Many hockey teams have pre-game playoff traditions around the National Hockey League.
The Rangers have John Amirante singing the American National Anthem while the crowd drowns him out.
The Buffalo Sabres have Ronan Tynan, who sings his own signature version of our Anthem.
The Detroit Red Wings' age-old tradition doesn't involve singing, but a dead animal. For more than fifty years, the Red Wings have had fans throw an Octopus onto the ice before every playoff home game.
This tradition wasn't started to make a mess, it was started as a symbol. In 1952, when the tradition first started, a team needed eight wins to win the Stanley Cup. Since an octopus has eight legs, it was chosen to be flung or "twirled" onto the ice before each playoff home game.
Even as the league changed and expanded, the Octopus tradition stayed exactly the same. The players, managers, and coaches hate it. The players don't particularly love it, but the fans do!
Now, after more then fifty years, and maybe becoming the longest running pregame ritual in the league, the NHL has decided to put an end to the great tradition.
From now on, the NHL will fine the Red Wings organization $10,000 for each time an Octopus is thrown onto the ice.
Now, I'm not a Red Wings fan, nor do I live in the area, but I'm sure Wings' fans are outraged, because I know I would be.
Why does the NHL have to mess with tradition? Why does it seem that they are out to destroy the sport we love? And more importantly, how will Red Wings nation react towards this travesty of a decision?
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5 months ago
I can tell you that it really pisses me off. If this really made that much of a mess on the ice, would the NHL really allow it for 56 years? They allowed it because it doesn't make a mess. The octopi are cooked in a way that they will stay intact when thrown (and swung above Al's head). My guess is that some moron coach or player from a team that hates the Red Wings finally complained enough.
Fricken NHL. Let the boys play hockey, and let the fans enjoy their traditions. Quit trying to screw everything up.
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