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Octopus throw banned by NHL
Yahoo Sports ^ | Friday, May 23, 2008 | Greg Wyshynski

Posted on 05/23/2008 7:42:18 PM PDT by swampdweller

With Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings set for Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night, angst over one of the postseason's biggest controversies continues to linger in the Motor City: The NHL's decision to ban octopus twirling on the ice.

Tossing octopi on the ice has been a Detroit hockey tradition dating back to 1952, and longtime arena operations manager Al Sobotka has been whipping around cephalopods to whip Wings fans into a frenzy since 1991. But back in the first round of the playoffs, the NHL vowed to hit the team with a $10,000 fine if Sobotka or anyone else dared twirl an octopus thrown onto the playing surface. The decision sparked massive and immediate fan protests, but the policy has remained in place.

This week, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the League's decision on WDFN's "The Stoney and Wojo Show," claiming the twirl ban is an issue of safety:

"Actually, there's a very good reason for it. We haven't fined or given a delay of game penalty for the throwing of the octopus because we understand and respect the tradition. Having said that, when you swing the octopus around - and I don't know the exact term for it -- but octopus 'gunk' gets on the ice and occasionally has gotten on the players -- the goaltenders -- as it goes by. Occasionally, when it freezes on the ice, it creates a potentially hazardous situation for the players. It's not about interfering with a tradition; it's about making sure nobody gets it in their eyes, like a goaltender nearby, or that nobody blows out a knee getting caught on some frozen gunk."

Somehow, blowing out a knee on octopus goo has escaped us on injury reports for the last 17 years.

The Detroit News has a terrific mini-documentary that details octopus tossing history, and the passion, the sights and the smells that go along with it. While Sobotka's great on-ice tradition has been halted, the News reports he can still swing the octopi on the concourse.


TOPICS: Sports; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: clinton; freepun; hillary; hockey; obama; octopus
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To: Alamo-Girl

A. He told her: I wanna hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand.


21 posted on 05/23/2008 9:29:14 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: swampdweller

I’d guess in Asian markets or specialty markets. They were pretty easy to find in California and Atlanta. Haven’t tried where I currently reside.


22 posted on 05/23/2008 9:34:33 PM PDT by CaspersGh0sts
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To: swampdweller
Are they dead yet or do they ritually sacrifice them just before the game?
23 posted on 05/23/2008 9:41:37 PM PDT by JSteff (This election is NOT a presidential only. 3 to 5 Supremes' will retire! Vote accordingly)
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To: swampdweller
Excuse my stupidity, but where would one get octopi to toss if one wanted to do so????

Hillary's Pant suit

24 posted on 05/23/2008 9:45:19 PM PDT by al baby (Hi mom)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

LOLOL!


25 posted on 05/23/2008 10:01:29 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: swampdweller; The Spirit Of Allegiance

26 posted on 05/23/2008 10:53:01 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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To: swampdweller

Squid-Mart


27 posted on 05/23/2008 10:57:05 PM PDT by Salamander (And don't forget my Dog; fixed and consequent......)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

Robin Goodfellow to pay Bettman.


28 posted on 05/23/2008 11:00:08 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Profile updated Monday, April 28, 2008)
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To: swampdweller

Cephalopod Warehouse.


29 posted on 05/23/2008 11:11:18 PM PDT by dighton
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To: swampdweller
"You can buy an octopus next week at Wholey's Fish Market in Pittsburgh -- unless you're wearing Detroit Red Wings gear or otherwise let slip that you're visiting from Michigan for the game..."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3409330

30 posted on 05/23/2008 11:17:02 PM PDT by Screaming_Gerbil (How do you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a muzzle flash?)
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To: swampdweller
I dont get it.

If you buy a perished octopus, it should be for food.

As far as sports, bring back the days prior to where the 49’s were reigning, and car for, sports where they were getting 240 mph down the straits at Le Mans and Daytona.

31 posted on 05/24/2008 1:19:43 AM PDT by valkyry1
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To: RepublitarianRoger2

Thanks, that makes sense.

So how come people don’t throw cows on the court for the Final Four? Four games, four legs!

No wait! Spider monkeys would be better cus you could swing by their cute little tails!


32 posted on 05/24/2008 2:59:57 AM PDT by YCTHouston
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To: scrabblehack

My grammar stands corrected, but I warn you - this could be a full time job.

Spell-check thinks it’s “octopuses.”


33 posted on 05/24/2008 3:02:55 AM PDT by YCTHouston
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To: swampdweller

I go to Octopus City, which is a subsidiary of Spatula City Conglomerate, LLC(serving all your spatula needs).


34 posted on 05/24/2008 4:41:13 AM PDT by Cheburashka (Liberalism: a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance
the News reports he can still swing the octopi on the concourse

It just doesn't WHIRL the same!

35 posted on 05/24/2008 4:46:55 AM PDT by MountainFlower (There but by the grace of God go I.)
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To: YCTHouston; The Spirit Of Allegiance

would like to see that....cow throwing! how many players to throw a cow?


36 posted on 05/24/2008 4:50:38 AM PDT by MountainFlower (There but by the grace of God go I.)
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To: swampdweller
The Detroit Octopus throwing isn't bad. Usually only 1 or 2 end up on the ice after the first goal.

It got out of hand with the Florida Panther fans when they started throwing rubber rats on the ice. There would be thousands of them and it took forever to clear the ice.

What next? Bettman banning the throwing of hats on the ice for hat tricks?

37 posted on 05/24/2008 5:09:16 AM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: Phantom Lord

Florida almost went all the way that year if I remember correctly and haven’t done squat since the ban,


38 posted on 05/24/2008 5:15:09 AM PDT by usmcobra (I sing Karaoke the way it was meant to be sung, drunk, badly and in Japanese)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

Sorry for the delay of game, but the rink is octopied.


39 posted on 05/24/2008 5:27:40 AM PDT by dangus
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To: Clemenza

Just double-checking... science recognizes no known freshwater species of octopi.


40 posted on 05/24/2008 5:34:16 AM PDT by dangus
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