NHL Winter Classic 2012: Michael Rupp's Salute and 3 Worst Celebration Rip-Offs

The NHL Winter Classic was full of surprises.

Michael Rupp certainly had to be one of them.

Rupp missed 22 games with a knee injury that he sustained in October against the Winnipeg Jets.

The 6'5", 243-pound forward also had four fights to just one goal this season.

But Rupp stepped up in a big way for the New York Rangers, notching two goals.

His first goal came just 30 seconds after the Flyers opened the scoring with two quick second period goals just one minute and 55 seconds apart.

But Rupp should stick to fighting or scoring goals, not trying to show off and mock one of the game's great players in Jaromir Jagr.

His "Mile High Salute" after his first goal may have drawn some laughs, but it also drew the ire of many Flyers including Scott Hartnell.

Rupp's Mile High Salute draws him a spot on my list of four worst goal celebration rip-offs ever.

Honourable Mention: Highschoolers Taking a Drink of the Goalie's Water Bottle

For the celebration it is shown in full at around the 1:47 mark.

This celebration isn't a rip-off, so technically it wouldn't make the list. But classless?

Absolutely.

Taking a drink out of the opposing goalie's water bottle is absurd and unsportsmanlike.

The fact that someone would do this at all annoys most hockey fans to no extent.

4. Sean Avery's Pushups

Trying to do push ups on the ice is sort of like trying to skate on grass.

It doesn't work very well.

Avery's skillful push ups on the ice only add to his reputation as an agitator.

Avery talks a big game, and he does more talking than scoring.

But because Avery was put on waivers last week (and ended up clearing them), maybe he should celebrate every goal by doing push ups or something as memorable.

In any case, I've seen push ups too often in the NFL as a form of celebration, so Avery earns a spot at number four on this list.

3. Ovechkin and His 50 Goal "Fire" Stick

Scoring 50 goals is almost unheard of in the NHL these days.

Corry Perry did it last year with a hat trick in the last game of the season.

Alex Ovechkin has done it multiple times, four out of his first five years in the NHL in fact.

Ovechkin acting a little bit crazy is nothing new for hockey fans.

Whether it is wearing a cowboy hat, sun glasses and using two sticks at the All-Star game shoot out or multiple media quips, Ovechkin is known for his antics.

But a flaming stick and drawing it out as long as he did in this one?

That seems more like something once again that belongs in the NFL.

It is somewhat disrespectful, and feels out of place given its duration.

I'll give it number three on my list.

2. Michael Rupp's Mile High Salute

Funny thing about Michael Rupp saluting the crowd in the Winter Classic...

If it truly was a rip-off of Jagr's move, he should know that Jagr himself acquired the "Mile High Salute" from the Denver Broncos and Terrell Davis.

So technically, Rupp is doing a take off on a take off.

Rip-off?

You know it.

But there is a bigger celebration rip-offs ahead of Rupp's salute.

1. Artem Anisimov and His "Shooting" Celebration

NHL celebrations after goals are usually pretty generic.

So what's the big deal about having a bit of fun with them?

Well, in the case of Artem Anisimov, he took it too far, and he didn't do the celebration correctly.

The original came about when Teemu Selanne launched his glove in the air and shoots it.

Selanne's was creative and to the point, but Anisimov meanwhile had other ideas and presented a mixed message.

Instead of shooting up into the air, Anisimov picked a spot on the net.

This enraged on-ice players as they saw it as a direct insult to their goaltender. As the clip shows, Anisimov got roughed up a bit for his actions.

Anisimov's celebration was not only ill-timed, but was also uncalled for.

His actions demonstrated a lack of sportsmanship, and it is for that reason that he gets the number one spot on my list.

Analysis

Now, I'm not saying take out goal celebrations.

But a simple arms raised, stick above the head will do.

Hockey is a team game, and more often than not, all goals are a result of someone assisting and helping the goal scorer find the open space or open net to score.

Celebrations should be brief, and not drawn out into the mockery that they are in the NFL.

Some celebrations will be better than others and more thought out, but the ones that are not well thought out need to go.

Additionally, there is no need to taunt other players after scoring, as giving up a goal in a crucial moment of a game is so deflating.

Perhaps the NHL starts looking at these celebrations more seriously and sets guidelines as to what can and cannot be done.

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