Prayers to the PurpleHaze family from Raceland.

Prayers from Owensboro Catholic!

Prayers from the Capital City.

Michael "Bulldog" Drake, aka Purplehaze, has passed away. He was and always will be Mr. Bowling Green Purple. A true fan of the game and an avid Purples fan!

 

He loved and respected all the teams in the Bluegrass. Our thoughts and prayers from Raceland go out to his family and friends / Bowling Green.

Oh no, I just saw this and am not over to this forum a lot during off season. So sorry, my Prayers and Sympathy to the family and fiends of Michel Drake / Purple Haze.

I found it quite fitting that this was the headlines in our local paper detailing Bowling Green's Sweet 16 win:

 

Boys Sweet Sixteen: Purple Haze - Bowling Green leaves Elliott in dust, 86-44

 

Aaron Snyder / The Independent

LEXINGTON Bowling Green had already traveled around the world by the time Elliott County could latch its seat belts for takeoff.

 

Wheels up from the tip, the Purples jetted out to a 23-6 lead on Thursday as they colored up the Rupp Arena shot chart.

 

Once Elliott County could catch its collective breath, the game was well out of reach. The Lions fell 86-44 in the opening round of the Sweet Sixteen.

 

Link

 

 

RIP PurpleHaze. I had the pleasure of meeting Michael and his wife on a couple of occasions down in BG. While I've never liked the Purples, Mr. Drake made it awfully hard to hate the Purple and Gold. He and his wife were 1st class all the way, and I pray God's peace and comfort over the Drake family during this time of grieving.

Thank you. BGP has always been family to Mike and I. He really did love each and everyone of you as I do. It is still unreal to me that he is gone. When the phone rings it feels like it should be Mike on the other line....When I go somewhere I feel like I should tell him....Thank you all for Mike being excited about belonging to such a wonderful place....Thank you, guru, for dreaming up and bringing to life, such a wonderful place for people to discuss their passion of sports....However, that is not what BGP is all about. You see, it is a place where people become very close...so close that we have become family. No, not all of us have had the opportunity to have talked in person but, that does not matter....we are still close. You all have been here for Mike and I so many times. It all started with a leg amputation. That leg amputation is what made me become a member of this wonderful place. I could not believe that a place like this could have members that are so caring and supportive....

Purple88, that number 57 jersey can not be hung in the locker room....he was laid to rest in it...I thought that was perfect and appropriate article of clothing to have him dressed in....Also, as we would pull up to see BGHS play, Michael would always have Purple Haze by J. Hendrix BLARING on the van's CD....so, as Mike was being led out of the funeral home after the service, Purple Haze was playing...I loved him more than any of you could ever imagine...

He was so excited because the BGHS football banquet was on his birthday this year...He did not get to go because he was in ICU. That really bothers me....That was going to be such a special birthday for him....He really fought....I have had 6 of his doctors tell me they have never seen someone who fought like he did...I have also been told by a couple of them that he lived so much longer than they would have ever thought possible, that he was the strongest person they have ever come across. He did love life...loved his family and loved his friends as his family.

Thank you all so much again...Thank you for caring, praying, and accepting my dear, beautiful husband as you all did....I can never repay you all for that!

Purple88, that number 57 jersey can not be hung in the locker room....he was laid to rest in it...I thought that was perfect and appropriate article of clothing to have him dressed in....

 

Mrs. PH, That is so fitting! I never thought of that, but know he loved that jersey more than any other article of clothing he had.

 

Great Man! I will miss him and remember him everytime I watch the Purples play. May God grant you peace.

I just saw this my apologies... RIP PH physically you are gone but your spirit is here to stay.

I don't know how in the world I missed this for over a month, but this thread just shocked me, and really saddened me when I saw it this morning. I know PH had battled near death illnesses many times, but it still just shocked me when I saw the thread title. BGP and this world has lost another great one. My prayers go out to Mrs. PH and family. :down::cry:

Again, thank you all so much. There are days where it is so much harder than others...this one was one of them. You all were his family as well as mine. I love you all so much. Boy, we had been through thick and thin with you all...Your prayers were, and still are, so much appreciated....