Mom always says "Don't swing octopi in the house!"

OK, I know I said I was going to try and reign in my hockey blogging, but this issue simply can not be ignored.

The NHL recently banned octopus-swinging from Joe Louis Arena.

For the less-enlightened, octopus flinging and swinging is a JLA tradition. After the national anthem, an octopus is thrown onto the ice. Al Sobotka, rink master and Zamboni driver extraordinaire, goes out to pick up the octopus. While some would gripe and groan about this somewhat disgusting duty, Al exits the ice by twirling the octopus over his head, helicopter-style.

Cue the roaring crowd.

Seriously, who is this harming? Who in the NHL administration is so lame that they actually thought up and pushed through this rule? If Al busts out his signature move at tonight's game (Round Two opener against....the Colorado Avalanche!) he will be fined $10,000. That's a lot of money for a Zamboni driver, even if he is the most famous Zamboni driver, like, ever.

Why has Al been banned from swinging his Octopus? According to an email from the NHL to the Freep, "Because matter flies off the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it."

Luckily Detroit hockey fans know an injustice when they see one. I encourage everyone who loves Red Wings hockey - and those who don't, but see how incredibly pointless and ridiculous this rule truly is - to go online and sign Al's petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/octopus8/petition.html

Seriously - if you can't swing your octopus, what CAN you do?