual, whether he played or coached, or as general manager. It’s a process,” Chelios said of Yzerman. “They’re there right now. There’s gonna be some tough decisions at the trade deadline. I don’t see him panicking and selling the farm, but they’re in a position now where they could make a few moves like Kenny Holland used to at the trade deadline.

“It’s going to excite a lot of the fans. It could be a good run for them.”

Keeping quiet

Dave Dombrowski, former president and GM of the Tigers, was known for being able to keep a secret. He still is known for that, as president of the Phillies. He has a reputation for making blockbusters, and for being able to keep things buttoned up until he’s ready to make an official announcement. The CIA-like secrecy long has driven reporters absolutely crazy, especially in the age of social-media immediacy.

So, Dave, what’s the secret to keeping a secret?

“First of all, you emphasize it. You really say how important it is, because usually, there’s nothing to be gained by others knowing what you’re doing,” said Dombrowski, 69, who led the Tigers to five playoff appearances and two World Series during a 15-year tenure in Detroit that landed him in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

“And you surround yourself with a bunch of individuals that know that’s your philosophy, and they follow that philosophy. And sometimes that group is very small, but sometimes, too, there’s a lot of people that you have in rooms with those trade conversations, and they just know if they’re going to be in there, it’s important to keep it quiet. Because if they don’t, they ruin it for everybody.

“Fortunately, in most cases, not always, it’s worked.”

More: Dombrowski, entering Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, reflects on ‘fun and prideful’ Tigers tenure

Dombrowski, who pulled off some of the biggest deals in Tigers history (most notably, trading for Miguel Cabrera and signing Prince Fielder), saw several old friends Friday, including several ex-colleagues with the Tigers ― many of whom were in those hotel rooms when Dombrowski was working his magic as head of Detroit’s front office from November 2001 through August 2015.

“So many people are digging to try to find that information, you just pride yourself to keep it quiet,” Dombrowski said. “There’s many moves … that perhaps could be shifted if the word got out.”

Tom’s time?

Jason Richardson spent two seasons at Michigan State, winning a national championship in 2000. It was the last natty for the Spartans, and actually the last for the Big Ten, unbelievably.

Richardson sounded Friday night like a man ready for both droughts to end in 2026.

“The sky’s the limit. It starts with Coach (Tom) Izzo,” said Richardson, the former Saginaw Arthur Hill standout who went on to play 15 years in the NBA (his son, Jase, is in his first year in the NBA, after spending one season, 2024-25, with Michigan State). “He’s a threat when it comes to March, he’s always a threat to get to the Final Four, always a threat to get a championship.

“The key of it is (bigs) Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper. Those guys have been amazing. … They’ve just got an amazing team. They’re gonna do some amazing things this year.”

Izzo was in attendance Friday night to celebrate Richardson, 44, as well as former football coach Mark Dantonio, 69, who also was inducted.

Michigan State athletic director J Batt and Izzo spent the day in Detroit, helping to unveil the 2027 Final Four logo on Friday morning. They’ll be back in Detroit at noon Saturday, when No. 9 Michigan State (10-1) plays Oakland (6-6) at Little Caesars Arena.

Quick hits

▶ World-champion boxer Claressa Shields made a fashionably late but pretty darn grand entrance Friday night, joined by a large entourage, a camera crew and her boyfriend, rapper Papoose. The couple posed for photos together on the red carpet.

Shields entered the Hall of Fame for her decorated amateur career, while she is in the prime of her professional career ― 17-0 entering her next fight against Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 22. That will be her first fight since signing a landmark, $8-million, multi-bout deal.

“God’s timing is the best timing,” said Shields, 30, the GWOAT, a Flint native and two-time Olympic gold medalist. “I’m so happy that God didn’t give me a million dollars when I was 17.”

▶ Pistons great Rasheed Wallace, 51, rounded out the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and got to see plenty of old pals, including fellow Hall-of-Famer and still-Pistons broadcaster George Blaha.

John Lowe, the long-time baseball beat writer for the Detroit Free Press (and inventor of the quality start), was unable to attend the gala because of an illness, and he will now be inducted next year with the Class of 2026.

▶ The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, in addition to its six individual inductions, presented three awards Friday night. Andy Isaac, the beloved Detroit sports fan, food enthusiast and social-media star who died in March at 45 after a long battle with cancer, was given the Courage Award, with his family accepting; longtime Tigers clubhouse manager Jim Schmakel and Michigan equipment manager Jon Falk received the Michigan Treasure Award; and Little League groundbreaker Carolyn King Lewis was honored with the Gerald R. Ford Award.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

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