The Free Press’s Jeff Seidel reports that Dylan Larkin stole the show at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, for all the right reasons:
Red Wings center Dylan Larkin was walking down the same fairway toward his ball during the AREA 313 Celebrity Challenge, part of lead-up to the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the first PGA Tour event in Detroit. And up ahead, Kid Rock was in the middle of the fairway, smoking a cigar, wearing some white “Made in Detroit” shorts.
It was a cluster of celebrities, all heading toward the same green, and one voice stood out.
“D-Boss!” Michael Banaszewski screamed at Larkin. “D-Boss!”
Larkin stopped and looked at Michael, a 14-year-old from Grosse Pointe, who has Down syndrome and is fighting cancer.
Larkin left the celebrities and walked toward the edge of the fairway. Larkin waved for Michael to duck under the rope and walk onto the course, and it turned into a moment that could have melted an entire sheet of ice.
They talked and posed for pictures. There were high-fives and hugs, and Jimmy Howard came over and he gave Michael a signed ball. Michael loves the Red Wings. He decorated his room at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital with Wings memorabilia, and his face lit up talking to Larkin.
If ever there was a moment that captured what sports means in Detroit, what these sports heroes mean to this city and the impact they can have, not to mention what it means to bring the PGA Tour to Detroit, it happened on that fairway. The moment Michael met Larkin.
A big hug from our biggest Red Wing fan! Thank you @RocketClassic for an amazing day and allowing myself and fans like Michael to make life long memories! https://t.co/soqaALcLiy— Dylan Larkin (@Dylanlarkin39) June 26, 2019
