Monday, October 13 will be a GOOD DAY for Craig.  It's our son Scott's birthday and we also have a grandchild on the way right about that time.  Good things will happen!!  And of course it goes without saying (but I'm sayin it)...we'll all be prayin' our hearts out!

Jim,  The Octopus tradition..sit back, relax and enjoy the story:

It started with the 1952 playoffs.  A local fishmarket owner threw the 1st octopus on the ice to symbolilze 8 more wins till the cup at that time.  The Wings swept that year & won the revered cup.

Theres an etiquette to throwing an octopus on the ice.  Best time is right after the national anthem or a RW goal.  It's not allowed and throwers (perps ) are thrown out for doing that.  Soo... determined fans boil the cctopus (takes yukky smell away), stick it in a garbage bag & hide it under their belt.  eww!!  When they're ready to throw, they have all the fans around them stand up so security doesn't see who threw it.  Fans have been known to be kicked out of the arena, change clothes & come back in   Pretty clever, huh?

Below is a picture of Al Sobotka swinging the "pi".  It's his job to pick it up and get it out.  He always does this:





In April 08, the NHL Director of hockey imposed a $10K fine on throwing these guys on the ice..because the guk from the creature got on the ice.   wah  wah.  The ban was loosened to allow octopus twirling only at the zambonie entrance.    And they all lived happily ever after!

Oh, I've got a new abbreviation too .... BB!!  I think you'll figure it out.