On Monday night, a Predators fan threw a catfish on the ice in Pittsburgh during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals and sparked an incident spanning two states, a mayor’s office, and one very big legal problem.
How throwing a catfish could land a Predators fan in jail for 6 years
Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Understanding why Predators fans throw catfish on the ice is a lesson in recent tradition. Nashville hockey fans began throwing the fish on the ice as a rallying cry and homage to the Detroit Red Wings, whose fans routinely throw octopus on the ice to satisfy the “Legend of the Octopus.”
Knowing the possibility the ice in Pittsburgh would be graced by a catfish, local fishmongers tried to stop people from Tennessee buying catfish before the game. Going so far as to set up I.D. checks.
“You have to show ID if you want to buy catfish here,” co-owner Jim Wholey told the Tribune-Review Friday. “If you’re from Tennessee we’re not selling it to you.”
That didn’t stop 36-year-old Jacob Waddell from sneaking the fish into the stadium and throwing it on the ice during Game 1.
The man became a hero to Predators fans watching, even famous ones.
Shortly after launching the fish, Waddell was pulled from the game by arena security. Getting tossed from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup is a pretty big punishment, but probably deserved. It did interrupt things, you lose out on your ticket — it all makes sense. However, arena security weren’t letting this one go and turned him over to Pittsburgh police. Soon Waddell, who traveled to Pittsburgh from Tennessee, was facing three separate charges.
The man was charged with “Possessing instruments of crime,” for having a fish, “Disrupting meetings and processions,” for throwing the fish, and “Disorderly conduct,” which the charge would claim that Waddell created a “hazardous or physically offensive condition” by throwing the fish.
In the strictest sense of the word, the charges fit, but police did have the latitude to only levy some of the charges or even none of them at all. Instead they ensured he would face every charge possible for throwing the fish.
The results of this is a possible six-year prison term for the misdemeanors and up to a $12,800 fine. The reaction was so over the top that the mayor of Nashville issued a statement trying to help clear the air.
There’s no word at this time whether the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania plans to continue with the charges or whether they’ll be dropped. Waddell has returned to Tennessee, but will be expected to return for his court date.
UPDATE: On Wednesday morning the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office released the following statement.
“Having reviewed the affidavit involving Mr. Waddell as well as the television coverage of the incident, District Attorney Zappala has made the determination that the actions of Mr. Waddell do not rise to the level of criminal charges. As such, the three charges filed against Mr. Waddell will be withdrawn in a timely manner.”
