295 replies to this topic

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

Any chance the police will look the other way?

And then maybe claim, "We couldn't find whoever threw that one."

[Howard He Do It?!]

The officer who apprehended and ticketed the thrower just called into the Vallenti and Foster program. He said that "We don't want to write the tickets because quite frankly we are fans too" and said that "We were forced to write it by the NHL"

Note those aren't exact quotes, slight paraphrasing but still accurate.

He also said that it was his understanding that the fan threw the octopus at the wrong time, perhaps too close to a faceoff. Also, the NHL officials who escorted the fan to the police required a copy of the ticket as proof that the fan was punished for his actions.

[grwingfan]

So why don't the Detroit Police tell NHL security to kiss their ass and not write a single ticket. What is Bettman going to do?....move the team!

[hooon]

He also said that it was his understanding that the fan threw the octopus at the wrong time, perhaps too close to a faceoff. Also, the NHL officials who escorted the fan to the police required a copy of the ticket as proof that the fan was punished for his actions.

Unbelievable.

I hope that 20 thousand octopi rain down on the Joe tomorrow.

[Konnan511]

So why don't the Detroit Police tell NHL security to kiss their ass and not write a single ticket. What is Bettman going to do?....move the team!

It's a city ordinance as well...

[grwingfan]

Ordinances (in the City of Detroit) are passed by the Detroit City Council. And we aren't a democracy, we are a republic.

It always amazes me how many Americans don't have a clue what kind of political system we have. Hell most teachers think we are a democracy and we aren't. Idiots

[Drake_Marcus]

******* horses***.

Bettman and the rest of the NHL "brain"trust won't squash a sacred tradition in this city.

Please fellow fans-- don't let them do this to our beloved Wings.

[Howard He Do It?!]

So why don't the Detroit Police tell NHL security to kiss their ass and not write a single ticket. What is Bettman going to do?....move the team!

Probably report the officers. The officers most likely thought it would be in their best interest to write the ticket rather than face the possible wrath of their superiors after the NHL ratted on them.

[grwingfan]

It's a city ordinance as well...

So what. Do you have any idea how many City Ordinances are not enforced in Detroit!!!

Hell...there are probably fewer than half that are enforced than are on the books.

[Howard He Do It?!]

It's a city ordinance as well...

That is leniently enforced according to the officer who called into Detroit sports radio. The officer also said that the NHL is more lax on the policy during the regular season and turns up the heat during the playoffs. Don't want those pesky traditions soiling the game during its time in the national spotlight.

Edited by Howard He Do It?!, 15 April 2011 - 03:26 PM.

[mjlegend]

Good thing there's no other crime in downtown Detroit the police need to worry about.

Money on the board?

[grwingfan]

Heck....the prosecutor should come out and say all tickets written for throwing an Octopus on the ice at the Joe will be dropped by the Prosecutors office with the reason being the City doesn't have the time for something this petty.

[Konnan511]

Not all hooks or interferences are called, but they are still a penalty. Don't get upset because Johnny Law and Detroit are spot picking. It's like going 5 over the speed limit, 99% of people get away with it, but if you get pulled over and cited for speeding, you still broke the law.

[stinky fish taco]

actually, it was getting sort of ridiculous anyway. do we really need 7 thrown every game?

a bit excessive.

[Howard He Do It?!]

Not all hooks or interferences are called, but they are still a penalty. Don't get upset because Johnny Law and Detroit are spot picking. It's like going 5 over the speed limit, 99% of people get away with it, but if you get pulled over and cited for speeding, you still broke the law.

The 1% chance that you can get caught isn't enough to deter most from going 5 mph faster than the posted speed limit. The same can be said for this octopi situation. This is a deeply rooted playoff tradition and it is going to take a lot more than a 1% chance of a fine to stop it. Try the NHL might, but they will ultimately fail.

Edited by Howard He Do It?!, 15 April 2011 - 03:42 PM.

[CrimsonFlame]

You could make the argument that the enforcement of that rule is a violation of your first amendment rights. The throwing of an octopus is a symbolic expression of you wishing to motivate your team. The same way flag burning is protected under free speech.

[8 Legged RedWing]

It always amazes me how many Americans don't have a clue what kind of political system we have. Hell most teachers think we are a democracy and we aren't. Idiots

Don't have a clue? It's not like I said we were fascists. Get off your high horse.

This is from ThisNation.com (an unbiased website on American government)

"By popular usage, however, the word "democracy" came to mean a form of government in which the government derives its power from the people and is accountable to them for the use of that power. In this sense the United States might accurately be called a democracy."

Edited by 8 Legged RedWing, 15 April 2011 - 03:47 PM.

[Frozen-Man]

If the NHL and the board of governors said it was illegal to wear hats in NHL sanctioned games, you better believe NHL patrons would get arrested. That doesn't mean the NHL "owns" the police, it means the police are enforcing the laws.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't get arrested (as police enforce laws and ordinances not an organization's code of conduct). They could be removed from the premises probably but the police would have absolutely no authority to arrest them for violating NHL rules unless there was a city, county, state, federal law/statute/ordinance that they were also violating and that officer was an agent of the entity law/statute/ordinance.

It always amazes me how many Americans don't have a clue what kind of political system we have. Hell most teachers think we are a democracy and we aren't. Idiots

It really is amazing. You would think that the Pledge of Allegiance would help "and to the republic for which it stands" (emphasis added) - - or perhaps Article IV Section 4 of the US Constitution "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government" (emphasis added) - - and while sadly it is rarely taught in public schools today all throughout the Federalist Papers, especially Federalist No. 10.

[Frozen-Man]

You could make the argument that the enforcement of that rule is a violation of your first amendment rights. The throwing of an octopus is a symbolic expression of you wishing to motivate your team. The same way flag burning is protected under free speech.

As a Constitutional lawyer I can assure you that while that is a colorful argument it almost assuredly is not a violation.

Edited by Frozen-Man, 15 April 2011 - 03:58 PM.

[LAW]

You could make the argument that the enforcement of that rule is a violation of your first amendment rights. The throwing of an octopus is a symbolic expression of you wishing to motivate your team. The same way flag burning is protected under free speech.

I would imagine this ordinance probably would be upheld as a reasonable time, place, or manner restriction of free speech.