It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).
Detroit, MI
Services announced for Max Hardy, Detroit chef, restaurateur and community advocate
Arrangements for Detroit chef Maxcel Hardy who died unexpectedly Monday have been announced.
A celebration of life for Hardy, known as “chef Max,” is scheduled to place Friday and Saturday at Triumph Church, East Campus, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., in Detroit.
A repose/wake for Hardy is noon to 6 p.m. Friday, with special remarks expected from 3-4:40 p.m.
On Saturday, Hardy’s homegoing celebration is taking place and begins with a family hour at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. homegoing service.
Hardy, who was 40, was a well-known Detroit restaurateur known for his community advocacy and efforts to fight hunger. His unexpected death shocked Detroit chefs and its restaurant industry. He owned COOP Caribbean Fusion, inside the Detroit Shipping Co., Jed’s Detroit, a pizza and wings franchise on Seven Mile Road in Detroit, and now closed, River Bistro in northwest Detroit.
Last month, Hardy was one of two dozen Black chefs who gathered for the Black Excellence Culinary Symphony 2024 at Table No. 2 in Greektown, a charitable event supporting young culinarians.
In 2021, the New York Times named Hardy one of 16 Black chefs changing food in America. Hardy also co-authored the Marley Coffee Cookbook with Rohan Marley, the son of reggae artist Bob Marley. He was featured on the Food Network and participated in many events in Detroit and was a staunch leader in teaching Detroit’s youth.
A champion of Detroit, its culinary scene and efforts to uplift the community, Hardy also founded the One Chef Can 86 Hunger foundation, a nonprofit that works to fight hunger and raise awareness around food insecurity.
“We have lost one of the most celebrated and promising Black chefs from Detroit who was recognized nationally as one of the top Black Chefs changing food in America,” said local publicist David Rudolph.
A cause of death hasn’t been revealed.
Flowers and arrangements can be sent to Kemp Funeral Home, 24585 Evergreen Road in Southfield.
The family is also accepting charitable contributions and donations through Cash App at $chefmaxcelhardy| | | or Zelle using 813-992-0606.
But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.
Although, if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.
Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand the injuries.
But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.
However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
Dan Gilbert paid for an army of Cleveland Cavaliers fans to take over Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena for Game 2 of the NBA playoffs against the rival Detroit Pistons.
Gilbert, the longtime Cavs owner who has founded several Detroit-based companies and owns much of the real estate in downtown Detroit, sent seven bus loads of Cavs season ticket holders up I-75 North on Thursday, May 7, to wear maroon and gold shirts that read “BEAT DETROIT!”
Coworkers Rick Amador, 46, of Lorain, Ohio, and Eric Karr, 24, of Strongsville, Ohio, said they were thankful their trip to the playoffs in Detroit was fully paid for.
“Dan Gilbert fully paid for all of our tickets, paid for the shirts that you see here today,” Amador said. “He paid for the swag and he brought us here, fed us. We had a party at The Beacon [in Detroit, owned by Gilbert]. DJ, food, it was phenomenal.”
[ Pistons vs Cavaliers score updates, Game 2 highlights, commentary ]
Gilbert earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State and a law degree from Wayne State in downtown Detroit.
“I’m just ready to bring a dub home to Cleveland,” Karr said. “It’s been a long time coming. We got lucky with LeBron [James] always coming here and now it’s time for us to build our own future and win our own championship. All of them. Yes, Donovan [Mitchell] has to have his legacy game.”
The Pistons on Tuesday night won Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, 111-101, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Games 3-4 will be in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon and Monday night.
As for a prediction for the rest of the series?
“Five games, Cavs win it,” Karr said without hesitation.
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