It may have come as a bit of a shock that commissioner Gary Bettman would single out a lowly Zamboni driver as part of his annual state of the union address last week.
However, he's been watched by the league for years.
In the midst of addressing issues like the salary cap, league revenues and the NHL's TV deal, the commish made it clear the Detroit Red Wings would be fined $10,000 if longtime Zamboni driver Al Sobotka swung an octopus above his head in Game 2 of the Cup final.
Bettman said it was a safety issue and that he didn't want a player blowing out a knee after slipping on Octopi parts that may be discarded via the Sobotka Swing.
Fact is, the only thing that stinks more than an octopus is Sean Avery's attitude, which is what led the Calgary Flames to lodge a complaint with the league four years ago when Sobotka's playoff ritual left goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff splattered with Octopi funk before the opening faceoff.
It was then the league politely asked the Wings to have Sobotka cease and desist his antics while running off the ice and past the goalie, but to no avail.
Sure enough, despite the Bettman warning Sobotka ran onto the ice to collect his tentacled sidekick before Game 2 and did what he does best -- swing, albeit while standing at the Zamboni entrance behind the net. Even those watching at home were privy to the event, which left plenty of octopus residue on the rinkside glass.
Given the tradition involved and the response from the crowd, you can bet he'll do it again before Game 5 tonight when the Wings wrap up the Cup at The Joe.
It may stink, but tradition is something the NHL needs to embrace, not deter.
Now more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world wondering how sickeningly devoted you'd have to be to the CFL to be able to name six or more of its current head coaches.
AROUND THE HORN
We know how the league feels about the vicious/illegal hit that ended Stampeders defensive end Anthony Gargiulo's career (it doesn't care), but how does Hitman Jason Jiminez feel about being considered one of the lowest forms of football player? ... Not only did the Stamps and the CFL lose a darn good kid in Gargiulo, but it also lost the only player in league history able to spell any word in the English language backwards. True story ... Damon Allen was a freak of nature and a phenomenal athlete, but let's not let longevity cloud the fact he was nothing more than a fairly good quarterback. Although he was named the league's most outstanding player once, at no time was he the league's best quarterback ... Reason No. 397 to like Phil Mickelson -- his Crowne Plaza Hotel ads ... Those who haven't seen the hilarity of the breaking of the Memorial Cup last week ought to log into YouTube right away.
PARTING SHOTS
Who is the marketing genius in Pittsburgh who decided it was a good idea for the fans to wear white -- the same colour as the visiting team? ... The only reason I would mention the world's 61st-ranked tennis player, Ashley Harkleroad, is posing for Playboy is it gives my editor a great excuse to run a photo of the unknown baseliner ... Over to you, Mr. Paul Kelly and the NHLPA, to decide whether it's reasonable to ask hockey players to avoid motorcycles as part of their contracts in the wake of Luc Bourdon's death. As assets in a big business, you bet it is. That is, of course, unless you don't care about the well-being of your union members (see CFLPA and Gargiulo above) ... All you need to know about the character of perennially underrated goalie Chris Osgood is bundled up in the three-year, $4.25 million contract extension he signed this year while leading the league in goals-against average. While he could have made more, he chose to stay where he wanted.
