By Michael Farber, SI.com
The NHL, in its infinite wisdom, last week decided to fine the Detroit Red Wings $10,000 if Al
Sobotka, the building supervisor at Joe Louis Arena, ever twirls an octopus (photo) on the ice again during the playoffs in one of his famous efforts to fire up the home crowd.
Other than being organic (the tradition, not to mention the octopus itself) and a million miles removed from the plastic rat craze that overran Florida in 1996, the NHL edict was supposed to level the playing field while keeping the playing field (ice surface) free from any parts of the octopus that might be lost in the Sobotka Spin.
Well, the NHL really showed the Red Wings.
When the first octopus landed -- splat! -- on the ice during the national anthem before Game 1 of the Red Wings-Avalanche series on Thursday night, linesman Scott Driscoll was handed a shovel and told to remove the octopus himself. The guy calls a great line, but he is not exactly Mr. Clean.
Even with partner Jean Morin eventually lending a helping hand, the linesmen made a mess of the ice. (Clearly, NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom is going to have to expand the training camp protocols next September.)
After finally getting the octopus off the ice and handing it to Sobotka on the other side of the Zamboni door, the cheeky Sobotka twirled it anyway. He was in the tunnel and not on the ice, technically violating no NHL ruling, but still within view of most of the patrons. The crowd went crazy.
In Detroit, apparently they are countless ways to skin an octopus. And the NHL.
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Comments (8) Add A Comment
This octupus rule makes no sense. Why does the league office try to take character out of the game? This is what gives the NHL life! Rumors are swirling that the league is going to mandate that no one tucks their jersey in. When will it end? These things provide personality, instead of making it look like every player was produced from a factory. Stop meddling, NHL!
CKap219
Succasunna , NJ
Total Comments (3)
Some other team's management whines to the league about the octopus twirl in an attempt to take away a method of getting the Detroit fans fired up. The league, without any attempt to study the situation and determine if there is an ACTUAL issue, mandates that only linesmen can remove the octopi. The linesmen, since they don't know what they're doing...dig a hole in the ice attempting to remove the octopus without actually touching it. Al Sobotka calls the Joe's ice surface "his baby" and would NEVER have damaged the ice like that. Congratulations NHL....you took a non-problem, made it INTO a problem, and ticked off thousands of fans in the process! Way to go.
JoeKocur26
Total Comments (6)
what's next, banning the traditional hat toss on the ice after a hat trick?
bepnm_8
Elmira , MI
Total Comments (1)
We should be able to throw the officials on the ice too!
FlyGuy
Wilmington , DE
Total Comments (24)
O.K o.k o.k!!!! I understand the Avery rule because what he was doing was not hockey it was day-care antics of a three year old that the N.H.L can't have as it ruins the game. The octupus rule is idiotic and should go down in history with all the ridiculous laws that had been in place in the 1800's that nobody follows. This is tradition so let it be. whats next? Is the N.H.L going to stop people from wearing jerseys to the game as it might make the other teams supporters feel to uncomfortable? Enuff already!!! This is just plain silly and I can't help but laugh nor can I shake the overwhelming feeling to shake the twirlers hand for a job well done.
kingeraaa
Total Comments (41)
Before game Two in Detroit, an Avalanche player picked an octopus up off the ice and threw it over the boards. Is the league going to fine him $10,000 because he didn't leave it for the linesmen?
JoeKocur26
Total Comments (6)
Why can't the NHL leave enough alone? Ever since Gary Bettman took over this league has gone down the tank. There are reasons nobody wants to watch and they all begin and end with that idiot! I know allowing a building manager, or whatever Sobotka is, to swing an octupus isn't going to make the country watch the sport any more than they already don't. Oh, wait, who is responsible for that. Bettman! Bettman and his wonderful staff should be given what they deserve for the amazing job they did getting the NHL moved from ESPN to VS. The NHL powers are always wondering why nobody is watching anymore, well look in the mirror. Its the little things that add up and this is just another example of power freek Bettman and his cronies getting in the way of harmless fun. Nothing more, nothing less. Of course people in Nashille and Colorado probably don't agree, but look at is this way, you all will be able to spend May thru September coming up with your own rip off celebration.
JungleKarma
Lapeer , MI
Total Comments (1)
Detroit fans need an octopus to fire themselves up? A stinkin' octopus?
Maybe we should throw octopus into the GM, Ford and Chrysler manufacturing plants. Maybe then they'll build cars as well as the overseas auto companies. :-)
Petzuk
Danbury , CT
Total Comments (102)
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