A member of Detroit sports media’s inner circle is gone. Kenny Kott, 97.1 The Ticket producer and on-air contributor for The Valenti Show with Rico, passed away Saturday night following medical complications.
What We Know: Kott reportedly suffered a medical event in early June and spent several weeks hospitalized before his condition worsened. He was 32 years old. A fixture at 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, Kott served as both producer and on-air contributor to The Valenti Show with Rico. He was celebrated for his encyclopedic NHL knowledge, fierce devotion to Detroit’s sports teams — especially the Red Wings — his infectious personality, and his signature laugh. He got married last summer.
What They Said: 97.1 The Ticket Host Mike Valenti: “”I just want you to know what we truly thought of Kenny. Beyond the jokes and the ball-breaking and the rest. I would always bust his chops, like, ‘Man, what do you want out of life? What is it you want, so I can help deliver this? And he would always say, ‘No, I just always wanted to be part of a radio show.’ And I’d say, ‘OK, well, you did that, and you’re part of the best one. So what’s next?'”
Co-producer David ‘Hatchetman’ Hull: “I’m going to miss him. I’m going to miss the ‘Hockey Elite’ information that man had. It’s a huge loss for us, because as Mike said, we are a team. We get on each other, we get at each other, but we all love each other. That’s the important part. We loved Kenny, and we’re definitely going to miss him.”
What Remains Unclear: Any services to remember Kott are unknown.
What It Means: Detroit sports radio lost more than a producer. Kott represented something rarer — a behind-the-scenes voice who became essential to the on-air culture around him. Valenti’s team openly grieved on-air Monday, signaling just how deeply he was woven into the fabric of the show. His passion, his hockey expertise, and his presence will be difficult to replace.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
