So this dude just got kicked out of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final for throwing a catfish on the ice. pic.twitter.com/DzLK6l1Mv5
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) May 30, 2017
Nashville’s beloved Predators traveled up to Pittsburgh for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final only to be met with a heart-breaking defeat. Questionable officiating met with a rare poor performance from Pekka Rinne led to a 5-3 loss. Nonetheless, Preds fans are hopeful heading in to the rest of the series. Per the eye test, the Preds outplayed the Penguins for the better part of the game.
But, regardless of the outcome, one young man made quite an impression on the game and became somewhat of a Nashville folk legend in the process.
A Nashville Predators fan who threw a catfish on the ice during Monday’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh is being charged in connection to the incident, according to Pittsburgh police.
According to police, 36-year-old Jacob Waddell of Nolensville bought the catfish in Tennessee and vacuum sealed it, put it in his compression shorts and removed it in a men’s room at PPG Paints Arena. At 9:30 p.m., during the second period, the catfish sailed over the glass around the rink and flopped onto the ice, police say.
Police say Waddell was escorted immediately from the arena and charged with disorderly conduct, disrupting a meeting and possession of an instrument of crime.
How unreasonable. To be fair, those close to the Penguins organization say that security was on high alert for this very reason – fear of catfish. They said they were going to punish people for this, so we can’t be too surprised when they actually do it. Still, ‘disrupting a meeting’ and ‘possession of an instrument of crime’ charges seem excessive, ludicrous even.
But, for Pittsburgh, this is pretty embarrassing. An enemy fan infiltrated the arena and got that catfish on the ice. If the nation isn’t going to take Nashville seriously as a hockey market after that, I don’t know what will do it. We have people traveling with catfish to purposefully get kicked out of venues for throwing catfish on enemy ice. That’s dedication.
Also, the Preds went on a 3-0 run after the catfish was thrown. No word on whether this was a direct source of inspiration for the team or not yet.
Shortly after the charges became public Tuesday morning, legions of Nashvillians pledged to help Waddell.
Several Metro Nashville council members took to Twitter in his support. There was even an offer of free legal help.
Councilman Freddie O’Connell said he’s asked the Metro Council office to draft a resolution requesting that Allegheny County, Pa, where Waddell was charged, pardon him.
This is what Nashville is and does – this man put in some gritty effort to get that catfish from Tennessee to Pennsylvania and sacrificed himself to send a message. The community here is going to take care of him. I know he won’t pay for a dime of that fine.
Shout out to Midday 180, too – our midday sports talk show on 104.5 The Zone. Those guys crush it, so it’s good to see them get some recognition out of this.
We’re going to do our part to spread the local legend of Jacob Waddell. We certainly hope our fellow Nashvillians will do the same. Salute.
As for Game 2, don’t worry, Nashville – Brandt Snedeker has us covered:
Guess I am going to have to go to Game 2 and bring some more #catfish to rally the Preds!! Pittsburgh and @jimfuryk , here I come!!!
— Brandt Snedeker (@BrandtSnedeker) May 30, 2017
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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