Octopus twirl now illegal, punishable by $10,000 fine (NHL)

Mlive/AP ^ | 4-20-07 | George James Malik

[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."

[Darren McCarty]

Much as the NFL is called the no fun league, Gary Bettman (Buttman) has done the same to the great sport of hockey. More than any other person, this non-hockey jackass has done his best to run a great sport into the ground with his disrespect of tradition.

There's a reason Bettman is booed out of more arenas than Chris Chelios at road games. Clarence Campbell is rolling in his grave.

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What the heck is an octopus twirl?

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I immediately thought of Squidward in a tutu.

[miliantnutcase]

ROFL

[Darren McCarty]

At Red Wings home games, some fans throw an Octopus on the ice. It's an old tradition from the 1952 Red Wings team that won eight games to win the Stanley Cup.

Al used to take the Octopus, and on his way off the ice, swings the octopus around like fans swing towels at games.

[Popman]

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.

[Dr.Deth]

"Twirling the octopus?"

Is that what they call it these days?

[martin_fierro]

I dunno, but it looks something like this.

[Squawk 8888]

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.

[Cobra64]

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.

[penowa]

"More than any other person, this non-hockey jackass [Bettman] has done his best to run a great sport into the ground with his disrespect of tradition."

Worth repeating...

[Cobra64]

Ummm... Really? WOW!

The ramifications should change the course of events in the free world.

[DannyTN]

Isn't it crueler to throw the octopus onto the ice, than to twirl it.

Can they replace it with a midget toss?

Cat Juggling?

[ridesthemiles]

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.

[Red Steel]

What the heck is an octopus twirl?

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That’s a picture I can’t get out of my mind. :)

[Paleo Conservative]

Not cat jubbling!

[netmilsmom]

And the harm in this is, What?

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At Red Wings home games, some fans throw an Octopus on the ice. It's an old tradition from the 1952 Red Wings team that won eight games to win the Stanley Cup.

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.

[RGSpincich]

An earlier thread said that twirling the octopus could prevent prostate cancer. No,.. wait. Maybe that was something else.

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Weird to me too. Thanks for the picture. He could never get away doing that to Squidward.

[mikrofon]

And why do they call them tentacles when they’re only eight of ‘em?

[afortiori]

Can't say that I can think of a comparable sport ritual involving the desecration of a real dead animal's body.

They used to throw rubber chickens on the ice for a bad call, and hats for a “hat trick.”

I'm no animal right wacko, but this is just weird.

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Is peta involved in this decision? I see no harm in it.

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It looks like an innocent enough tradition. People sure do get twisted in a knot easily today.

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ROTFL

[mc5cents]

When you are stuck in Detroit for the winter,

Fixed.

[jonrick46]

Mmmm! Octipus tenderized tentacles for the tailgate party outside. Put me at the front of the line.

[Red Steel]

Better images

[Cold Heart]

It was twirling a dead cat over your head, at midnight, in a cemetary. Wart removal.

[TYVets]

They used to throw rubber chickens on the ice

Throwing a rubber octopus onto the ice would make the PC boss happy?

I think you have something there!

[afortiori]

Indeed, the origins of some traditions are hard to explain.

[Stoat]

Related video that may be of interest....includes 'twirling' footage

YouTube - The Octopus and Catfish

[EQAndyBuzz]

Octopus twirl, dead cat bounce, dog days of summer, wabbit season, no, duck season.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I hope these octopi are dead already. I’m no animal rights nut, but twirling and throwing a live one around seems cruel. However, if it’s dead already, up yours, Bettman!

[Krankor]

Abusing or tormenting any kind of animal is despicable and cowardly. It shows a lack of humanity.

[driftdiver]

They are dead.

[Krankor]

Ok, thank you.

[driftdiver]

No if PETA were involved they would inject them with poison and then dump them in a garbage bin.

[Mr_Moonlight]

The tradition of throwing octopus on the ice began back in 1952. Brothers Pete and Gerry Cusimano, being from a fish market family, thought that an octopus would be the perfect good luck symbol for the Red Wings. It had eight legs, and the Wings needed eight straight wins for the Stanley Cup. Made sense to them, anyways.
They brought their first octopus to Game 3 against the Canadiens. Pete threw the octopus on the ice after Gordie Howe scored his first goal. Official George Hays, one of the portlier linesman, skated over to remove it from the ice. When he reached down and saw what it was, both skates came off the ice and he skated away.
Seeing this, Detroit defenseman Marcel Pronovost skated over and hit it with his stick. This caused one of the tentacles to move, and Pronovost decided to skate elsewhere. The players stood around nervously until a groundskeeper removed the octopus with a shovel.
The good luck charm worked, it seems, as Detroit did win in eight straight.

[excerpt]

---

From George Plimpton's "Open Net" book, the Octopus story of which a paraphrased version can be read HERE

[Krankor]

That Zamboni driver looks like a dead octopus cut his hair.

[Bender2]

Re: What the heck is an octopus twirl?

It is Kramers variation of Jerry's "move." You remember... the one he didn't want Puddy using in bed with Elaine. The one George ended with a knuckle.

[buccaneer81]

You read the article and posted twice. Why?

If you don't like the topic, don't read it or waste your precious time posting.

[balls]

"Abusing or tormenting any kind of animal is despicable and cowardly. It shows a lack of humanity."

I'm with you on this

[Darren McCarty]

Culture/Society - Discussion of health, education, welfare, drugs, abortion, environment, housing, unions, employment, social security, religion, arts, humanity, sports, and other cultural and societal issues.

I don’t have a clue what this has to do with politics.

Bettman's a democrat.

Please post this stuff over on Sports Illustrated

No.

Hey, you didn't have to click on this thread.

[4yearlurker]

I think I see a market opening up for realistic looking plastic octopus. Better get them out there now and pile them high and watch them fly!

Americans will buy anything.

[Mr. Brightside]

How about if he swings around a plate of deep fried calamari instead?

Would the league fine him?

[Ilya Mourometz]

Agreed. I assume they are dead given that they don’t do too well out of saltwater. It is, nevertheless, a disgusting “tradition”. If they were twirling around a bucket of phlegm, it would be no less disgusting.

I used to play hockey and I read about the great Detroit teams of the past (terry sawchuck, gordie howe, etc.). I don’t remember ever hearing about this “tradition” until a few years ago. I call BS on the “tradition” claim.

[Levante]

“Can they replace it with a midget toss?

Cat Juggling?”

Jihadi killing?