Leave Al Alone, Please!

On April 15, 1952, the first octopus hit the ice during a Red Wings game. Al Sobotka wasn't even born. Al is the buildings operation manager of Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings play today. He has been with the Red Wings for 37 years. Al takes care of the ice for the games and he drives the Zamboni. He is also in charge of picking up the octopi that are tossed onto the ice. When one makes it to the ice surface, he goes and picks it up--WITHOUT gloves, mind you--and swings the octopus over his head while leaving the ice. It is a tradition and it makes the crowd go wild. Everyone loves Al and the Red Wing mascot is named 'Al' in his honor. The NHL has decided that Al can't swing octopi any longer.

The Wings were told by the NHL last Friday that Al--or anyone else--is NOT allowed to swing an octopus over the head while removing it from the ice. If this is not adhered to, the person doing the swinging will be fined $10,000. When asked for a reason to the ban, the answer was, "Because matter flies off of the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it." Ah, excuse me? Have the powers-that-be even WATCHED a hockey game? With the amount of nose-blowing and spitting done by the players, octopus guck is nothing! Add blood--which we may see during the Colorado series--and I'm sure most people would be able to overlook a little octopus 'matter.'

This is one of the STUPIDEST things that have come from the powers-that-be. With all of the rule changes, name changes, expansions, and taking away of traditions, this is no longer your daddy's NHL. I'm waiting till they decide to stop the playing of the Canadian national anthem before games because it is annoying to the majority of the teams/fans--simply because the majority are in the US. I can't wait till the game tonight to see if Al follows the 'rules.' Or, has he been told that the fine will be paid for him? ;)




--Joe Louis Arena building manager Al Sobotka twirls an octopus that was thrown on this ice during the singing of the national anthem before the Red Wings-Blackhawks game in Detroit on April 7. The Wings went on to a 7-2 victory. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)--