Report: Heroic Predators Fan Charged Over Catfish Toss

A few minutes into the second period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last night, a catfish appeared on the ice, having been hurled from the stands by some heroic Nashville Predators fan looking to bring life back to a team down 3-0 on the biggest stage in the sport. (It worked, by the way. The Predators scored three goals to tie the game following the appearance of the fish.)

That man, who was promptly thrown out of the arena, was soon identified as Jake Waddell on Twitter by the Midday 180, the local sports radio show advertised on the t-shirt Waddell had been wearing.

Well, now CBS Pittsburgh reports that Waddell is being charged with "disorderly conduct, disrupting a meeting and possessing instruments of a crime." Keep in mind, the "meeting" was a hockey game and the "instrument" was a catfish. This is absurd.

Waddell said on Twitter that he'd brought the catfish from Nashville (which is, presumably, why it just about disintegrated on the ice). CBS Pittsburgh adds more detail: "Waddell said he vacuum sealed the fish and placed inside his compression shorts. Once inside the arena, he entered a restroom, wrapped the fish in a free T-shirt and towel handed out at the gate and went to his seat."

It would seem that the Midday 180 and Waddell were collaborators in this act, an act which we fully support and encourage. There was the radio show's logo on Waddell's t-shirt and also this tweet from Midday 180 producer David Reed wishing Waddell "Godspeed" after Waddell tweeted a picture from inside the arena. As of last night, Waddell was scheduled to appear on the show this afternoon. 

Let's be clear: Jake Waddell is a great Predators fan. He should not pay for a drink in this town for the rest of the series, much less any criminal fine or penalty. Secondly, the city of Pittsburgh — with the exception of this good-natured columnist — should really be ashamed. The man threw a catfish. 

Bring on Game 2. 

Update 10:15 a.m.:

He speaks!