2008 Stanley Cup Finals

[ZTABullwinkle]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Thanks for the octopus heads up, I didn't get that at all.

Since you aren't really rooting for other team, I'll ask you: did you think NBC's coverage leaned pro-Detroit and anti-Pittsburgh? I'm just curious as to what an innocent bystander (lol) has to say.

One night I feel like it is pro-Detroit, another pro-Pittsburgh. All in all, I think the NHL is making too big of a deal of a very young Sidney Crosby. Is he a good player, yes. Is he along the same lines NOW as Gretzky or Lemiuex, NO! He has some time he needs to put in before I will compare him to those two greats.

I saw him play against Ovechkin in March. While the Mr. and I were surprised at how quick the two of them were, Ovechkin really puts 110% on the ice. He is checking along with the rest of them. Sidney on the other hand tends to flop and complain. If he spent more time concentrating on playing his rold as leader and forward on the team, I think I would be more impressed. Right now, I just have a taste of too big for his britches syndrome. Thinks he should get special treatment because he is Crosby.

Now, I realize that this is not the general opinion of most, especially Penguins fans.

Here is what I found about the octopus on Wiki:

Al the Octopus
Main article: Al the Octopus

Al the Octopus (Detroit Red Wings)Al the Octopus is the eight legged mascot the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.[1] In 1952, when east side fish merchants Pete and Jerry Cusimano threw a real octopus onto the Olympia arena ice, the eight legs representing the eight victories needed to secure a Stanley Cup in those six-team days. Since then, fans throw octopi onto the ice for good luck. In one game in the 1995 Playoffs, fans threw forty-five onto the ice.[citation needed] Arena Manager and Zamboni driver Al Sobotka ceremoniously scoops them up, and play continues.

Now a large purple prop octopus (Al), named after ice manager Al Sobotka, is positioned in Joe Louis Arena for the duration of the playoffs.