Jerry Mendoza/Associated Press
Al Sobotka, the Zamboni driver at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, twirling an octopus, a ritual at home playoff games.
I never knew this as a tradition, seems pretty weird to me.
Posted on 04/20/2008 12:27:16 PM PDT by Darren McCarty
Posted by George James Malik April 19, 2008 08:29AM According to the Free Press's Helene St. James, the NHL has banned Al Sobotka's classic twirling of octopi at Joe Louis Arena:
April 18, Detroit Free Press: Just a little tidbit from Joe Louis Arena: The NHL has decided octopus twirling doesn't fit in with league image, or something to that effect.
The Wings have been told by the league that if Al Sobotka (or anyone else) twirls the octopus that's thrown onto the ice before playoff games, it'll cost the team $10,000.
I know opposing general managers have complained of this tradition because stuff flies off the octopus and sticks to the ice, but this is such a recognizable Detroit tradition.
One landed, just after the game, on the ice before Game 5, as usual. Nashville defenseman Greg Zanon skated by and whacked it aside with his stick.
........
Chris Osgood describes the situation as any Red Wings fan would:
"Certain teams and certain traditions, they should just leave them alone," the Wings' Chris Osgood said. "It's a shame. It's great for the atmosphere, and the fans love it. The league should ask the fans first before they do anything. That's who pays to get into the rink and see the game."
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.mlive.com ...
There's a reason Bettman is booed out of more arenas than Chris Chelios at road games. Clarence Campbell is rolling in his grave.
What the heck is an octopus twirl?
I immediately thought of Squidward in a tutu.
ROFL
Al used to take the Octopus, and on his way off the ice, swings the octopus around like fans swing towels at games.
Al Sobotka, the Zamboni driver at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, twirling an octopus, a ritual at home playoff games.
I never knew this as a tradition, seems pretty weird to me.
Is that what they call it these days?
I dunno, but it looks something like this.
In Detroit it’s become a tradition for fans to toss an octopus onto the ice during playoff games. It started when the Stanley Cup playoffs were two rounds, meaning that it took eight playoff victories to win the championship. The “octopus twirl” is where the player who picks it up from the ice twirls it over his head a few times.
I don’t have a clue what this has to do with politics. Please post this stuff over on Sports Illustrated. Thank you. Thank you.
Worth repeating...
The ramifications should change the course of events in the free world.
Can they replace it with a midget toss?
Cat Juggling?
I never knew this as a tradition, seems pretty weird to me.”
When you are stuck in Detroit for the winter, anything can happen. You look for your “traditions” where ever you can find them.
That’s a picture I can’t get out of my mind. :)
Not cat jubbling!
And the harm in this is, What?
Al used to take the Octopus, and on his way off the ice, swings the octopus around like fans swing towels at games.
I thought maybe it was a metaphor, not to be confused with metefore. :)
Thanks, I learned something new today - Octopus Twirl.
An earlier thread said that twirling the octopus could prevent prostate cancer. No,.. wait. Maybe that was something else.
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