NHL & Octopus throwing

[ASUADPi]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl-wp2695

I really hope I'm the only one who finds this completely inappropriate. I'm just waiting for PETA (or some other agency) to step in. You just don't do this to an animal, octopus or any other type. Common sense people!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl-wp2695

I really hope I'm the only one who finds this completely inappropriate. I'm just waiting for PETA (or some other agency) to step in. You just don't do this to an animal, octopus or any other type. Common sense people!

@ the bold. I don't think that's what you met.

Also PETA kills puppies, and is too busy comparing pork to the holocaust or slavery to do more than write a strongly worded letter. Thing is, NHL already banned it so who are they going to write to, the fans?

Also, to my knowledge the octopus is already dead, not thrown on the ice live. Considering the fact that octopus is often eaten so fresh that the tentacles are still moving this is not necessarily a step down in humane treatment of the cephalopods that will rule the earth after they learn to walk the land. Considering how people treat live seafood anyway, i'm not sure this is a departure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_Octopus

[AGDee]

Yes, they are dead when thrown. They are purchased primarily in a seafood store at Eastern Market, already dead. Like Drole points out, people treat live seafood pretty horribly already... like dropping a live lobster in boiling water.

I find it humorous that when asked about tossing hats on the ice when someone gets a hat trick they said it's just too many people doing it to do anything about it.

You don't see nearly as many as you used to because the security at the Joe do try to screen people for them. People have to be creative to smuggle them in there these days.

Haters gonna hate! Go Wings!

[BraveMaroon]

I was at a game the other night and someone threw a catfish on the ice. We're in Nashville, so apparently, that's our unique version.

It really messed up the ice - to say nothing of the catfish.

I hadn't even given it much thought from an animal rights perspective.

But I eat seafood (and really, all meat) so I'd be a hypocrite to get up in arms about cephalopod slinging, then go have calamari after the game.

Go Preds!!!!!

[AGDee]

Compliments of the Down With Detroit web site.

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Compliments of the Down With Detroit web site.

I NEED one of these shirts. As a Blue Jackets fan it seems the horrid things get tossed on our ice more than we want, but if they were tossing Bettman we'd probably help!!!

@BraveMaroon, what was the deal with the catfish the other night? That was rather strange and unexpected.

[Drolefille]

http://www.givemenashville.com/NNPredators.htm

Legend of the catfish

Fans of the Nashville Predators have created their own unique tradition to show their support: on occasion, a fan will throw a catfish onto the ice. The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville cites the first instance of this on October 30, 2003. The Predators were facing the Detroit Red Wings at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, and a fan managed to toss the raw fish over the glass and onto the ice in celebration of Nashville's first goal of the contest, which the Predators ultimately won. The fan's fish-toss set a precedent, and fans smuggle the catfish into the arena (likely by keeping them up against their skin, as security searches bags but doesn't frisk fans) and fling the fish onto the ice, often in celebration of the Predators' first goal of the game. In fact, at least four catfish wound up on the ice after the first Nashville goal in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on November 13th, 2003. Fans who get caught throwing anything onto the ice are escorted out of the arena, yet it doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent—this tradition continues on occasion even now.

The reason for choosing a catfish is not entirely clear. It is possible (though unlikely) that the fish referenced the Predators' status as "bottom-feeders" in the NHL's Western Conference for much of the team's early existence. It may also have had something to do with the Catfish Out of Water art festival which took place around the time the tradition began; this festival resulted in over 50 fiberglass catfish sculptures being placed throughout Music City, including one painted in a hockey scheme located on the GEC plaza.

The most plausable theory regarding the smelly fish regards a rivalry. The biggest rivals of the Nashville Predators are the legendary Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have a similar tradition where fans fling octopuses onto the ice, with the creature's eight legs symbolizing the eight wins it once took the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. With the deep dislike of the Red Wings, it is likely a fan decided to create a Southern answer to the longstanding tradition, and the catfish--a Southern trademark--was a fairly logical choice.

Sometime around 8:34pm Central time on Wednesday, February 8th, 2006 (with 13 minutes and change left in the 3rd period), the Predators and their foul-smelling tradition made history again. The Preds were playing the Red Wings in Detroit, and the Joe Louis Arena got its first known taste of catfish. Nashville was down 4-0, and a fan calmly approached the glass and heaved the fish to the ice--the very same ice which has seen so many octopuses in the past. After chucking the catfish, the fan removed his jacket to reveal an autographed jersey of Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun, who had been pulled after two periods, giving up the four goals. According to the Predators' announcers (Pete Weber and Terry Crisp) the fan known as Catfish Kenny likely was waiting for Nashville's first goal of the game, but whether due to impatience or the likely growing odour of the catfish, decided to throw the fish early. His actions - including revealing his jersey and thus, his allegiance, earned him a hasty exit from the game. The Predators had no luck on that night, however, as the Red Wings and their historically octopus-flinging fans would enjoy being the 6-0 victor in that contest. Catfish Kenny also struck again in the season finale April 18 vs the Red Wings shortly after Paul Kariya's Hat Trick.

[honeychile]

I've heard that the referees HATED it! Supposedly, the octopi smelled so badly after being catapulted onto the ice (and sometimes freezing to it).

Don't go by PETA standards, btw. They think nothing of opening up the cages of lab animals and not caring what happens to the animal itself. Nothing could be crueler than that!

[PiKA2001]

UGH

Nothing makes my skin crawl and eyes bug out more than when people talk as if PETA is the go to group for protecting or saving animals.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Haters gonna hate! Go Wings!

God, D. You know I love you, but you have terrible taste in hockey teams.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by agzg

God, D. You know I love you, but you have terrible taste in hockey teams.

And how are those Blackhawks doing in the playoffs, Sis???

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AGDee

And how are those Blackhawks doing in the playoffs, Sis???

Oh you shut your mouth. Also, you know the Sabres are my favorite team.

[BraveMaroon]

Originally Posted by AOIIalum

@BraveMaroon, what was the deal with the catfish the other night? That was rather strange and unexpected.

Well, AOIIalum, I clearly had no idea. Special thanks to my sister, Drolefille for her excellent explanation. It was indeed, strange. My company has really good season passes, thanks to our relationship to a customer who is a huge corporate sponsor. They get raffled out, and I finally won them for the last home game of the year. 16 rows from the ice. YES!

Now, if you think the catfish is weird, you might be amused by our statues:

http://nashvillest.com/2011/04/15/ph...ds-pride-tgif/

This is a huge statue in the roundabout at Music Row (where all the country music businesses in Nashville reside). It also mysteriously appears in costume at St. Patrick's Day. It used to be very controversial, because under those clothes, the statues are nekkid. Impressionistic, but you can tell there are naughty bits. Oh, the horror!

Go Preds!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

UGH

Nothing makes my skin crawl and eyes bug out more than when people talk as if PETA is the go to group for protecting or saving animals.

Seriously! What if they raid a lab where one of the really horrific diseases is being tested? That fluffy little bunny that just hopped out of the lab could be a carrier of just about anything!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

UGH

Nothing makes my skin crawl and eyes bug out more than when people talk as if PETA is the go to group for protecting or saving animals.

My feelings exactly.